Fueled in part by growth in Pennsylvania’s natural gas production, the United States set a new record-high average for natural gas production of 83.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a new report.
In 2018, U.S. dry natural gas production rose by 12 percent, the greatest percentage increase since 1951 and the largest volumetric increase in the history of the data series, which dates back to 1930, according to EIA’s Natural Gas Annual 2018 report.
Pennsylvania, which overlays the Appalachian Basin, had the largest year-over-year increase in natural gas production for 2018, increasing by 2.0 Bcf/d, EIA said.
Ohio, which also overlays the Appalachian region, had the third-largest year-over-year increase, growing 1.7 Bcf/d.
The Haynesville shale formation in Louisiana and the Permian Basin in western Texas and eastern New Mexico also had production increases.
These increases are attributed to increased heating and cooling demands. Winter 2018 was slightly colder during most of the season compared to 2017 while summer 2018 saw record-high temperatures.
The U.S. electric power sector was the largest end-user of natural gas, growing 14 percent in 2017. The sector has become reliant during the past decade on natural gas for power generation because it is efficient and prices are affordable.