California oil and gas industry: Difference between revisions

The '''California oil and gas industry''' has been a major industry for over a century. Oil production was a minor factor in the 19th century, with kerosene replacing whale oil and lubricants becoming essential to the machine age. Oil became a major California industry in the 20th century with the discovery on new fields around Los Angeles and the [[San Joaquin Valley]], and the dramatic increase in demand for gasoline to fuel automobiles and trucks. In 1900 California pumped {{convert|4 million barrels|e6oilbbl|m3}}, nearly 5% of the national supply. Then came a series of major discoveries, and the state pumped {{convert|100,000,000 barrels|e6oilbbl|e6m3|abbr=unit}} in 1914, or 38% of the national supply.<ref>[[Harold F. Williamson]] et al. ''The American Petroleum Industry the Age of Energy 1899-1959'' (1963) p 17</ref> In 2012 California produced {{convert|197 million barrels|e6oilbbl|e6m3|abbr=unit|sigfig=2}} of [[crude oil]], out of the total 2,375 million barrels{{convert|2375|e6oilbbl|e6m3|abbr=unit|sigfig=3}} of oil produced in the U.S, representing 8.3% of national production.<ref>US Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_crd_crpdn_adc_mbbl_a.htm Crude oil production], accessed 10 Mar 2014</ref> California drilling operations and oil production are concentrated primarily in [[Kern County]], [[San Joaquin Valley]] and the [[Los Angeles basin]].