Oil and Gas Production

Pawnee County oil production

According to the Kansas Geological Survey at the University of Kansas, the earliest production oil well in Pawnee County was drilled in July 1936. Th e operator was Simpson Oil Company and it was located in the northeast corner of the county, northwest of the City of Pawnee Rock.

Located in what is known as the Arbuckle Formation, the well was 3,841 feet deep. Th e well was plugged in October 1939.

Th e KSGS reported that in 2020, 155 oil wells produced 176,325 barrels of oil. In addition, 79 wells produced 406,870 mcf of natural gas (one mcf equals 1,000 cubic feet).

As of April 2021, 135 wells had pumped 58,459 barrels, and 69 wells had extracted 58,459 mcf of natural gas.

Th ere are 107 active oil and gas fi elds in Pawnee County.

Kansas total oil production for 2020 was 28,257,474 barrels. For gas, the total was 164,248,436 mcf.