Production of natural gas across the U.S. continued to surge in December 2017, putting gross production 785 MMcf/d higher on the month at 96.6 Bcf/d to end 2017, the EIA said in its latest "Monthly Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production" report released Feb. 28.
While total production was up 0.8% month on month, the December 2017 figure stood 9.2% above the same month in 2016.
Total U.S. natural gas production, measured by the EIA as "gross withdrawals," includes the natural gas liquids present in "wet" gas as well as nonhydrocarbon gases and any gas delivered as royalty payments or consumed in field operations.
Pennsylvania led the increase with gas production up almost 489 MMcf/d, or 3.1%, on the month, adding to the 2.5 Bcf/d increase logged in the prior two months and putting the state's total near 16.2 Bcf/d. Neighboring state Ohio saw production increase 237 MMcf/d, or 4.2%, to total 5.84 Bcf/d. Louisiana saw output rise 248 MMcf/d, or 3.7%, to total more than 7.0 Bcf/d.
Gas production in the Gulf of Mexico decreased 229 MMcf/d, or 8.7%, to a total of 2.4 Bcf/d.
After topping 10 million barrels per day for the first time ever in November 2017, U.S. oil production slipped in December 2017.
EIA data shows total U.S. crude oil production in December 2017 slipped 1.1% month on month, from 10.06 MMbbl/d in November 2017 to 9.95 MMbbl/d in December 2017, although U.S. oil output remained 13.4% higher than levels recorded in December 2016.
On an absolute basis, production from the Gulf of Mexico saw the biggest decrease, down 131,000 bbl/d, or 7.8%, to near 1.54 MMbbl/d in December 2017.
Partially offsetting the decreased production in the Gulf, Texas output increased 36,000 bbl/d, or 0.9%, to reach 3.93 MMbbl/d, and New Mexico production increased 26,000 bbl/d, or 4.8%, to hit 556,000 bbl/d.
