March 2026
It just ain’t like it used to be.
For the second half of the 20th century, oil and gas was a huge industry in northern Michigan, with certain geologic formations attracting the attention of major multinational companies who – along with smaller players – produced millions of barrels.
Now, production levels are a fraction of what they were in those glory days, particularly in the northern half of the state, and exploration activity is down to almost nothing.
Data shows the state hasn’t cracked six million barrels of oil per year in a decade, with many years north of 25 million in the 1970s and 1980s. Recent gas production is averaging less than a third of the boom days of the 1990s. There were just 19 new holes drilled in…
