WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- The Permian shale basin in the southern United States is the most prolific with output topping 1.3 million barrels per day, the Energy Department said.
Permian production increased 58 percent from 2007 to reach 1.35 million bpd last year, which represents 18 percent of total U.S. crude oil production.
In a review published Wednesday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said the Permian basin has exceeded production from offshore Gulf of Mexico since 2013.
"The Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico is the nation's most prolific oil producing area," EIA said in its profile.
Production from the Bakken reserve area in North Dakota is highlighted as helping push the United States to the top of the list of oil production nations. Bakken output reached 1 million bpd for the first time in April.
North Dakota is the No. 2 oil producer in the nation after Texas.
Permian is spread out over 75,000 square miles across Texas and New Mexico.
