LAWRENCE — The Kansas Geological Survey at the University of Kansas says the state’s oil production increased last year, pushed in part by output from horizontal wells in several southern counties. However, natural gas production continues to decline, as lower natural gas prices made development in western Kansas less profitable. The Kansas Geological Survey says oil production increased 5% last year. Natural gas production fell 4%, and new gas drilling has stopped. Geologist Lynn Watney says the increase in crude oil prices from $25 per barrel to $84 has boosted oil-field activity. Multi-stage hydraulic fracturing, popularly known as “fracking,” has been the main force behind recent activity. One hundred sixty-two of the hydraulically fractured horizontal wells drilled in Kansas from mid-2010 through December 2012.
Updated 5/15/13 @ 11:24 pm
