U.S. crude oil production dropped by 157,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September, marking the largest monthly decline since January, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released on Friday.
This reduction brought total output to 13.20 million bpd.
The decrease is attributed to prolonged closures of several oil and gas facilities in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, which were impacted by Hurricanes Francine and Helene as they moved through the region before making landfall.
Offshore Gulf of Mexico production fell by 12% month-over-month, dropping to 1.58 million bpd.
This is the lowest output level recorded in the area in three years, according to the EIA.
In Texas, the country’s leading oil-producing state, production rose slightly to 5.81 million bpd, setting a new record high, surpassing the 5.80 million bpd recorded in August.
New Mexico, however, experienced a small decline in output, with production falling 0.2% to 2.09 million bpd in September.
Gross natural gas production in the U.S. Lower 48 states also fell for the second straight month, slipping to 114.9 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd).
In Texas, natural gas production eased by 0.5%, reaching 35.83 bcfd.
In Pennsylvania, the second-largest gas-producing state, output decreased by 1.6% to 19.71 bcfd during the same period.