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Oil was first struck in the United States of America back in 1859 near Titusville, Pennsylvania. It is about 100 miles north of Pittsburgh. What happened over the next one hundred and fifty years? How about the exploration and mining of precious minerals, such as oil and gas? Basically, it has spread all the way across the contiguous United States and onto other territories. Although annual production and ranking vary from year to year, in this article, we are going to discuss the mineral rights and oil extraction of five of the top oil-producing states in the US according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
1. Texas
When people think oil, people usually think of Texas, so it should come as no surprise that the Lone Star State of Texas is the top oil-producing state in the US. Texas is able to produce and sell up to 3 times as much oil as any other state year after year. This is due to its massive size and ample preserves. According to statistia.com, 1.28 billion barrels of crude oil were produced in Texas in 2018.
2. North Dakota
In second place comes a state with the domination of the sweeping white tundra of Great Plains: North Dakota. During peak season, North Dakota has reached volumes of producing over 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Although the state only began to produce oil in the 1950s, it has quickly risen to become one of the top oil-producing states in the US in recent years.
3. New Mexico
Third on this list is the Land of Enchantment: New Mexico. In the southwest region of the United States, New Mexico is widely known for its bountiful gas royalties thanks to its high number of natural gas and carbon dioxide reserves. New Mexico also produces a large share of crude oil and has been since the 1920s. In recent years, America’s 47th state had a huge boom in oil production, up nearly 7 million barrels per month over previous periods.
4. Oklahoma
The Sooner State is next, as Oklahoma produces enough annual oil to be considerable one of the top oil-producing states in the country. Neighboring Texas to its South, Oklahoma first gained interest in prospective oil miners in the late 1800s. Although the oil production amounts in Oklahoma tend to rise and fall more often than other states on this list, Oklahoma’s long-term consistency of bringing oil to market makes it a great state to buy or sell mineral rights and royalties within. You can also learn more through searching for “mineral rights forum Oklahoma”. Try also “oil and gas forum Oklahoma” to gain more insights now.
5. Alaska
The last state on this list is not in the contiguous United States. Alaska, also known as “America’s Last Frontier,” sits North and West above the rest of America. It has lands and operations rich with oil. You may have heard of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) which transports oil throughout the largest provincial landmass in the United States. Although the market has been declining slowly since the 1980s, much of Alaska’s land remains unexplored for cost-effective oil production.
