Dry Natural Gas Production, Consumption Continues To Increase

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that May marked the 12th consecutive month that dry natural gas production increased year to year for the same month a year ago.

The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in May 2018 was 2,491 Bcf, or 80.4 Bcf/day. This level was 8.6 Bcf/day (12.0%) higher than the May 2017 level of 71.8 Bcf/day. The average daily rate of dry natural gas production for May was the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly dry production in 1973.

The estimated natural gas consumption level in May 2018 was 2,044 Bcf, or 65.9 Bcf/day. This level was 7.8% (4.8 Bcf/day) higher than the 1,896 Bcf consumed in May 2017. Natural gas consumption for May was the highest level for the month since 2001, when EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors.