Recent news has shed light on the United States’ success in becoming the world’s No. 1 oil and natural gas producing country. This is certainly something the MSC and its member companies take great pride in, and Pennsylvania deserves credit for its significant contribution to the nation’s growing production of clean, affordable natural gas.
A new report released by the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) identified Pennsylvania and Texas as leading the rest of the country in natural gas production growth over the past decade. Overall, U.S. production grew in 2019 by 10.8 percent. Pennsylvania came in just 2 points behind Texas for total production volume, but there is a notable gap separating it from other states.
Pennsylvania has experienced quarter-over-quarter increases in shale production for at least the past 13 consecutive quarters, the IFO reported.
IFO’s report, which is based on data collected from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), identifies the Commonwealth’s top producing counties: Susquehanna, Washington, Greene, and Bradford.
Last month, the Energy Information Administration released data confirming that the United States set new records in natural gas production, consumption and exports in 2018, with growth concentrated in the Appalachian, Permian and Haynesville regions. Pennsylvania had the largest year-over-year increase in natural gas production for the year, increasing by 2 billion cubic feet per day.
These trends show Pennsylvania will continue to play a critical and significant role in contributing to U.S. energy independence and delivering the meaningful economic and environmental benefits that natural gas provides. As the MSC’s latest annual video shows, the progress our industry has made over the past decade is only eclipsed by the promising opportunities ahead.
