Natural Gas

Current Issues & Trends See more ›

Coal and natural gas operating heat rates to generate electricity diverge from 2006-15

coal generation

Florida’s Sabal Trail pipeline and associated natural gas pipeline projects begin service

Florida pipelines states

Qatar plans to increase liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity by 30% by 2024

LNG Qatar exports/imports production/supply

Construction costs for most power plant types have fallen in recent years

biomass costs electricity generation hydroelectric liquid fuels oil/petroleum power plants solar wind

Even as renewables increase, fossil fuels continue to dominate U.S. energy mix

biomass coal consumption/demand hydroelectric liquid fuels nuclear oil/petroleum renewables

IEnova completes construction on two pipelines bringing Permian gas into Mexico

Mexico Texas pipelines transportation

Sabal Trail Pipeline begins partial service to Florida

Florida pipelines

Earthquake trends in Oklahoma and other states likely related to wastewater injection

Oklahoma oil/petroleum states

Competition between coal and natural gas affects power markets

capacity coal electricity generation

First U.S. floating LNG export facility receives approval to export to non-FTA countries

LNG Louisiana exports/imports

Mexico conducts its first natural gas pipeline capacity open season

Mexico pipelines

United States remains the world’s top producer of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons

OPEC Russia Saudi Arabia international liquid fuels oil/petroleum production/supply

The United Kingdom's largest storage facility will be unavailable for injections until May 2018 or later

United Kingdom exports/imports inventories/stocks storage

New liquefied natural gas bunkering facility in Jacksonville, Florida

LNG storage transportation

First floating liquefaction facility begins operations

LNG

California electricity mix in 2017 has involved more renewables, less natural gas

California electricity renewables states weather

SoCalGas updates assessment of summer reliability

inventories/stocks storage

Natural gas has displaced coal in the Northeast’s generation mix over the past 10 years

Northeast coal electricity generation

First world-scale, greenfield nitrogenous fertilizer plant opened in over 25 years

industrial

Pipeline sending natural gas from western Canada to Chicago considers expanding capacity

Canada HGL pipelines transportation

Canadian drilling drops off during spring breakup

Canada drilling production/supply rig count weather

In 2016, natural gas exceeds coal for the first time in the U.S. electricity generation mix

coal electric generation electricity generating fuel mix generation

Ohio and Pennsylvania increased natural gas production more than other states in 2016

Ohio Pennsylvania Texas production/supply states

Natural gas inventories end heating season above five-year average

capacity inventories/stocks storage

Proposed expansion of Alliance pipeline capacity to Chicago market hub

pipelines states

EIA expects natural gas to be largest source of U.S. electricity generation this summer

STEO electricity electricity generating fuel mix forecasts/projections generation hydroelectric weather

Natural gas stocks end heating season at the third highest level in 10 years

inventories/stocks storage weather

U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions fell 1.7% in 2016

CO2 coal electricity emissions generation

Heating season spot prices in 2016–17 averaged 52% higher than in 2015–16

Henry Hub prices spot prices

U.S. households’ heating equipment choices are diverse and vary by climate region

RECS distillate fuel electricity residential weather wood

U.S. energy consumption rose slightly in 2016 despite a significant decline in coal use

coal consumption/demand oil/petroleum renewables

U.S. natural gas storage capacity increased slightly in 2016

inventories/stocks storage weather

Total U.S. energy production falls in 2016 after six consecutive years of increases

coal crude oil nuclear petroleum products production/supply renewables total energy

Thirteen gigawatts of natural gas-fired power generating capacity to be added in 2017

capacity consumption/demand generating capacity

Increase in rail shipments of propane, butane to West Coast offsets decreasing production

Canada West Coast exports/imports propane rail

Growing global liquefied natural gas trade could support market hub development in Asia

LNG international

TransCanada reduces and simplifies toll rates to remain competitive

Canada New York pipelines

Natural gas spot prices rise with forecasts of colder temperatures along the eastern seaboard

Massachusetts New England New Mexico prices spot prices weather

Warm weather leads to first recorded natural gas storage injection in February

inventories/stocks storage weather

U.S. crude oil and natural gas production both fell in 2016

crude oil liquid fuels production/supply states

FERC certificates several new natural gas pipelines in 2017

Marcellus Michigan New York Ohio Pennsylvania Utica West Virginia pipelines states transportation

U.S. liquefaction capacity continues to expand

LNG exports/imports

Canada is the United States’ largest partner for energy trade

Canada crude oil liquid fuels oil/petroleum

Drilling Productivity Report forecasts production rise in six out of seven shale regions

drilling production/supply shale

Liquefied natural gas exports expected to drive growth in U.S. natural gas trade

AEO LNG exports/imports

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enters a no-quorum period

pipelines regulation

Projected electricity generation mix is sensitive to policies, natural gas prices

AEO electricity environment generation prices resources

Argentina seeking increased natural gas production from shale resources to reduce imports

Argentina Eagle Ford consumption/demand exports/imports international production/supply shale

Rail provides outlet for growing Appalachian HGL production

HGL production/supply rail shale

U.S. energy trade with Mexico: U.S. export value more than twice import value in 2016

Mexico crude oil exports/imports liquid fuels oil/petroleum petroleum products

U.S. coal production and coal-fired electricity generation expected to rise in near term

coal electricity generation production/supply

The San Elizario Border Crossing Project is authorized to commence service

Texas pipelines

Natural gas-fired generating capacity likely to increase over next two years

STEO coal electricity electricity generating fuel mix generating capacity generation retirements

EIA’s weekly natural gas storage data now include measures of sampling variability

inventories/stocks storage

Additions to data in the EIA Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report

inventories/stocks storage

Natural gas prices in 2017 and 2018 are expected to be higher than last year

STEO prices

Cold winter in Asia prompts record levels of U.S. LNG exports

LNG exports/imports prices

Natural gas-fired power plants lead electric capacity additions in Mexico

Mexico capacity electricity generation international

U.S. ethane production, consumption, and exports expected to increase through 2018

HGL NGL consumption/demand ethane exports/imports liquid fuels production/supply

Natural gas prices in 2016 were the lowest in nearly 20 years

Henry Hub New England New York Northeast consumption/demand electric generation exports/imports inventories/stocks prices storage

Wholesale power prices in 2016 fell, reflecting lower natural gas prices

coal electricity electricity generating fuel mix generating capacity retirements wholesale prices

Energy commodity prices rose more than other commodity sectors in 2016

diesel gasoline liquid fuels oil/petroleum prices

December natural gas consumption notably up over last year and five-year average

consumption/demand weather

U.S. natural gas production resilient to market changes in 2015, but has fallen in 2016

prices production/supply shale states

Tennessee Gas Pipeline will abandon one of four natural gas lines, repurposing to southbound liquids transport

HGL NGL pipelines

U.S. oil and natural gas proved reserves declined in 2015 because of lower prices

liquid fuels reserves states

LNG imports remain high at Mexico's Manzanillo terminal

LNG Mexico exports/imports

EIA adds population density layers to U.S. Energy Mapping System

electricity oil/petroleum

New England natural gas pipeline capacity increases for the first time since 2010

New England capacity pipelines

Unseasonably warm weather reduces U.S. heating demand

consumption/demand electric generation power plants weather

New U.S. border-crossing pipelines bring shale gas to more regions in Mexico

LNG Mexico international pipelines

U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico continue to grow

Mexico exports/imports international

New infrastructure aims to increase takeaway capacity of natural gas from Utica region

HGL LNG Marcellus Ohio Pennsylvania Utica West Virginia pipelines

EIA creates winter version of its daily energy dashboard for Southern California

California electric generation electricity generation inventories/stocks pipelines states storage

Coal may surpass natural gas as most common electricity generation fuel this winter

coal electricity generation weather

Woodfibre LNG becomes the first Canadian LNG project to receive Final Investment Decision

Canada LNG

Amount of natural gas in storage reaches new record

inventories/stocks storage weather

Microchannel gas-to-liquid plants convert stranded natural gas to marketable products

liquid fuels

Natural gas stocks end refill season at record high level

inventories/stocks storage

Declining investment in Norway affects exploration drilling more than production drilling

Norway drilling liquid fuels oil/petroleum production/supply

2016 injection season sees record natural gas demand

LNG consumption/demand exports/imports prices

U.S. energy production, consumption has changed significantly since 1908

coal crude oil exports/imports liquid fuels production/supply renewables

Containerized LNG broadens reach of natural gas to off-grid customers

Alaska Hawaii LNG transportation

United States experiences highest weekly increase in natural gas rig count in two years

Eagle Ford Haynesville Marcellus Niobrara Permian Utica rig count

Winter Fuels Outlook projects higher domestic natural gas demand and prices

consumption/demand forecasts/projections prices

Winter heating bills likely to increase, but still remain below recent winters

HGL STEO electricity exports/imports forecasts/projections heating oil prices propane weather

Energy-related CO2 emissions for first six months of 2016 are lowest since 1991

CO2 coal electricity emissions generation hydroelectric solar wind

The United Kingdom's use of natural gas for power generation exceeds the three-year average in 2016, reversing previous decline

United Kingdom electric generation electricity generating fuel mix

Sabine Pass liquefaction terminal begins first maintenance

LNG pipelines

Weekly Energy Snapshots provides a weekly recap of EIA data visualizations

inventories/stocks prices spot prices storage weather

Hydrocarbon production in the Utica play increasingly targets natural gas-rich areas

Utica liquid fuels oil/petroleum production/supply

Price differences between Southern California natural gas trading hubs and the Henry Hub have been more volatile during summer 2016

California prices

First shipment of ethane from U.S. Gulf Coast arrives in Europe

Gulf Coast HGL NGL ethane exports/imports

EIA provides daily summary of Southern California energy conditions

California consumption/demand electricity inventories/stocks renewables states storage

Recent mergers change the landscape of natural gas pipeline ownership

commercial pipelines

EIA now provides estimates of drilled but uncompleted wells in major production regions

Oklahoma drilling liquid fuels

Japan’s electricity prices rising or stable despite recent fuel cost changes

Japan LNG coal electricity generation nuclear prices

High natural gas summer storage inventories contribute to low prices and increased power burn

consumption/demand exports/imports inventories/stocks storage

California is using more renewables and less natural gas in its summer electricity mix

California electricity generation renewables

Hurricane activity drives declines in Gulf of Mexico natural gas production

Gulf of Mexico production/supply weather

Gulf Coast’s first ethane shipment soon to leave for Europe

Europe ethane exports/imports

As Japan and South Korea import less LNG, other Asian countries begin to import more

China India Japan LNG South Korea

Future U.S. tight oil and shale gas production depends on resources, technology, markets

AEO AEO2016 drilling production/supply shale tight oil

Asian LNG imports increase in 2016, led by India and China

China India Japan LNG South Korea exports/imports

Energy-related CO2 emissions from natural gas surpass coal as fuel use patterns change

CO2 coal emissions exports/imports nuclear oil/petroleum renewables

Shale gas production drives world natural gas production growth

Canada China Midwest United States international production/supply shale

U.S. natural gas imports from Canada increase with low AECO prices

Canada Henry Hub exports/imports inventories/stocks spot prices

Southern California natural gas inventories nearly flat this injection season

California inventories/stocks methane states

High natural gas-fired generation leads to rare summer net national weekly storage draw

generation inventories/stocks storage

Oil and natural gas production jobs in May were 26% lower than in October 2014

crude oil liquid fuels production/supply rig count

Use of natural gas for power generation hits record highs

electric generation inventories/stocks prices storage

Future natural gas plant liquids production depends on resources, market conditions

AEO AEO2016 HGL production/supply

First LNG tanker through expanded Panama Canal is traveling from Sabine Pass

LNG exports/imports liquid fuels

Stripper wells accounted for 11% of U.S. natural gas production in 2015

liquid fuels oil/petroleum production/supply

With REX maintenance, Appalachian production declines this week

pipelines production/supply

Changing U.S. energy mix reflects growing use of natural gas, petroleum, and renewables

coal exports/imports liquid fuels nuclear oil/petroleum renewables

Russian and Norwegian natural gas pipeline exports to Europe at high levels amid lowest prices since 2004

Europe Norway Russia pipelines

Natural gas-fired electricity generation expected to reach record level in 2016

electric generation electricity exports/imports generation weather

Clean Power Plan implementation choices by states could affect electricity generation mix

AEO AEO2016 CO2 coal electricity electricity generating fuel mix energy efficiency forecasts/projections renewables solar wind

Fossil fuels still dominate U.S. energy consumption despite recent market share decline

biomass coal exports/imports hydroelectric liquid fuels nuclear oil/petroleum renewables

Gas pipeline exports to Mexico reduce U.S. net imports

Mexico exports/imports pipelines

Expanded Panama Canal reduces travel time for shipments of U.S. LNG to Asian markets

LNG New England liquid fuels transportation

The total output over a 12-month period of U.S. electric generators fueled by natural gas surpassed those fueled by coal for first time in January 2016

coal electric generation generation

Natural gas storage injections in 2016 ahead of 2012 pace

consumption/demand exports/imports inventories/stocks production/supply spot prices storage

Global LNG imports using floating storage and regasification units increase 46% in 2015 over 2014 levels

LNG exports/imports international

Natural gas flaring in North Dakota has declined sharply since 2014

North Dakota states

Near-month futures contract indicates expectations of rising prices

futures prices

Most natural gas production growth is expected to come from shale gas and tight oil plays

LNG exports/imports forecasts/projections production/supply shale

Use of natural gas for power generation ticks upward

consumption/demand exports/imports forecasts/projections generation weather

Recent drilling activity has lowered costs and increased performance

Bakken Eagle Ford Marcellus drilling oil/petroleum production/supply shale

More U.S. vessels powered by liquefied natural gas launched

LNG

Industrial and electric power sectors drive projected growth in U.S. natural gas use

commercial exports/imports forecasts/projections industrial residential

United States remains largest producer of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons

Russia Saudi Arabia United States crude oil production/supply

Hydropower conditions improve as West Coast drought eases

California Oregon Washington hydroelectric states

Sabine Pass liquefaction terminal begins commercial operations

LNG exports/imports

Many natural gas-fired power plants under construction are near major shale plays

Texas electricity generating capacity production/supply states

Alberta wildfires reduce natural gas demand and prices in Canada

Canada exports/imports prices

Explosion on Texas Eastern Pipeline in Pennsylvania cuts flows

Texas pipelines

Declining energy prices lower the cost of living

crude oil liquid fuels prices residential

EIA produces new maps of the Utica Shale play

Ohio Pennsylvania Utah Utica West Virginia liquid fuels oil/petroleum production/supply states

Natural gas net imports in 2015 at lowest level since 1986

LNG exports/imports

Natural gas production declines

production/supply rig count spot prices weather

Logistical challenges result in ship-to-ship transfers of U.S. propane exports

HGL exports/imports international propane transmission transportation

Canada expects lower natural gas exports to U.S., higher LNG exports to other countries

Canada LNG exports/imports

Strong El Niño helps reduce U.S. winter heating demand and fuel prices

HGL heating oil prices propane

Algonquin expansion in New York on target for service next winter

Marcellus New England New York pipelines transmission

Total U.S. energy production increases for sixth consecutive year

HGL NGL coal crude oil exports/imports petroleum products production/supply

U.S. natural gas production reaches record high in 2015

North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania West Virginia production/supply states

New gas-fired power plants are concentrated near major shale plays

electric generation generating capacity generation production/supply shale

Natural gas storage ends winter heating season at record high

inventories/stocks storage

Natural gas stocks end heating season at record high level

inventories/stocks storage weather

Mild weather, ample natural gas supply curb Northeast winter power and natural gas prices

ISO LNG Massachusetts New England New York consumption/demand electricity pipelines prices spot prices weather wholesale power wholesale prices

Ethane production expected to increase as petrochemical consumption and exports expand

HGL STEO ethane production/supply

Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) wins final approval for Midwest east-to-west capacity expansion

capacity pipelines

Australia's Gorgon, one of the world's largest LNG terminals, ships first cargo

Arkansas Australia LNG

EIA report shows decline in cost of U.S. oil and gas wells since 2012

drilling liquid fuels oil/petroleum

Natural gas expected to exceed coal in power generation in 2016

electric generation

Rig count at historic low, but gas production still high

production/supply rig count

Natural gas expected to surpass coal in mix of fuel used for U.S. power generation in 2016

coal electricity generation

Australia's Gorgon, one of the world's LNG megaprojects, prepares to ship first cargo

Australia LNG

Growth in domestic natural gas production leads to development of LNG export terminals

LNG Marcellus Utica exports/imports

Solar, natural gas, wind make up most 2016 generation additions

capacity electricity generating capacity generation hydroelectric nuclear renewables solar wind

Cheniere’s Sabine Pass ships first LNG cargo from the U.S. Lower 48

LNG Louisiana exports/imports

Asian LNG imports decline in 2015 amid reduced demand for electricity and lower prices of competing fuels

China Japan LNG South Korea exports/imports

New Northeast pipelines help boost gas production 18%

pipelines production/supply

Natural gas use for power generation higher this winter

capacity factor coal generation

Chinese annual LNG imports decline for first time since imports began

China LNG exports/imports prices

Natural gas leak at California storage site raises environmental and reliability concerns

California emissions greenhouse gases states

Natural gas markets weather storm

exports/imports pipelines production/supply weather

New pipeline projects increase Northeast natural gas takeaway capacity

HGL LNG Marcellus Ohio Pennsylvania Utica West Virginia pipelines states

Spread between Henry Hub, Marcellus natural gas prices narrows as pipeline capacity grows

Marcellus pipelines prices

Natural gas prices expected to rise over next two years

spot prices

Upcoming winter storm may cause problems for East Coast energy infrastructure

disruption weather

Hydrogen for refineries is increasingly provided by industrial suppliers

diesel refining

Warmer weather, lower energy prices are reducing home heating expenditures

HGL STEO electricity heating oil prices propane weather

EIA forecasts that the United States will be a net exporter of natural gas in mid 2017

LNG Mexico STEO exports/imports forecasts/projections

State severance tax revenues decline as fossil fuel prices drop

Alaska Oklahoma Texas West Virginia Wyoming coal oil/petroleum states

Wholesale power prices decrease across the country in 2015

efficiency generation prices wholesale power wholesale prices

Basis differential narrows in Marcellus

Henry Hub pipelines prices shale

Average annual natural gas spot price in 2015 was at lowest level since 1999

exports/imports inventories/stocks production/supply spot prices storage

Prices for oil and natural gas commodities fell during 2015

diesel gasoline liquid fuels oil/petroleum prices

Heating oil and propane prices are lower this winter

HGL NGL exports/imports heating oil liquid fuels prices propane states weather

Bulk chemical feedstock use a key part of increasing industrial energy demand

exports/imports industrial

Power generation from coal and natural gas expected to temporarily converge this spring

STEO coal electricity hydroelectric nuclear renewables

Natural gas, renewables projected to provide larger shares of electricity generation

coal electricity exports/imports liquid fuels nuclear oil/petroleum renewables

Alaska residents are paid a unique yearly dividend from state’s permanent fund

Alaska liquid fuels oil/petroleum states

Energy resource permanent funds vary by purpose and state

Alaska Louisiana North Dakota Wyoming coal crude oil states taxes

Total energy subsidies decline since 2010, with changes in support across fuel types

biofuels coal electricity liquid fuels nuclear oil/petroleum solar wind

Recent Data

Select spot prices for delivery today
	Natural Gas		Electricity		Spark Spread
Region	$/million Btu	% chg*	$/MWh	% chg*	$/MWh
New England	2.15	-15.0	24.35	-14.3	9.32
Mid-Atlantic	1.90	-11.7	30.21	-16.0	16.94
Midwest	2.82	-2.1	33.03	-8.0	13.31
Southwest	2.69	-0.6	32.08	-3.5	13.27
Northwest	2.61	+1.4	43.25	+6.8	24.97
*Percent changes based on daily settlement price from previous business day. Source: Daily Prices