Natural Gas

Highlights



November 2018

• In November 2018, for the 19th consecutive month, dry natural gas production increased year to year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in November 2018 was 2,646 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 88.2 Bcf/d. This level was 9.2 Bcf/d (11.6%) higher than the November 2017 level of 79.0 Bcf/d. The average daily rate of dry natural gas production for November was the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly dry natural gas production in 1973.
• The estimated natural gas consumption level in November 2018 was 2,678 Bcf, or 89.3 Bcf/d. This level was 13.9% (10.9 Bcf/d) higher than the 2,351 Bcf consumed in November 2017. Natural gas consumption for November 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 November 2018 increased in all four consuming sectors. Deliveries of natural gas by consuming sector in November 2018 were:
  
  • Residential deliveries: 591 Bcf, or 19.7 Bcf/d, which was up 26.3% compared with 15.6 Bcf/d in November 2017. Residential deliveries were the highest for the month since EIA began tracking residential deliveries in 1973
  • Commercial deliveries: 380 Bcf, or 12.7 Bcf/d, which was up 18.0% compared with 10.7 Bcf/d in November 2017. Commercial deliveries were the highest for the month since EIA began tracking commercial deliveries in 1973.
  • Industrial deliveries: 726 Bcf, or 24.2 Bcf/d, which was up 4.3% compared with 23.2 Bcf/d in November 2017. Industrial deliveries were the highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001. November was the 19th consecutive month that industrial deliveries set a new monthly high.
  • Electric power deliveries: 754 Bcf, or 25.1 Bcf/d, which was up 13.7% compared with 22.1 Bcf/d in November 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 -123 Bcf, or -4.1 Bcf/d, in November 2018, making the United States a net exporter. Total imports were 7.1 Bcf/d, a decrease of 12.7% compared with 8.1 Bcf/d in November 2017. Total exports were 11.2 Bcf/d, an increase of 16.7% compared with 9.6 Bcf/d in November 2017. Natural gas exports were the highest for any month since EIA began tracking monthly exports in 1973. The increase in exports continues to be driven by liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG exports in November 2018 were 35.0% higher than in November 2017. In November 2018, the United States exported 3.6 Bcf/d of LNG to 15 countries.