The legal team of oilfield injury lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP is dedicated to protecting the rights of injured oil rig workers and is one of the only firms with knowledge of maritime law willing to pursue justice in these practice areas in New Mexico and throughout the entire United States.
When Did Oil and Gas Production Begin in New Mexico?
Oil and natural gas deposits were first discovered in New Mexico during the 1920s. Oil production peaked during the 1960s, and natural gas production is currently peaking following the discovery of coal gas in the San Juan Basin over the past 15 years.
What is the Economic Impact of Oil and Gas Production on New Mexico?
Crude oil and gas production is a staple of New Mexico’s economy. The value of oil and gas production for the state was $8.2 billion in the year 2000. Oil and natural gas production contributes approximately $1.2 billion to New Mexico’s economy each year, and taxes on these products contribute about 20% of the state’s general fund.
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How Much Oil and Natural Gas is in New Mexico?
New Mexico ranks 2nd in the U.S. in natural gas production and 5th in oil production. In 2001, nearly 70 million barrels of oil and 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas were produced in New Mexico.
Is There Fracking in New Mexico?
Fracking has been used in New Mexico for more than a half-century and over 50,000 times to increase the production of oil and natural gas. In the 1980s and 1990s, there were great advances in fracking design and the development of horizontal drilling, which is the process of drilling a well from the surface to a subsurface location just above the target oil or gas reservoir called the “kickoff point.”
It was the marriage of fracking and horizontal drilling that opened up the “shale revolution,” by allowing what had been uneconomic geologic formations to become valuable resources in New Mexico.
New Mexico Energy Profile Quick Facts
- In 2021, New Mexico became America's 2nd-largest crude oil-producing state after Texas. New Mexico accounted for over 11% of total U.S. crude oil production that year.
- New Mexico consistently ranks in the top 10 natural gas-producing states and has nearly 6% of total proven natural gas reserves in the country.
- New Mexico has nearly 3% of the nation’s estimated recoverable coal reserves. In 2020, the state accounted for 2% of American coal production.
- In 2021, wind energy accounted for 30% of New Mexico’s utility-scale electricity net generation.
- New Mexico is 1 of 15 states that produce natural gas from coalbeds. In 2020, New Mexico was 2nd only to Colorado in coalbed methane production and accounted for 25% of the country's total.
Man Found Dead at New Mexico Oil Field
One man was killed and another was injured following an accident at an oilfield in Southwest New Mexico, according to the Carlsbad Current-Argus [1.]. Glen Ray Martin, 45, of Panhandle, Texas was found dead at the oil well site owned by Mewbourne Oil Company. The 2 men were working at the site when the incident occurred, police said.
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Contractor Killed at Petroleum Site in New Mexico
A Texas contractor working at a Marathon Petroleum facility in Eddy County, New Mexico died in what authorities called an “industrial accident.” The 49-year-old man had been inspecting railway tank cars just before he was found unconscious and not breathing inside one of the cars.
Unfortunately, the incident was not the first time a worker has been killed at a Marathon Petroleum facility. In December 2018, an explosion and fire severely burned 4 contractors at Marathon’s MarkWest Energy plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of the workers would later die of his injuries.
Get a Free Lawsuit Evaluation With Our New Mexico Oil Field Accident and Injury Lawyers
The Personal injury protection lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP, have experience dealing with the rights of American oilfield workers, and we are one of the only firms willing to handle oilfield workplace accidents in New Mexico and throughout the entire United States.
Again, if you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an oilfield accident in New Mexico, you should contact our oil field accident lawyers immediately by using the form below or calling our law firm toll-free 24 hrs/day by dialing (866) 588-0600 to schedule a free case review and legal options.
Clients may be able to recover fair compensation for medical expenses from an oil company in a lawsuit and a personal injury lawyer can help.
