EIA: Associated gas production jumped

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports the annual production of associated natural gas increased 9% in 2022 to 15.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in the major U.S. onshore crude oil-producing regions, mostly due to an 8% increase in crude oil production.

Associated natural gas accounted for more than a third of total natural gas production in the Permian, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Niobrara, and Anadarko regions and 14% of all U.S. natural gas production.

“Increasing crude oil production in the Permian region, which spans parts of western Texas and southeastern New Mexico, is driving the growth in associated natural gas production,” the EIA reported. “Currently more oil is produced in the Permian region, the largest of the five major U.S. crude oil-producing regions, than in the other four regions combined. In 2022, production of crude oil increased in the Permian region by 12%.” Associated natural gas production increased by 15% in the Permian region to average 10.2 Bcf/d for the year, and it accounted for 56% of all U.S. associated natural gas production. In recent years, new pipeline takeaway capacity additions have facilitated associated natural gas production growth.

Image: Associated Gas