Q: For the past two years - and for most of the past 50 years - which Kansas county led the state in oil production?
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A: Ellis County (home of Hays, Kansas!)
According to the Kansas Geological Survey, Ellis County, in western Kansas, continued to be the top producing county in 2017 after regaining the lead in 2016. It has led for most of the past 50 years. Ellis County produced 2.64 million barrels in 2017, followed closely by Haskell County, which produced 2.45 million barrels.
Top 10 Oil-Producing Counties in Kansas for 2017
1. Ellis
2. Haskell
3. Barton
4. Finney
5. Russell
6. Rooks
7. Ness
8. Stafford
9. Harper
10. Barber
Statewide, oil production reached 35.8 million barrels in 2017. That was a nearly 6 percent decline from the previous year. Oil production in Kansas, which fluctuates as prices rise and fall, peaked at 93 million barrels in 1966. Natural gas production statewide in 2017 was about 216 billion cubic feet. That marks a drop of 12 percent from 2016. Production from the Hugoton Natural Gas Area in western Kansas — once the largest gas field in North America — continued to decline, largely due to depletion. Production in the Hugoton Field, which peaked at 651 billion cubic feet in 1970, was 88 billion cubic feet in 2017. Stevens County, which produced about 26 billion cubic feet, was the top natural gas producer in 2017. It was followed, in order, by Grant, Harper, Kearny, Barber, Haskell, Morton, Finney, Stanton and Seward counties. All are in the Hugoton natural gas area except Harper and Barber counties.
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