March 14, 2002

North Dakota Is Nation’s Ninth Largest Oil Producer

North Dakota ranked ninth nationally in crude oil production, producing nearly 33 million barrels of oil in 2000, according to the recent Economic Brief released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University.

Texas, Alaska, and California, the leaders in U.S. crude oil production, captured half of total oil production in the nation (50.5 percent).

North Dakota’s oil production increased sharply in the mid to late 1970s and peaked in 1984 at 52.7 million barrels. Production declined throughout the late 80s and early 90s, then showed a slight rebound over the past few years. "The ebb and flow of oil prices has produced parallel changes in statewide oil production. This, in turn, has had important economic consequences for western North Dakota both in terms of tax revenues and earnings," said Richard Rathge, director of the State Data Center.

Stark County, capturing 19 percent of North Dakota’s oil production, was the state’s largest oil producer in 2000 at 6.5 million barrels of oil. Billings County was second with 5.6 million barrels.

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Source: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard_rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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