where does most of us oil come from
Most of the oil the U.S. uses comes from two main places : domestic production (especially Texas and other shale regions) and imports primarily from Canada, with Mexico and a few other countries making up smaller shares.
Quick Scoop: Where Does Most of US Oil Come From?
- The U.S. is currently the largest oil producer in the world , with a big share of its crude coming from inside the country, especially Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, North Dakota, and New Mexico.
- Roughly 60% of the crude oil run through U.S. refineries is produced domestically , meaning more than half is “home-grown” oil.
- The rest is imported because U.S. refineries are designed to handle a mix of light and heavy crude types, not just what is produced locally.
Main Foreign Sources (Imports)
When people ask “where does most of US oil come from,” they often mean imported oil:
- Canada – By far the largest foreign supplier, providing about 60% of U.S. crude oil imports.
- Mexico – Usually the second-largest, around 7–10% of total petroleum imports.
- Other suppliers – Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Colombia, and a mix of other OPEC and non‑OPEC countries provide the remaining smaller shares.
So if you imagine a barrel of oil the U.S. uses:
- A bit over half is likely from inside the U.S. itself.
- Of the imported portion, most is from Canada , then a smaller slice from Mexico, and the rest from a spread of other countries.
Simple HTML Table of Main Import Sources
| Source | Role for US oil |
|---|---|
| United States (domestic) | Largest overall source; about 60% of crude run in refineries is produced domestically. | [9][5]
| Canada | Biggest foreign supplier; roughly 60% of U.S. crude oil imports. | [1][5][7]
| Mexico | Second‑largest foreign supplier; around 7–10% of total petroleum imports. | [5][7][1]
| Other countries (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Colombia, etc.) | Smaller but important shares to balance crude types for refineries. | [7][10][1]
Quick Story-Style Snapshot
Think of the U.S. oil supply like a two‑lane highway :
- One lane is domestic production , now carrying the heavier traffic thanks to shale and offshore drilling.
- The other lane is imports , dominated by a long convoy from Canada, a steady stream from Mexico, and a few smaller trucks from places like Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Why This Mix?
- U.S. refineries were built over decades to run certain blends of crude (light vs heavy, sweet vs sour), so they still import specific grades even while producing a lot at home.
- Focusing imports on neighbors like Canada and Mexico also supports energy security and logistics efficiency , since pipelines and Gulf Coast refineries are set up for that flow.
TL;DR
Most U.S. oil use comes first from U.S. fields , and then from Canada as the main foreign source, with Mexico and a handful of other countries providing smaller but important amounts.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.