New rankings from the American Petroleum Institute (API) show that individual states rank alongside – and in many cases exceed – the output of top energy producing countries in the world. The rankings draw from data compiled by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on energy production and are compared to the output of the world’s top producers of oil and natural gas.

API’s rankings show that in terms of dry natural gas production, the state of Texas alone ranks second in the world, with output exceeding that of entire nations such as China, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Texas also comes out ahead of the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait in crude oil production.

Colorado

Another standout in the rankings is Colorado. The state ranks 19^th in the world for natural gas output, ahead of nations such as Venezuela, Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The ramifications of this level of energy production were highlighted in a press release quoting Tracee Bentley from the Colorado Petroleum Council:

“This is what energy security looks like,” said Tracee Bentley, executive director of the Colorado Petroleum Council, “Thanks to innovations in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, Colorado now outpaces seven of 12 OPEC nations in natural gas production. Rising domestic production has helped to reshape global markets and revitalize job creation here in the United States.”

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania also stands out in terms of natural gas production, ranking 13^th in the world. The Observer-Reporter noted its significance:

“The Keystone State achieved global prominence for its natural gas production, according to rankings published Thursday by Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania. The commonwealth’s output of 6.13 billion cubic feet per day is 13th in the world – behind 12 nations. And it’s more prolific than eight of 12 OPEC countries. “

Other states earning high rankings in natural gas production include Louisiana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Arkansas and New Mexico. States ranking ahead of energy producing nations in terms of crude oil production include North Dakota, California, Alaska, Oklahoma and New Mexico.

Notably, API credits hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling for the rise in production that is making these states global leaders in energy production. From the New Mexico Political Report:

“Thanks to innovations in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, New Mexico now outpaces six of 12 OPEC nations in natural gas production,” API Vice President for Regulatory and Economic Policy Kyle Isakower said in a statement. “Rising domestic production has helped to reshape global markets and revitalize job creation here in the United States.”

The new rankings demonstrate not only how individual states have increased production due to hydraulic fracturing, but how our oil and gas industry is significantly impacting world markets. In fact, the rankings come as new reports detail the global impact of U.S. oil and gas production.

With oil production at the highest level in nearly three decades and natural gas production levels that continue to rise, the U.S. is well poised to continue to be a world leader in 2015 and beyond.