U.S. natural gas production, consumption, and exports in 2018 hit record highs, the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA) reported on Friday.
According to EIA's Natural Gas Annual 2018, U.S. dry natural gas production in 2018 increased by 12 percent, reaching a record-high average of 83.8 billion cubic feet (about 2.37 billion cubic meters) per day.
This increase was the largest percentage increase since 1951 and the largest volumetric increase in the history of the series, which dates back to 1930.
Meanwhile, U.S. natural gas consumption increased by 11 percent in 2018, driven by increased natural gas consumption in the electric power sector.
Natural gas gross exports totaled 10.0 billion cubic feet per day in 2018, or 14 percent more than the 2017 total of 8.6 billion cubic feet per day.
Moreover, several new liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities came online in 2018, allowing for more exports.
Texas remained the top natural gas-producing state in the country, with a production level of 18.7 billion cubic feet per day, as a result of continued drilling activity in the Permian Basin in western Texas and eastern New Mexico.
Editor:Cherie
