Natural Gas

Highlights



September 2018

• In September 2018, for the 17th consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year to year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in September 2018 was 2,590 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 86.3 Bcf/d. This level was 10.5 Bcf/d (13.8%) higher than the September 2017 level of 75.8 Bcf/d. The average daily rate of dry natural gas production for September was the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly dry natural gas production in 1973.
• The estimated natural gas consumption level in September 2018 was 2,156 Bcf, or 71.9 Bcf/d. This level was 12.1% (7.8 Bcf/d) higher than the 1,923 Bcf consumed in September 2017. Natural gas consumption for September was the highest level for the month since 2001, when EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors.
• Year-over-year total consumption of dry natural gas in September 2018 increased in three of the four consuming sectors. Deliveries of natural gas by consuming sector in September 2018 were:
  
  • Residential deliveries: 113 Bcf, or 3.77 Bcf/d, which was down 1.7% compared with 3.83 Bcf/d in September 2017. Residential deliveries were the third lowest for the month since EIA began tracking residential deliveries in 1973.
  • Commercial deliveries: 145 Bcf, or 4.84 Bcf/d, which was up 0.2% compared with 4.83 Bcf/d in September 2017. Commercial deliveries were the highest for the month since 2014.
  • Industrial deliveries: 644 Bcf, or 21.5 Bcf/d, which was up 4.5% compared with 20.5 Bcf/d in September 2017. Industrial deliveries were the highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001. September was the 17th consecutive month that industrial deliveries set a new monthly high.
  • Electric power deliveries: 1,044 Bcf, or 34.8 Bcf/d, which was up 21.1% compared with 28.7 Bcf/d in September 2017. Electric power deliveries were the highest for the month since 2001, when EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors
• Net natural gas imports (imports minus exports) were -86 Bcf, or -2.9 Bcf/d, in September 2018, making the United States a net exporter. Total imports were 7.2 Bcf/d, a decrease of 5.7% compared with 7.6 Bcf/d in September 2017. Total exports were 10.1 Bcf/d, an increase of 20.8% compared with 8.3 Bcf/d in September 2017. The increase in exports continues to be driven by liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG exports in September 2018 were 47.3% higher than in September 2017. In September 2018, the United States exported 2.7 Bcf/d of LNG to 13 countries.