Description of Industries and Summary of Findings

INDUSTRY 1311, CRUDE PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS

This industry is made up of establishments primarily engaged in operating
oil and gas field properties. Such activities include exploration for crude
petroleum and natural gas; drilling, completing, and equipping wells;
operation of separators, emulsion breakers, desilting equipment; and all
other activities incident to making oil and gas marketable up to the point
of shipment from the producing property.  This industry also includes
production of oil through the mining and extraction of oil from oil shale
and oil sands and the production of gas and hydrocarbon liquids through
gasification, liquefaction, and pyrolysis of coal at the mine site.

For census purposes, a crude petroleum or natural gas establishment covers
all onshore oil and gas field activities of an operating company in an
entire State; offshore areas adjacent to a State; e.g., Alaska, California,
Louisiana, and Texas; or offshore areas adjacent to several States; e.g.,
Pacific, Northern Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic offshore.  Separate reports
were required for each State or offshore area in which a company operated.
Reports were obtained from the operators of oil and gas field properties
whether or not they owned the properties operated, but only one report was
required for all oil and gas field properties operated in each State or
offshore area. In many cases, these reports covered the operation of both
oil and gas and gas-condensate wells.

Establishments primarily engaged in performing oil and gas field services
for operators on a contract, fee, or other basis are classified in Industry
Group 138, Oil and Gas Field Services.  Statistics for establishments
primarily engaged in performing oil and gas field services for others
(industry group 138) are shown in the report, Oil and Gas Field Services,
MIC92-I-13C. Production of natural gas liquids is classified in Industry
1321, Natural Gas Liquids, and the statistics are shown in the report,
Natural Gas Liquids, MIC92-I-13B.

Pipeline transportation of petroleum, gasoline, and other petroleum
products is classified in Major Group 46, Pipelines, Except Natural Gas;
and pipeline transportation of natural gas is classified in gas production
and distribution, industries 4922 and 4923. Establishments primarily
engaged in petroleum refining and in the production of lubricating oils and
greases are classified in Major Group 29, Petroleum Refining and Related
Industries, and the information reported is included in the census of
manufactures publications.

In the 1992 Census of Mineral Industries, Industry 1311, Crude Petroleum
and Natural Gas, had employment of 174.3 thousand. The employment figure
was 12 percent below the 198.8 thousand reported in 1987. The total value
of shipments and receipts for the industry was $72.2 billion in 1992. The
value added by mining was $66.5 billion in 1992. Value added per employee
was $381.6 thousand in 1992; it was $341.8 thousand in 1987.

The total cost of supplies used by establishments classified in this
industry amounted to $16.7 billion, while the cost of selected supplies,
minerals received for preparation, and purchased machinery installed
amounted to $8.2 billion and is shown in file NC92F7. The total cost of
fuels used in this industry amounted to $696.1 million in 1992.  Data on
specific fuels used also appear in file NC92F7.

Single-establishment companies in this industry with up to 4 employees were
excluded from the mail portion of the census. The data for these
establishments (and a small number of larger establishments whose reports
were not received at the time the data were tabulated) were imputed as
described above. These establishments accounted for 8 percent of the total
value of shipments and receipts.  Single-establishment companies with 5 to
20 employees were mailed a short census form requesting summary data on
employment, payroll, costs, capital expenditures, and products.