EIA report examines April crude oil production
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) maintains April crude oil production and lease condensate reached a milestone, totaling 12.2 million barrels per day (b/d).
The EIA’s Petroleum Supply Monthly publication determined Texas and the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico (GOM) both reached record levels of production in April at 4.97 million b/d and 1.98 million b/d, respectively while Oklahoma also reached a record production level of 617,000 b/d.
The onshore crude oil production increase is attributed to developing low permeability formations using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. EIA estimates crude oil production from tight formations in April 2019 reached 7.4 million b/d, or 61 percent of the total.
The Permian Basin, which is located in western Texas and eastern New Mexico, continues to drive record national oil production growth, per the analysis, accounting for about 63 percent of Texas and 96 percent of New Mexico crude oil production.
The report showed from January 2018 to April 2019, Texas crude oil production increased by 1.1 million b/d (28 percent) and New Mexico production increased by 345,000 b/d (64 percent).
The Permian region’s month-over-month growth averaged nearly 100,000 b/d for almost all of 2018 despite pipeline capacity constraints. Industry efficiencies in pipeline utilization and increased trucking and rail transport in the region have allowed crude oil production to continue to grow.
