When you mention oil production in the United States, most people think of Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska and perhaps North Dakota due to the recent, massive Bakken Shale development there. These states currently rank 1st, 5th, 3rd and 2nd respectively in producing barrels of oil per day. Rarely will California be mentioned.  However, the most populous state in the country, the leading user of solar energy and leading producer of fruits, nuts, vegetables and wine, produces over 525,000 barrels of oil per day — ranking it 4th in oil production.
Those in the know and those that live in California would be quick to tell you that Kern County, California has been and still is producing large volumes of oil and gas. Located at the southern end of the California Central Valley, oil development began in southwestern Kern County with the 1894 discovery of the Midway-Sunset field, now the 3rd largest oil field in the United States. Yet it was an 1899 discovery along the Kern River, today part of the giant Kern River Oil Field, that was the breakthrough in Kern County’s oil production. The Kern River Field has produced more than 2 billion barrels of oil to date, also making it one of the top oil fields in the country.   In fact, the U.S. Energy Information Administration ranks four Kern County fields in the top 15 U.S. oil fields in proved reserves: Midway-Sunset, Kern River, South Belridge and Elk Hills. Kern County also produces a significant amount of natural gas and leads California in both oil and natural gas production with 75 percent and 58 percent of statewide production respectively.
The oil fields in Kern County are situated mainly in the western portion of the county, allowing forestry, residential and commercial aspects of the county to thrive without the oil fields interfering, and vice versa. Kern County has 37 high-efficiency cogeneration facilities, which play a vital role in the area’s oil-producing operations. Producing two sources of energy in the form of steam and electricity, these facilities allow heavy oil to flow and be produced efficiently, economically and with reduced air emissions.
If you have royalty interests in Kern County, we’d love to talk to you about your options. Oil prices are peaking and natural gas prices have remained steadily higher than a few years ago, which means it’s a great time to sell your interests and maximize your gain. Waiting too long may limit the amount you can receive for your interests.  Please contact us if you have any questions about selling your oil and gas royalties.
