U.S. Natural Gas Production Hits New Record in 2018, Exports Grow for Fourth Consecutive Year: EIA

U.S. natural gas production grew by 10.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2018, an 11 percent increase from the previous year, according to the Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Crude Oil, Lease Condensate, and Natural Gas Production Report.

• The growth was the largest annual increase in production on record, following an already record-breaking 2017. The nation’s natural gas production measured as gross withdrawals averaged about 100 Bcf/d in 2018, the highest volume on record.
• U.S. natural gas production measured as marketed production and dry natural gas production also reached record highs at 89.6 Bcf/d and 83.4 Bcf/d, respectively.
• Gross withdrawals, which include full well stream volume from both oil and gas wells, increased every month during 2018 except in June, ultimately reaching a record monthly high of 107.8 Bcf/d in December 2018.
• Total natural gas exports grew 14% in 2018, and LNG exports grew by 53%. The volume of natural gas exports increased for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 9.9 Bcf/d, with both pipeline and LNG exports reaching record monthly highs in December 2018 of 7.7 Bcf/d and 4.0 Bcf/d, respectively.
• In 2017, the U.S. became a net exporter of natural gas for the first time in nearly 60 years thanks to the shale revolution.