Oklahoma Number two in natural gas sales

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma is the second largest producer of natural gas and the sale of that gas is helping the state's bottom line. <br/><br/>According to numbers compiled by the Oklahoma Corporation

Wednesday, October 13th 2004, 6:07 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma is the second largest producer of natural gas and the sale of that gas is helping the state's bottom line.

According to numbers compiled by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the Energy Information Administration, Oklahoma finished calendar year 2003 one spot behind perennial front-runner Texas, with New Mexico slipping to the number three spot previously occupied by Oklahoma.

Commissioner Jeff Cloud says the whole state has benefited from Oklahoma's increased natural gas production.

According to the Office of State Finance, Oklahoma natural gas production generated about 444 (m) million dollars in production taxes in the last fiscal year, and almost 90 (m) million dollars in the first two months of this fiscal year.

In calendar year 2003, Oklahoma had sold about 1-point-67 (t) trillion cubic feet, an increase of about 120 (b) billion cubic feet from 2002.

Texas was the top producer, with about 5-point-28 (t) trillion cubic feet, followed by Oklahoma, New Mexico with about 1-point-55 (t) trillion cubic feet and Louisiana with about 1-point-37 (t) trillion cubic feet.