US Crude Production Rose to 7.01 Million B/D in January for The First Time in 20 Years

US crude production rose to 7.01 million b/d in January for the first time in 20 years, the American Petroleum Institute said Thursday. 

Domestic crude production, including condensate, was up 14.3% from output of 6.14 million b/d in January 2012 and up 0.6% from December, the API said in its monthly statistical report. 

Year-over-year increases for production have been seen for 16 straight months, the API said, led by dramatic increases in unconventional onshore sources. 

Production in the Lower 48 states increased in January to an average of 6.4 million b/d -- the highest production level in 26 years. North Dakota production remained above 700,000 b/d for the sixth consecutive month. 

"At their third-lowest production in 36 years, Alaskan production in January fell by 1% from January 2012 and was down 0.8% from December 2012 to average 587,000 b/d," API said.