U.S. natural gas production set records in 2017: EIA

HOUSTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Natural gas production in the United States set records in 2017, according to the measurement of the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) published on Tuesday.

U.S. natural gas production measured as gross withdrawals reached 90.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2017, the highest volume on record, according to EIA's Monthly Crude Oil, Lease Condensate, and Natural Gas Production Report. U.S. natural gas production measured as marketed natural gas production also reached a new high, but dry natural gas production did not exceed 2015 levels.

EIA's Monthly Crude Oil, Lease Condensate, and Natural Gas Production Report collects monthly oil and natural gas production data from a sample of operators of oil and natural gas wells in 15 U.S. states, the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico, and collectively from the remaining states and the Federal Offshore Pacific.

According to EIA, U.S. natural gas gross withdrawals increased for five straight months starting in July 2017, ultimately reaching a record monthly high of 96.7 Bcf/d in December 2017. Marketed natural gas production also reached an annual record high of 78.9 Bcf/d in 2017 and monthly record high of almost 84.0 Bcf/d in December 2017.

Dry natural gas production in 2017 remained lower than previous records in 2015 on an annual level at 73.6 Bcf/d, said the organization.

As natural gas production increased, the volume of natural gas exports-both through pipelines and as liquefied natural gas (LNG)-also increased. Total natural gas exports grew 36 percent in 2017, with LNG exports nearly quadrupling. The United States became a net natural gas exporter in 2017 for the first time in nearly 60 years. Enditem