U.S. oil production rose to record levels in August and briefly outpaced Russian output during that same period, according to newly released federal data.
Oil output jumped to a record 11.346 million barrels a day, the U.S. Energy Information Administration wrote in a report Wednesday. Russia, meanwhile, pumped 11.21 million in August, according to its energy ministry.
The 2.1 million barrels per day increase over August of 2017 is the largest year-over-year rise in U.S. history, the EIA noted. The report also shows that Colorado produced more oil from the Mancos Shale of the Piceance Basin than California for the first time in history.
California is a major oil producer despite the state’s opposition to fossil fuel consumption. Colorado’s energy sector might take a hit this election if voters support a ballot initiative effectively banning fracking in the state. (RELATED: Coloradoans Risk ‘Devastating’ Fracking Ban In New Ballot Measure)
The measure would ban oil and gas wells within 2,500 feet of homes, businesses and protected areas such as playgrounds and historic sites. Activists struggled for years to introduce similar measures in 2014 and 2016, neither of which made a ballot.
EIA’s report also comes as federal data show oil production on federal lands and waters hit record highs in 2017 as well, averaging about 2.2 million barrels per day. Production on federal lands saw a marked decrease during the latter half of former President Barack Obama’s administration.
A pump jack operates in the Permian Basin oil production area near Wink, Texas U.S. August 22, 2018. Picture taken August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Nick Oxford
The number of new wells drilled on federal lands fell 83 percent from 2008, according to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) data from 2017. New leases fell 78 percent and the number of permits approved fell 67 percent, according to BLM.
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