Do You Know Our Richest Oil States?

It might not come as a surprise that Texas made the top 10 list. They’re the 2^nd largest state in our country, and oil is a big part of their economy. Currently there are 139 active operating refineries in the USA, and just under 100 of them are occupied in these states listed below. It also probably doesn’t come as a surprise that these are typically well paying jobs, and have helped keep the unemployment rates down. Here they are:

1 Texas

• 2011 Proved oil reserves: 7,014 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 27
• Unemployment rate: 6.5%

2 Alaska

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 3,816 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 6
• Unemployment rate: 6.1%

3 California

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 3,005 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 16
• Unemployment rate: 8.5%

4 North Dakota

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 2,649 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 1
• Unemployment rate: 3.1%

5 Oklahoma

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 879 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 5
• Unemployment rate: 5.2%

6 New Mexico

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 866 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 2
• Unemployment rate: 6.8%

7 Wyoming

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 660 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 6
• Unemployment rate: 4.6%

8 Utah

• 11’ Proved oil reserves: 504 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 5
• Unemployment rate: 4.7%

9 Colorado

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 423 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 2
• Unemployment rate: 7%

10 Louisiana

• ’11 Proved oil reserves: 417 million barrels
• Oil refineries: 19
• Unemployment rate: 7%