Thanks to the safe development of America’s abundant shale resources, the United States extended its lead as the world’s top producer of oil and natural gas, according to recently released data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). With Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale accounting for 36% of the United States’ natural gas production, America’s position of global strength, and our nation’s energy security, continues to expand.
From EIA’s report:
The United States remained the world’s top producer of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons in 2014. … U.S. hydrocarbon production continues to exceed that of both Russia and Saudi Arabia, the second- and third-largest producers, respectively. … With the increase in U.S. production, the United States produced nearly twice the petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons as produced by Saudi Arabia in 2014.
Here’s what they’re saying:
- “Record Natural Gas Production” Drives U.S. Lead Over Russia, Saudi Arabia: The U.S. was the world’s biggest producer of hydrocarbon fuels for the third year in a row in 2014, according to new government data. Record natural gas production and a historic crude oil surge widened the gap between the U.S. and its two closest rivals, Russia and Saudi Arabia, EIA said in a report Tuesday. The total U.S. daily output of liquid and gas energy in 2014 was 54.6 quadrillion British thermal units, an increase of 4.8 quadrillion Btu over 2013. Russia produced 43 quadrillion Btu, while Saudi Arabia produced 27.5 quadrillion. The increasing gap results both from rising U.S. production in dense rock formations because of technological advances, and from stagnating production in Russia and Saudi Arabia.(Houston Chronicle, 4/8/15)
- U.S. Production “Double That of Saudi Arabia”: The United States expanded its lead as the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas last year as output from fracking fields surged, the U.S. Department of Energy reported Tuesday. While hydrocarbon production in Russia and Saudi Arabia remained relatively flat, U.S. output, by the British thermal unit (Btu) measure of energy content, gained about 10 percent to nearly 55 quadrillion Btu last year. That increase represented a 1.6 million barrel a day rise in crude production and a 13.9 billion cubic feet a day rise in natural gas production. U.S. output now stands at about double that of Saudi Arabia. (AFP, 4/7/15)
- “U.S. Leads World in Oil and Gas Production”: The U.S. beat both Saudi Arabia and Russia as the top producer of both oil and gas in 2014, the government reported Tuesday. “U.S. hydrocarbon production continues to exceed that of both Russia and Saudi Arabia, the second- and third-largest producers, respectively,” EIA reported. … Natural gas production also swelled in 2014, increasing by 5 quadrillion British thermal units, or 13.9 billion cubic feet per day, over the past five years, the administration reported. (Washington Examiner, 4/7/15)
- “U.S. Extends Lead as World’s Top Hydrocarbon Producer”: S. output of natural gas and petroleum increased by 10 percent in 2014, extending its lead as the world’s biggest hydrocarbon producer. … About 52 percent of U.S. hydrocarbon production was on the liquids side, including crude oil, natural gas liquids and biofuels. (Bloomberg News, 4/7/15)
EIA’s new report underscores the clear fact that higher energy taxes put America’s energy security and shale’s countless benefits in jeopardy. As Dennis Martire of the Laborers’ International Union of North America recently said: “If you excessively tax the shale industry, you risk hurting employers, workers and communities across this state.”
In addition, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette writes this in an editorial this week: “It makes no economic sense for the industry to remain in Pennsylvania and pay such punitive taxes.” Local government officials are also deeply concerned about the negative economic consequences of higher energy taxes.
Become a United Shale Advocate today and join the thousands of fellow Pennsylvanians strongly urging Harrisburg to focus on creating jobs, not higher energy taxes.
