Natural Gas

Highlights



September 2019

• We revised monthly vehicle fuel estimates for 2017 and 2018 this month. This correction also affects the balancing item and total consumption for the applicable months. No annual numbers were affected.
• In September 2019, for the 29th consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year to year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in September 2019 was 2,819 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 94.0 Bcf/d. This level was 7.1 Bcf/d (8.1%) higher than the September 2018 level of 86.9 Bcf/d. The average daily rate of dry production was the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly dry production in 1997.
• The estimated natural gas consumption in September 2019 was 2,216 Bcf, or 73.9 Bcf/d. This level was 2.1 Bcf/d (3.0%) higher than the 71.7 Bcf/d consumed in September 2018. 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 2019 decreased in three of the four consuming sectors. Deliveries of natural gas by consuming sector in September 2019 were:
  
  • Residential deliveries: 110 Bcf for the month or 3.67 Bcf/d
    • Down 1.8% compared with 3.73 Bcf/d in September 2018. Residential deliveries were the third lowest for the month since EIA began tracking them in 1973.
  • Commercial deliveries: 145 Bcf for the month, or 4.8 Bcf/d
  • Down 1.4% compared with 4.9 Bcf/d in September 2018. Commercial deliveries were the lowest for the month since 2016.
  • Industrial deliveries: 642 Bcf for the month, or 21.4 Bcf/d
  • Down 1.8% compared with 21.8 Bcf/d in September 2018. Despite this decrease, industrial deliveries were the second highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
  • Electric power deliveries: 1,095 Bcf for the month, or 36.5 Bcf/d
  • Up 6.3% compared with 34.3 Bcf/d in September 2018. Electric power deliveries were the highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
• Net natural gas imports (imports minus exports) were -186 Bcf, or -6.2 Bcf/d, in September 2019, making the United States a net exporter. Natural gas imports and exports in September 2019 were:
  
  • Total imports: 208 Bcf for the month, or 6.9 Bcf/d
    • Down 2.8% compared with 7.1 Bcf/d in September 2018. In September 2019, the United States did not import any liquefied natural gas (LNG), which was a first since November 2014.
  • Total exports: Bcf for the month, or 13.2 Bcf/d
  • Up 30.8% compared with 10.1 Bcf/d in September 2018. Natural gas exports were the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly exports in 1973. LNG continues to drive the year-on-year increase in exports. LNG exports in September 2019 were 98.8% higher than in September 2018. In September 2019, the United States exported 5.4 Bcf/d of LNG to 22 countries. LNG exports were the highest for any month since EIA began tracking them in 1997.