Oil Exploration & Production

CountryMark’s strategic objective is to assure a reliable and sustainable supply of local crude to meet CountryMark’s daily refining requirements and produce a quality portfolio of finished products. One of the critical steps in achieving this priority occurred in 2008, when CountryMark began investing in oil exploration and production opportunities in the Illinois Basin. Those early investments led CountryMark, in 2010, to make a greater commitment to its interest in American oil exploration and production. At that time, assets were acquired, employees were hired and Countrymark Energy Resources, LLC, the oil exploration and production subsidiary of Countrymark Cooperative Holding Corp., was formed.

CountryMark’s initial oil production acquisition in 2010 included 750 oil wells that produced 1,100 barrels of oil per day. Through improved oil field operations, oil exploration success and carefully selected acquisition, CountryMark has grown to become one of the largest oil producers in the Illinois Basin. Today, CountryMark operates more than 900 oil wells, producing ~1100 barrels of oil per day.

More than 90% of CountryMark’s oil leases are located in the Illinois Basin, a 60,000 square mile depression in southern Illinois, southern Indiana and western Kentucky. CountryMark also has non-operating oil leases in Texas, Kansas and Louisiana.