North Dakota passes Louisiana in oil production

North Dakota has surpassed Louisiana as the fourth-largest oil-producing state in the nation, the U.S. Energy Department says. The agency’s Energy Information Administration said North Dakota produced 6.38 million barrels of crude in May, edging Louisiana, which had 6.34 million barrels for the month. Oil production data typically lags at least two months. Steven G. Grape, an Energy Department petroleum engineer, says North Dakota averaged 206,000 barrels daily in May, compared with 205,000 barrels for Louisiana. Energy Information Administration figures show Louisiana’s oil production has slipped from 7.4 million barrels in May 2005. Grape says natural gas has overshadowed oil as a priority for drillers in Louisiana. Texas, Alaska and California are currently the top oil-producing states. Texas produced 32.7 million barrels in May; Alaska, 21 million; and California, 17.7 million. Total U.S. production for the month was pegged at 162.2 million barrels, Energy Information Administration figures show.