Map Shows Which States Produce the Most Oil

The U.S. is a key player in the world of oil production, producing several key types of oil in 32 of 50 states, averaging 16.6 million barrels per day in 2023. This amounts to an annual production of approximately 711 million metric tons of oil.

But which state produces the most? A new map from Newsweek based on Statista data has reveals the answer.

Which States Produce the Most Oil?

Texas is the clear leader in U.S. oil production, continuing to outpace all other states by a significant margin. In 2023, the Lone Star State produced over 2 billion barrels of oil, making it the largest oil-producing state by far. This production volume is more than three times that of New Mexico, the second-largest producer, which generated 667.5 million barrels during the same period.

The scale of Texas’ oil production is underscored by its position as home to the Permian Basin, the most productive oil basin in the country. The Permian Basin routinely accounts for more than 50 percent of the total onshore oil production in the U.S., contributing heavily to Texas’ dominance in the oil sector.

Following Texas and New Mexico, the next largest oil-producing states include North Dakota, Colorado, and Oklahoma. North Dakota, with its Bakken Shale formation, produced over 432.7 million barrels of oil in 2023, placing it third in the nation. Meanwhile, Colorado and Oklahoma contributed 165.7 million and 157.2 million barrels, respectively.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Virginia produced just 5,000 barrels of oil in 2023, making it the smallest oil producer among the states.

What Types of Oil Are Made In America?

Several types of oil are produced in the U.S., each varying in characteristics such as density, sulfur content, and chemical composition.

The main oil types include:

1. Crude Oil:
   • Light Crude Oil: This is a high-quality oil that is low in density and flows easily at room temperature. It has a high proportion of hydrocarbons and is easier to refine into products like gasoline and diesel. An example is West Texas Intermediate (WTI), a benchmark for U.S. oil prices.
   • Heavy Crude Oil: This type of oil is denser and more viscous, making it harder to extract and refine. It contains more impurities like sulfur, making it more expensive to process. It is often found in states like California and Alaska.
   • Sweet Crude Oil: Sweet crude oil has a low sulfur content, typically less than 0.5 percent. It is highly sought after because it produces more valuable end products like gasoline and jet fuel and is easier to refine. Much of the oil produced in Texas, including WTI, is sweet crude.
   • Sour Crude Oil: Sour crude has a higher sulfur content, usually more than 0.5 percent. It requires more refining and treatment to remove the sulfur, which can be corrosive and harmful to the environment. This type of oil is often found in the Gulf of Mexico and in Alaska.
2. Shale Oil:
   • Shale oil is a type of crude oil that is found in shale formations and is extracted using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling. The U.S. has seen a significant increase in shale oil production over the past decade, particularly from formations like the Permian Basin (in Texas and New Mexico), the Bakken Shale (in North Dakota and Montana), and the Eagle Ford Shale (in Texas). Shale oil tends to be light and sweet.
3. Condensate:
   • Condensate is a very light hydrocarbon liquid that is often produced alongside natural gas in fields. It is similar to light crude oil but is more volatile and has a higher API gravity. Condensates are often used in blending to produce gasoline and other refined products.
4. Bitumen:
   • Bitumen is a heavy, viscous form of oil often found in oil sands and is more common in Canada than in the U.S., but some production occurs in states like Utah. It requires special processing, known as upgrading, to be converted into synthetic crude oil.

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