U.S. Oil Production Reaches 24-Year High

Crude oil production in the United States rose last week to the highest level since May 1989, the Department of Energy said.

Production grew by 1.6%, or 124,000 barrels, to 7.745 million barrels a day in the week ended Sept. 6, DOE’s Energy Information Administration said in a Sept. 11 report. It partially credited hydraulic fracturing in areas such as North Dakota and Texas for bringing the level to historic highs.

Rising domestic production has reduced the need for the United States to import oil, EIA said. The country met 87% of its demand for oil in the first half of 2013, a share EIA expects to rise.