Texas produced nearly half of all U.S.
Netanyahu authorizes direct negotiations with Lebanon after Israel’s attacks on BeirutTrump promised to cut electric costs in half. Bills in energy-rich West Virginia now top mortgages'We got our butts kicked': Republicans reckon with Democratic success ahead of the midterms8-year-old Frankie Fleetwood steals the show during Par 3 Contest on the eve of the MastersJudge orders rapper Pooh Shiesty to remain in custody in case involving rapper Gucci Mane's label Thousands of fans gather as BTS launches world tour in South KoreaNewly created Polymarket accounts bet big on US- Iran ceasefire in hours before Trump's announcementArtemis II astronauts follow Apollo tradition of naming lunar features after loved onesAuto shop owner who paid worker in 91,500 oily pennies ordered to pay nearly $40,000 moreA red fox stows away on a cargo ship, traveling from England to the USOne Tech Tip: A new generation is reviving the iPod for distraction-free listeningAt Middle Creek, timing and distance shape a photo of migrating geeseNew Yorkers flock to Manhattan park for lovable woodcocks' bobbing strutYou aren't the only one who just sits in the car before or after a long dayWorries about flying seem to be taking off.
Here's how to cope with in-flight anxietyStates are struggling to meet their clean energy goals. Data centers are to blameIn post-WWII America, the Levittown house was a house for all — as long as you weren't BlackA project to save rural synagogues grows from Maine to MontanaEEUU e Irán acuerdan un alto el fuego de dos semanas mientras Trump aprovecha una salida diplomática Casa Blanca matiza declaración sobre ataque a Cuba. Díaz-Canel dice que nada justifica una agresión Here's how to cope with in-flight anxietyStates are struggling to meet their clean energy goals. Data centers are to blameIn post-WWII America, the Levittown house was a house for all — as long as you weren't BlackA project to save rural synagogues grows from Maine to MontanaEEUU e Irán acuerdan un alto el fuego de dos semanas mientras Trump aprovecha una salida diplomática Casa Blanca matiza declaración sobre ataque a Cuba. Díaz-Canel dice que nada justifica una agresiónTexas produced nearly half of all U.S. oil last year despite having drilled fewer new oil wells in 2025, a trend that analysts and industry groups said is possible due to the state’s geological makeup, a network of pipelines and transportation, and the ability to work on multiple production sites in less time. And that West Texas oil has helped keep U.S. supply steady as oil supply across the world has been squeezed during the Iran war, experts said. American oil companies produced 13.6 million barrels of oil daily last year, once again breaking their own record, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration. Almost half — 6.6 million barrels a day — came from the Permian Basin, the vast stretch of oil-rich deposits spanning tens of thousands of square miles between western Texas and southeastern New Mexico. Oil companies accomplished the record with a fraction of available drilling rigs, which the industry historically relied on to search for, find and lift fossil fuels from the ground. The EIA, in its report, said fewer rigs could lead to a 2% drop in production in 2027, marking the first time oil could dip since 2021. And in light of the U.S. war on Iran, domestic oil production — particularly in West Texas — has taken on a new meaning. The war pushed gas prices sky high as the global supply of oil has been slashed during the conflict. Texas oil leaders said the situation could have been worse had it not been for their work.“Without the millions of barrels produced a day in the Permian Basin there’s no question we’d be in much more volatile times,” said Ben Shepperd, president of Permian Basin Petroleum Association, the largest regional trade group in the country. “The strong production coming out of the Permian Basin, however, helps provide a stable source of energy for the United States and our allies, which can reduce volatility when conflicts arise in other parts of the world.” The report’s findings aren’t a first for Texas oil companies. For at least the past six years, industry groups have announced record production levels. Industry and political leaders alike have celebrated the production as a win for the state’s economy, saying royalties and taxes from the industry translate to billions of dollars for the state’s coffers and school districts. Texas Oil and Gas Association President Todd Staples said that 10 years ago, oil companies drilled 9.2 million barrels of oil using 1,543 rigs. In 2025, oil companies produced more than 13 million barrels with only 582 rigs. The agile infrastructure — and geology beneath — affords operators in the Permian to adapt quickly when the market is under duress. Different layers of rock underground allow operators to extract more fossil fuels at varying depths. Operators can also transit between wells within hours rather than days, drill multiple wells from a single site, or drill in multiple directions and at multiple depths. “While we are not immune from what’s happening around the world, we occupy a position of strength far beyond most other nations,” Staples said. “The Permian’s … consistently demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to market shifts make it one of the most competitive oil-producing areas in the world.” Some experts cautioned that declining rig counts, if sustained, could hinder production, if not stop it altogether. “Depressed rig counts raise legitimate concerns about future production sustainability,” said Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association. “If the trend continues without offset, operators risk slower inventory replacement and a potential plateau or gradual decline in output over the medium term, particularly if new drilling fails to keep pace with natural decline rates in existing wells.” The conflict in the Middle East has, Longanecker and other experts argued, given oil companies short-term economic windfalls. Gas prices have shot up with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which cut 20% of the world’s oil.Experts suggested it could be worse. A mix of experts and groups representing oil companies’ interests in Texas said the U.S. has been insulated from more devastating economic consequences of the war. The amount of oil West Texas produces can determine the severity of the impact to the U.S. economy, they said. “West Texas serves as a partial counterweight to disruptions in the Middle East,” said Stephen Sagriff, director of intelligence at Enverus, an energy analytics company. “It is also a source of geopolitical leverage for the U.S., a region whose own investment decisions are shaped by the volatility.” In addition to stabilizing oil demand in the U.S., the Permian lessens its dependence on oil from other nations, said Don Murchison, director of global strategy at RINA North America, an engineering consulting firm. The West Texas oil patch can also produce more oil than other states at a lower cost, Hutchinson said. “We often see a significant uptick in production in West Texas when there is conflict in other parts of the world,” he said, while adding that when the industry booms, new challenges arise surrounding finding equipment, materials and employees.Disclosure: Ben Shepperd, Permian Basin Petroleum Association and Texas Oil & Gas Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a completeIran accuses US of violating parts of deal framework, says ceasefire is ‘unreasonable’
Energy Industry Texas Ben Shepperd Iran War General News TX State Wire Todd Staples Iran Business Stephen Sagriff U.S. News Don Murchison Ed Longanecker U.S. News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Iran live updates: Pakistan asks Trump for deadline extension on Iran threatTrump has promised renewed attacks if Iran doesn't meet the deadline.
Read more »
Trump pulls back on his Iran threats for two weeks, subject to Iran agreeing to ceasefireTrump has extended previous deadlines but suggested the one set for 8 p.m. in Washington was final, and the rhetoric on both sides reached a fever pitch, leaving Iranians on edge.
Read more »
Iranian Americans across Texas react to shift in U.S.-Iran tensionsPresident Donald Trump says the U.S. is temporarily pausing planned military action against Iran as negotiations continue, a shift that comes after hours of esc
Read more »
MORNING GLORY: President Trump leads the West to a big win against IranFox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Read more »
Record oil production in West Texas helps stabilize U.S. supply amid Iran warProduction in West Texas has helped the U.S. stabilize its demand for foreign oil amid the Iran war, despite drilling fewer oil wells.
Read more »
Record oil production in West Texas helps stabilize U.S. supply amid Iran warWOAI NBC News Channel 4 San Antonio provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, investigations, and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for San Antonio and nearby towns and communities in South Central Texas, including Windcrest, Uvalde, Universal City, Somerset, Seguin, Schertz, San Marcos,...
Read more »