Low Prices Hurting Local Oil Industry

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Oil production in the first quarter is up in Laramie County compared to last year, but low prices is steadily slowing production numbers in the county.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports  data from the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission show the 1.37 million barrels produced in the county in the first three months of 2015 is about 8.5 percent less than the last quarter of 2014.

Petroleum Association of Wyoming vice president John Robitaille says the month-to-month production decreases this year could be caused by low oil prices.

Production was at an all-time high in December, right before per-barrel prices dropped to around $40 a barrel. This week, they're up around $60.