Shale gas and tight oil production in the United States is forecast to increase to more than 35 trillion cubic feet by 2050, up from 29.4 trillion cubic feet in 2024. Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within dense shale formations. Tight oil is crude oil contained in such rock formations. It is extracted by drilling wells and pumping a sand, water, and chemical mixture into the rock. The pressure under which the mixture is pushed into fissures cracks the rock open, allowing for the gas and oil to be removed. Origins of U.S. shale gas production The extraction of shale gas and tight oil in the U.S. has increased dramatically since 2000; from about 1.77 trillion cubic feet to over 29 trillion cubic feet in 2024. The economic viability of shale exploration is a result of technological advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), as well as a surge in oil benchmark prices in the late 2000s and early 2010s. China's fast-growing economy meant it required ever greater amounts of petroleum products, while the largest oil producing body, OPEC, tightly controlled production output in order to push prices higher. This led to the WTI crude oil price climbing to an annual average of nearly 100 U.S. dollars in 2008, despite the onset of the financial crisis. Although early shale pioneer Mitchell Energy had experimented with horizontal drilling and fracking, it took until the 2000s for the technology to hit off. Shale gas production is concentrated primarily in regions such as the Northeast and the Gulf Coast, with Appalachia being the most productive U.S. natural gas region. Fossil fuel reserves in the U.S. The United States had 17.4 trillion cubic meters of proved natural gas reserves, as of 2023. The North American country ranked fourth among the leading countries by proved natural gas reserves. Russia led the ranking with over 44 trillion cubic meters. The same year, U.S. oil reserves amounted to over 47 billion barrels, more than double the amount in 2000.

Crude Oil Production in the United States increased to 13468 BBL/D/1K in April from 13450 BBL/D/1K in March of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Crude Oil Production - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Texas extracts more shale gas than any other U.S. state. In 2021, shale gas production output in Texas reached 8.3 trillion cubic feet. Pennsylvania followed as the second most productive state. Pennsylvania is located within the Appalachia basin, which is the greatest natural gas producing U.S. basin. In total, the United States extracted around 27.99 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in 2021. Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations of low permeability.

History of shale gas production

Shale gas resources can contain large accumulations of natural gas and/or oil. Production of natural gas from Texas’ Barnett Shale began around a decade ago and has acted as a model for new natural gas extraction technologies in other parts of the country. It was one of the first cases of large-scale natural gas production from shale resources under the Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation. More than 30 states are sitting on top of shale formations.

The production of shale gas has increased dramatically under the development of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling. U.S. shale gas and tight oil production has increased from 1.77 trillion cubic feet in 2000 to approximately 25 trillion cubic feet in 2021. It is predicted that output will reach nearly 34 trillion cubic feet by 2050. As of 2020, the U.S. natural gas reserves amounted to 12.6 trillion cubic meters.

United States Shale Oil Production: Others data was reported at 0.344 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.343 MN Barrel/Day for Mar 2019. United States Shale Oil Production: Others data is updated monthly, averaging 0.167 MN Barrel/Day from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 232 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.407 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2015 and a record low of 0.138 MN Barrel/Day in Feb 2007. United States Shale Oil Production: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB022: Shale Oil Production.

In 2023, oil production in the United States reached 19.4 million barrels per day, the highest value within the period of consideration. The United States currently produces more oil than any other country in the world. Why has U.S. oil production increased? As U.S. oil production has more than doubled since the 2008 recession, imports of crude oil to the United States have decreased. An upsurge in foreign oil prices during the financial crisis, particularly from OPEC countries located mainly in the Middle East, motivated the U.S. energy industry to find ways to increase production domestically. Developments in extraction technology During the recession, investors took advantage of low-interest rates to develop costly oil extraction processes such as hydraulic fracturing. Also known as “fracking,” this extraction method made it possible to access shale oil deep underground that was once out of reach. Texas and New Mexico are major sites of shale reserves and have thus become the two largest oil-producing states in the country.

United States Shale Oil Production: Eagle Ford data was reported at 1.212 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.212 MN Barrel/Day for Mar 2019. United States Shale Oil Production: Eagle Ford data is updated monthly, averaging 0.003 MN Barrel/Day from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 232 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.619 MN Barrel/Day in Mar 2015 and a record low of 0.000 MN Barrel/Day in May 2003. United States Shale Oil Production: Eagle Ford data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB022: Shale Oil Production.

Oil production in the United States amounted to around 857.9 million metric tons in 2024, an increase when compared to the previous year and the highest figure recorded within the period of consideration. Between 1998 and 2024, figures increased by 490 million metric tons.

United States Shale Oil Production: Bonespring data was reported at 0.607 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.602 MN Barrel/Day for Mar 2019. United States Shale Oil Production: Bonespring data is updated monthly, averaging 0.016 MN Barrel/Day from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 232 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.607 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2019 and a record low of 0.007 MN Barrel/Day in Feb 2003. United States Shale Oil Production: Bonespring data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB022: Shale Oil Production.

Chevron is the largest shale oil producer in the U.S. In 2020, the California based Big Oil company produced an average of ******* barrels of shale oil and condensate products per day. That same year, the company ranked second in a list of largest U.S. oil and gas companies based on market capitalization. ExxonMobil, the most valuable U.S. oil company, is the fifth largest shale oil producer, at ******* barrels. Coronavirus' impact on oil & gas industry The oil and gas industry has seen various challenges as the world moves towards clean energy and many governments implement tougher climate policies. The 2020 coronavirus pandemic presents yet another challenge, as oil demand declines and many oil supermajors are left scrambling to revise capital expenditures for the year. As a result of this crisis, 2020 has already seen a number of considerable mergers and acquisitions of financially compromised companies. ConocoPhillips announced plans to acquire Concho Resources, while Devon Energy has proposed a merger with WPX Energy. Meanwhile, Chevron bought hydrocarbon exploration company Noble Energy.

United States Shale Oil Production: Austin Chalk data was reported at 0.115 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.112 MN Barrel/Day for Mar 2019. United States Shale Oil Production: Austin Chalk data is updated monthly, averaging 0.042 MN Barrel/Day from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 232 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.119 MN Barrel/Day in Dec 2018 and a record low of 0.032 MN Barrel/Day in Mar 2014. United States Shale Oil Production: Austin Chalk data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB022: Shale Oil Production.

Production of natural gas in the United States has been increasing for the past decade and peaked at nearly 1033 billion cubic meters in 2023 and 2024. An increase in production corresponded with rising demand for natural gas in the United States, particularly after the 2008 Recession.    Natural gas becomes competitive Since the early 2000s, the price of coal had been going up, and increased more rapidly following the 2008 Recession, which affected the cost of crude oil to an even greater degree. When the price of crude oil peaked shortly after the financial crisis, consumption of petroleum decreased in the next year. Simultaneously, the cost of natural gas dramatically decreased, making it a stronger competitor with coal and petroleum. The rise of fracking Low-interest rates during the Recession led to new investments in new techniques to obtain natural gas, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, that may be controversial due to health and environmental impacts. Often obtained through fracking, shale gas has become a common form of natural gas, and shale gas production in the United States has increased dramatically since the financial crisis.

An analysis of U.S. shale oil production stability, future outlook, and the impact of oil prices as discussed by industry experts at the Qatar Economic Forum.

United States Shale Oil Production: Spraberry data was reported at 1.561 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2019. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.526 MN Barrel/Day for Mar 2019. United States Shale Oil Production: Spraberry data is updated monthly, averaging 0.132 MN Barrel/Day from Jan 2000 (Median) to Apr 2019, with 232 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.561 MN Barrel/Day in Apr 2019 and a record low of 0.069 MN Barrel/Day in Aug 2002. United States Shale Oil Production: Spraberry data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB022: Shale Oil Production.

A cells polygon feature class was created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to illustrate the degree of exploration, type of production, and distribution of production in the United States. Each cell represents a square mile of the land surface, and the cells are coded to represent whether the wells included within the cell are predominantly oil-producing, gas-producing, both oil and gas-producing, or the type of production of the wells located within the cell is unknown or dry. The well information was initially retrieved from IHS Inc.'s PI/Dwights PLUS Well Data on CD-ROM, which is a proprietary, commercial database containing information for most oil and gas wells in the U.S. Cells were developed as a graphic solution to overcome the problem of displaying proprietary well data. No proprietary data are displayed or included in the cell maps. The data are current through 10/1/2005.

According to a 2025 survey, oil producers operating in the Permian region needed WTI oil prices to amount to a minimum of ** U.S. dollars per barrel in order to profitably drill a new well. This compared to a minimum breakeven price of ** U.S. dollars per barrel for existing wells. The monthly average WTI oil price ranged between ** and ** U.S. dollars per barrel around the time of the survey. Most productive oil basins Operators in shale basins have the lowest average breakeven prices for new wells. However, when it comes to existing wells, operators in the Permian (Delaware) basin can afford even lower oil prices. The Permian basin, located in Texas and New Mexico, accounts for the greatest U.S. oil production output of any region. In 2024, production in the Permian reached nearly *********** barrels per day - more than **** times the amount extracted from the neighboring Eagle Ford rock formation. Texas is leading oil producing state With both regions located in Texas, it is not surprising that this is also the leading crude oil producing U.S. state. Nearly two billion barrels worth of crude oil were extracted in Texas per year, far more than any other state. Texas is home to a total of five major oil and gas formations.

The North America Shale Market is segmented by Type (Shale Gas and Shale Oil) and Geography (United States, Canada, and Rest of North America).

U.S. Bureau of Mines Wyoming Corehole No. 1 drilled near Eden in Wyoming's Green River Basin sampled Green River Formation oil shales representing a potential of 200 million bbl of oil per sq miles. In general properties and gross mineralogy, the sampled oil shales strongly resemble Mahogany-zone oil shales of Colorado and Utah. Alternating thin beds of tough, rich oil shale and brittle, lean oil shale at depths less than 700 ft may offer advantages to in place shale oil production techniques, providing possible access to at least 100,000 bbl of shale oil per acre in an area greater than 100,000 acres. (16 refs.)

U.S. oil producers in the Permian Basin face geological constraints limiting production growth, impacting oil output and costs. Despite challenges, the basin remains a key player in global oil production.

United States Shale Oil Production: Permian data was reported at 5.704 MN Barrel/Day in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 5.702 MN Barrel/Day for Feb 2025. United States Shale Oil Production: Permian data is updated monthly, averaging 1.264 MN Barrel/Day from Jan 2007 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 219 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 5.704 MN Barrel/Day in Mar 2025 and a record low of 0.132 MN Barrel/Day in Jan 2007. United States Shale Oil Production: Permian data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by U.S. Energy Information Administration. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.RB041: Shale Oil Production.

For more than 50 years, hopeful eyes have been cast at the hundreds of billion of barrels of oil locked in the Rocky Mountains'Green River formation Many abortive attempts have been made to extract the oil commercially. So far, all have failed- not technically but economically. However, the price of crude oil is going up rapidly. Gasoline shortages this past summer and heating oil shortages last winter ( and probably again the winter) are kindling interest in energy sources everywhere-but particularly, in the U.S. for energy sources that will not ruin the balance of payments. Hence, oil from shale is getting another appraisal. In this review, we cover the chemical nature of oil shale, the oil shale reserves in the tri-state area of Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado, and the production of shale oil from the oil shale rock.