Largely because of growth in Pennsylvania and Ohio, U.S. natural gas production reached a new record in 2018 and saw the largest increase since 1930, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Pennsylvania had the largest year-over-year production increase for dry natural gas in 2018, increasing by 2 billion cubic feet per day. Ohio had the third-largest increase at 1.7 billion cubic feet per day, according to EIA’s Natural Gas Annual 2018.
The federal agency reported that the United States set new records in natural gas production, consumption and exports in 2018, with growth concentrated in the Appalachian, Permian and Haynesville regions:
- Dry natural gas production increased by 12%, reaching a record-high average of 83.8 billion cubic feet per day — the largest percentage increase since 1951 and the largest volumetric increase since 1930.
- Natural gas consumption increased by 11%, driven by increased natural gas consumption in the electric power sector.
- Natural gas gross exports totaled 10 billion cubic feet per day, 14% more than in 2017. Several new liquefied natural gas export facilities came online in 2018, which also contributed to export growth.
Demand for natural gas as a home heating fuel was greater in 2018 than in 2017 because of slightly colder weather during most of the winter. Similarly, the summer of 2018 saw record-high temperatures that increased demand for air conditioning and, therefore, electricity — much of which was fueled by natural gas, EIA said.
