English: Night satellite photo of Northwestern North Dakota, made by Suomi NPP with Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) at November 12, 2012. The state is one of the least-densely populated parts of the United States, but satellite imagery shows the area has been aglow at night in recent years. The reason is booming of shale gas and oil production at Bakken shale formation.

Most of the bright specks are lights associated with drilling equipment and temporary housing near drilling sites, though a few are evidence of gas flaring. Some of the brighter areas correspond to towns and cities including Williston, Minot, and Dickinson.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas production from the Bakken shale has increased more than 20-fold between 2007 and 2010. Gas production averaged over 485 million cubic feet per day in September 2011, compared to the 2005 average of about 160 million cubic feet per day. Due to the lack of a gas pipeline and processing facilities in the region, about 29 percent of that gas is flared.