Monthly crude oil production in the U.S. surpassed 12 million barrels per day (bpd) for the first time in the month of April this year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Monday.
The historic level came with two of the largest crude oil production regions in the U.S. both reaching record high levels.
The U.S.' state of Texas and the federal offshore Gulf of Mexico saw their crude production in April reach 4.97 million bpd and 1.98 million bpd, respectively.
The state of Oklahoma also posted a record production level of 617,000 bpd during that month, the administration said.
The Permian Basin, located in western Texas and eastern New Mexico, continues to drive record national oil production growth, said the EIA, adding that the Basin accounts for 63% of Texas and 96% of New Mexico crude oil production.
Between January 2018 and April 2019, Texas' oil production increased by 1.1 million bpd, or 28%, while New Mexico's oil production increased by 345,000 bpd, or 64%, according to the EIA.
The administration said it forecasts production in the Permian Basin will average 4.4 million bpd in 2019, a 920,000 bpd increase from its 2018 average.
'The U.S. onshore crude oil production increase is driven mainly by developing low permeability (tight) formations using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing,' the EIA said in a statement.
'EIA estimates that crude oil production from tight formations in April 2019 reached 7.4 million bpd, or 61% of the U.S. total,' it added.
Since the shale oil revolution started in 2008, the U.S.' annual crude oil production increased from 5 million bpd to 9.35 million bpd in 2017, an increase of 87%, according to the EIA data.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr