Public oil and gas firms produce 68% of U.S. crude despite being just 2% of producers

The U.S. oil and gas sector is heavily concentrated among publicly traded companies, which account for only 2% of the roughly 12,000 producers but generated 68% of Lower 48 crude and natural gas output in 2025.

First covered Sep 22, 2026 · 7:00 AM PT · 1 article

Public oil and gas firms produce 68% of U.S. crude despite being just 2% of producers — Image via eia.gov

Coverage

4d EIA Today in Energy Public companies produce most U.S. crude oil and natural gas — Publicly traded companies represent a tiny share of the total number of companies producing crude oil and natural gas in the United States, but they make up a…

Primary sources

energy.gov Department of Energy

usa.gov Making government services easier to find | USAGov

More coverage from around the web

oilandgasiq.com The Top 10 Oil & Gas Companies in 2025

yearbook.enerdata.net Crude Oil Production Statistics | Crude Oil | Enerdata

blackridgeresearch.com List of Top 10 Largest Oil and Gas Companies in USA 2026

globaldata.com Unconventional Production in the US Lower 48: Market Trends, Economic Viability, and Competitive Benchmarking

guides.loc.gov Oil and Gas Companies - Oil and Gas Industry: A Research Guide - Research Guides at Library of Congress

Appeared in: 2026-09-22 (#12) · 2026-09-23 (#14)

← Back to the brief