Oil and Gas in Missouri

Oil was discovered in Missouri shortly after the Civil War when water wells were being drilled near Kansas City. Missouri has seen a marked increase in the production of oil in the last several years. Although Missouri has limited supplies of traditional hydrocarbons, relatively large deposits of “heavy oil” exist that are of increasing interest to producers. Missouri potentially has large quantities of "unconventional" energy resources that include: coalbed methane, oil sand and oil shale. New technologies and efficient, environmentally responsible oil production strengthen Missouri’s future and result in increased economic benefit to the state through jobs and revenue. Gas production numbers have been collected by the state’s Geological Survey since 1928, and oil production number have been collected since 1931.

Learn more in The Geologic Column of Missouri – Oil and Gas in Missouri and Missouri Resources Magazine – Missouri's Black Gold. Fact Sheet – Oil and Gas in Missouri.

Oil and Gas Permits Database

The Missouri Geological Survey is responsible, in part, for activities associated with the exploration, production and subsurface storage of oil and gas in Missouri. A portion of these responsibilities include reviewing, approving and maintaining applications to drill oil and gas production wells, underground injection control wells (enhanced oil recovery, disposal and hydrocarbon storage wells). The oil and gas database contains permits for more than 10,400 wells. Well status includes under construction, active, inactive, plugged and abandoned.

Downhole Stratigraphic and Geophysical Logs Database

The Missouri Geological Survey is responsible for the collection and archival of stratigraphic and geophysical downhole information relating to oil and gas wells in Missouri. The stratigraphic and geophysical log database represents a complete historical accumulation of stratigraphic and geophysical downhole information collected by the Survey, excluding the information contained in the Logmain database. Although the majority of information was acquired from boreholes associated with the oil and gas industry, boreholes related to other sources are in the stratigraphic and geophysical logs database. The database contains approximately 4,100 individual logs. The oldest information in the database dates back to 1939, representing approximately 75 years of stratigraphic and geophysical downhole information.

Underground Injection Control

• Class V Well Inventory (December 2017)
  This inventory is scheduled to be updated semiannually in January and July
• Class V Well Inventory Form

Law and Regulations

Oil and Gas Production
Oil and Gas Rules | Rules in Development

Overview of Rule Revisions (12/28/16)

Forms

Oil and Gas Forms (Downloadable and fill-in-able)

Publications

• The Pennsylvanian Subsystem of Missouri
  This publication may be ordered from the Missouri Geology Store.
• Lexicon of Stratigraphic Nomenclature in Missouri
  This publication may be ordered from the Missouri Geology Store.

Operators and Service Companies in Missouri

Oil and Gas Operators and Service Companies in Missouri

Data and Reports

Oil and Gas Production (1928 - 02/20/18) - Cumulative Data

Oil and Gas Wells (updated 02/02/2018)

State Oil and Gas Council

The State Oil and Gas Council publishes rules and regulations that apply to oil and gas drilling and producing operations to foster and promote orderly and economic development, production and use of natural resources of oil and gas.

Learn more about council members, upcoming and past meetings, laws, regulations and council orders.

Staff Contacts

• Chris Vierrether, Geologist and Unit Chief (Oil, Gas and Class II Injection Wells), 573-368-2370
• Kyle Brown, Geologist (Oil, Gas and Class II Injection Wells), 573-368-2195
• To contact the Missouri Geological Survey's Geologic Resources Section, call 573-368-2100 or send email.