Kansas Oil Production Continues to Rise

Tim Carr of the Kansas Geological Survey expects Kansas to produce 1 to 2 percent more oil this year than last, helping fuel a surge in the state's energy output and rural economy. Kansas is projected to produce 34.3 million barrels of oil this year, up 1.1 percent from 2003 and up 3.0 percent from 2002. Kansas oil production has been slowly rising for more than five years (1999). Despite the recent increase, the state's production this year will fall far short of the record of 124 million barrels set in 1956. However, this is the longest and one of the few strings of annual increases in oil production since the period from 1979 to 1985.

The recent surge to 94,000 barrels of oil per day is important because it represents a turnaround. It is very significant that, after years of decline, Kansas production of oil is showing an upward trend. The uptick really is because of the increased price of oil. With prices for Kansas crude oil in the mid $30 range companies can afford to invest in the technology to maintain and increase production from old oil wells and explore for new resources.

Nearby states are also expected to have higher oil production this year. Colorado is predicting increased oil production of 60,000 barrels a day, up 3 percent, North Dakota is expected to produce 84,000 barrels a day, up 5 percent, and Montana is expected to top the 53,000 barrels a day that it produced last year, regulatory agencies said.

Comparison of the Value of Oil and Gas Production versus Agriculture Crops in Kansas

Source: Kansas Geological Survey

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