CLIPBOARD : Oil in Decline

Oil production in Orange County has consistently declined in the past five years. Both onshore (down 28%) and offshore (down 45%) decreases contributed to an overall 34% drop in the number of barrels pumped in 1989 (the last full year for which information is available) compared to 1985. And the totals for the first nine months of 1990 suggest that oil production will continue to fall. Here’s how it’s slipped:

Total Percentage Decrease from Year Onshore Offshore Total Previous Year 1990* 4,908,395 2,009,052 6,917,447 -- 1989 7,935,958 3,526,848 11,462,806 12.7 1988 8,973,555 3,945,110 12,918,665 9.2 1987 9,668,112 4,436,912 14,105,024 12.1 1986 10,340,634 5,475,421 15,816,055 10.4 1985 11,004,098 6,464,309 17,468,407 --

* January-September production Source: California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil and Gas