News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, Oct. 9, 1994
The state's natural gas production totaled 679 billion cubic feet in 1993, up about 4.6 percent from the 649 billion cubic feet produced in 1992. About 80% of that production was from the Hugoton natural gas field and fields associated with the Hugoton in southwestern Kansas. The Hugoton field, which extends into Oklahoma and Texas, is the largest natural gas field in North America and the second largest in the world.
Stevens County, in the heart of the Hugoton, was the state's leading gas-producing county, with production totaling more than 149 billion cubic feet in 1993.
Statewide oil production in 1993 was 50 million barrels, down from 1992's production total of 54 million barrels. Ellis County continued to lead the state in oil production, pumping 3.3 million barrels of oil in 1993.
"The state's natural gas production in 1993 was valued at about $1.3 billion," said Tim Carr, chief of the Survey's petroleum research section. "Oil production was worth about $800 million. Historically, the value of oil production has been higher than the value of gas production. But higher prices and higher production of natural gas in 1992 and 1993 changed that."
The state's other leading gas producing counties were, in order, Grant, with 112 billion cubic feet (or bcf); Kearny, at 87 bcf; Morton, at 61 bcf; Finney, at 48 bcf; Haskell, at 46; Seward, at 43 bcf; Stanton, at 43 bcf; Hamilton, at 13 bcf; and Barber, at 11 bcf.
According to Carr, at least part of the increase in gas production was the result of infill drilling, or the drilling of additional wells in the Hugoton field. More than 200 gas wells were added to the Hugoton in 1993, Carr said, bringing the total number of producing wells in the field to 5,866.
After Ellis County, Finney County was the state's second-leading oil-producing county, with 2.8 million barrels of production. Finney replaced Russell County as the second-leading oil-producing county. Russell County produced 2.7 million barrels and had been in second place for the past few years The state's other lead oil-producing counties were Rooks, with 2.3 million barrels; Barton, with 2.1 million barrels; Ness, with 1.9; Butler, with 1.8; Stafford, with 1.7; Seward, with 1.6; and Graham, with 1.4.
"Finney County increased its production by more than 500,000 barrels in 1993," said Carr. "Much of that increase is from newer wells in deeper producing horizons, such as the Terry field in northwestern Finney County."
The report, compiled by Survey geologist Doug Beene, shows 1993 production for each of the state's oil and gas fields. It also lists the subsurface geologic formations that produced the oil and gas, along with cumulative production since the field was discovered.
Copies of the report, in computer print-out form or on computer disk, are available from Publications Sales, Kansas Geological Survey, West Campus, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047 (785-864-3965). The cost for the computer print-out is $15.00, plus $4.00 postage and handling. Kansas residents should add 5.9% sales tax.