EIA's two metrics for assessing underground working natural gas storage capacity in the Lower 48 states showed mixed results for 2020 compared with 2019. Design capacity reported a small increase, and demonstrated peak capacity reported a small decrease.
Natural gas design capacity was essentially unchanged in 2020; however, some operators revised earlier estimates, increasing working gas capacity. Design capacity of underground natural gas storage facilities in the Lower 48 states increased by 4 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 0.1%, in the November 2020 report period compared with the November 2019. A couple of notable revisions increased working gas capacity reported for 2019 in the Mountain and Pacific regions, which reflects the operators’ reassessments of the operational characteristics of the affected fields.
Demonstrated peak capacity decreased in 2020 as the decline in the Pacific region more than offset gains reported in other regions. Overall, demonstrated peak capacity declined by 8 Bcf, despite reported increases in five of six regions in the Lower 48 states as of the November 2020 report period compared with the November 2019 report period. Despite the net decline in demonstrated peak capacity for the Lower 48 states, the overall trend was toward increased usage of natural gas storage and higher working natural gas storage levels for the second year in a row.
In recent years, several offsetting trends have affected the industry’s decisions about changes to underground storage capacity levels. Several recent trends may have reduced the need for investment in additional underground storage:
On the other hand, other factors could increase the need for additional storage:
Working natural gas in storage reached its highest level since 2016: Working gas stocks ended the November 2020 report period at its highest level since 2016, despite decreased natural gas production and continued high demand for natural gas in electricity generation and for export. The higher natural gas storage level was partly because working gas entered the refill season, in April, at 2,006 Bcf —its highest level since 2017— following a relatively mild winter.
Demonstrated peak capacity1 | Design capacity2 | Demonstrated peak capacity share of design capacity3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region | (Dec 2014 - Nov 2019) | (Dec 2015 - Nov 2020) | percent change | Nov 2019 | Nov 2020 | percent change | Nov 2019 | Nov 2020 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East | 988 | 991 | 0.3% | 1,065 | 1,065 | 0.0% | 93% | 93% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Midwest | 1,179 | 1,186 | 0.6% | 1,221 | 1,221 | 0.0% | 97% | 97% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mountain | 261 | 267 | 2.5% | 472 R | 471 | 0.0% | 55% | 57% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pacific4 | 404 | 370 | -8.6% | 419 R | 419 | 0.0% | 97% | 88% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Central | 1,429 | 1,439 | 0.7% | 1,535 | 1,540 | 0.3% | 93% | 93% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nonsalt | 1,009 | 1,011 | 0.2% | 1,059 | 1,060 | 0.1% | 95% | 95% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Salt | 420 | 428 | 1.8% | 476 | 480 | 0.9% | 88% | 89% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lower 48 | 4,261 | 4,253 | -0.2% | 4,711 R | 4,715 | 0.1% | 90% | 90% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report Note: Design capacity information for all underground storage facilities, including inactive fields, is available in the Natural Gas Annual Respondent Query System. Totals and calculations may not equal the sum of the components because of independent rounding. Information about storage regions is available in The Basics of Underground Natural Gas Storage. Mentions of specific companies in this report include only information that is publicly available on our website or on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dockets. The symbol R indicates that we revised the figures since the previous year’s Peak Capacity Report. 1 Demonstrated peak capacity, otherwise known as the total demonstrated maximum working natural gas capacity, is the sum of the highest storage inventory level of working natural gas observed in each distinct storage reservoir during the previous five-year period as reported by the operator on Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report. The timing of the peaks for different facilities do not need to coincide. We exclude inactive fields in estimates of working gas capacity. 2 Design capacity is an estimate of a natural gas facility's physical working natural gas capacity as reported by the operator on Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report. It represents the sum of all fields' capacities at a point in time. It is a measure based on the physical characteristics of the reservoir, installed equipment, and operating procedures particular to the site that are often certified by federal or state regulators. We exclude inactive fields in estimates of working gas capacity. 3 Demonstrated peak capacity in some cases exceeds 100% of design capacity because design capacity limits may differ from actual capacity limits in storage fields, as determined by the facility operator and local regulations. 4 We included the design capacity of Southern California Gas Company’s Aliso Canyon field in this report and in the Pacific region totals as 86.2 billion cubic feet, as publicly reported on Form EIA-191. The authorized working natural gas capacity of this facility may be lower because of ongoing operational constraints. |
Demonstrated peak capacity1 | Design capacity2 | Demonstrated peak share of design capacity3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Region | State | (Dec 2014 - Nov 2019) |
(Dec 2015 - Nov 2020) |
Change | Nov 2019 | Nov 2020 | Change | Nov 2019 | Nov 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East | PA | 403 | 402 | -1 | 418 | 418 | 0 | 96% | 96% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WV | 234 | 236 | 2 | 243 | 243 | 0 | 96% | 97% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MD | 16 | 16 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 90% | 90% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
VA | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 107% | 107% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OH | 210 | 210 | 0 | 253 | 253 | 0 | 83% | 83% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NY | 119 | 121 | 2 | 127 | 127 | 0 | 94% | 95% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 988 | 991 | 3 | 1,065 | 1,065 | 0 | 93% | 93% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Midwest | IL | 272 | 274 | 1 | 301 | 301 | 0 | 90% | 91% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IA | 82 | 84 | 2 | 90 | 90 | 0 | 91% | 93% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 107% | 108% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TN | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 84% | 84% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IN | 30 | 31 | 1 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 100% | 103% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MO | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 188% | 188% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KY | 108 | 108 | 0 | 108 | 108 | 0 | 100% | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MI | 676 | 680 | 3 | 684 | 684 | 0 | 99% | 99% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1,179 | 1,186 | 7 | 1,221 | 1,221 | 0 | 97% | 97% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mountain | MT | 39 | 40 | 1 | 197 | 197 | 0 | 20% | 20% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NE | 14 | 12 | -1 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 109% | 109% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UT | 53 | 53 | 0 | 55 | 55 | 0 | 96% | 96% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NM | 50 | 50 | 0 | 60 | 60 | 0 | 83% | 83% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CO | 61 | 63 | 3 | 73 | 73 | 0 | 83% | 87% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WY | 45 | 49 | 4 | 74 R | 74 | 0 | 61% | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 261 | 267 | 7 | 472 R | 471 | 0 | 55% | 57% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pacific | WA | 24 | 24 | 0 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 96% | 96% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OR | 22 | 23 | 1 | 20 R | 20 | 0 | 111% | 115% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
CA4 | 358 | 323 | -35 | 374 | 374 | 0 | 96% | 86% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 404 | 370 | -35 | 419 R | 419 | 0 | 97% | 88% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Central | MS | 165 | 165 | 0 | 202 | 202 | 0 | 81% | 82% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AR | 5 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 57% | 57% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
KS | 118 | 118 | 0 | 123 | 123 | 0 | 96% | 96% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
AL | 27 | 27 | 1 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 80% | 82% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
LA | 423 | 431 | 8 | 447 | 451 | 4 | 95% | 96% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
OK | 186 | 186 | 0 | 196 | 196 | 0 | 95% | 95% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TX | 505 | 506 | 2 | 526 | 526 | 1 | 96% | 96% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 1,429 | 1,439 | 10 | 1,535 | 1,540 | 5 | 93% | 93% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Lower 48 | 4,261 | 4,253 | -8 | 4,711 R | 4,715 | 4 | 90% | 90% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report Note:: Design capacity information for all facilities, including inactive fields, is available in the Natural Gas Annual Respondent Query System. Totals and calculations may not equal the sum of the components because of independent rounding. Information about storage regions is available in The Basics of Underground Natural Gas Storage. Mentions of specific companies in this report include only information that is publicly available in our query system. 1 Demonstrated peak capacity, otherwise known as the total demonstrated maximum working natural gas capacity, is the sum of the highest storage inventory levels of working natural gas observed in each distinct storage reservoir during the previous five-year period as reported by the operator on the Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report. The timing of the peaks for different facilities do not need to coincide. We exclude inactive fields in estimates of working gas capacity. 2 Design capacity is an estimate of a natural gas facility's physical working natural gas capacity as reported by the operator on the Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report. It represents the sum of all fields' capacities at a point in time. It is a measure based on the physical characteristics of the reservoir, installed equipment, and operating procedures particular to the site that are often certified by federal or state regulators. We exclude inactive fields in estimates of working gas capacity. 3 Peak capacity in some cases exceeds 100% of design capacity because design capacity limits may differ from actual capacity limits in storage fields, as determined by the facility operator and local regulations. Demonstrated maximum working natural gas volume more commonly exceeds design capacity in states with a smaller number of facilities and smaller total storage volumes. In instances where storage fields reduce working natural gas capacity, demonstrated peak capacity may exceed design capacity. 4 We included the design capacity of Southern California Gas Company’s Aliso Canyon field in this report and in the Pacific region totals as 86.2 billion cubic feet, as publicly reported on Form EIA-191. The authorized working natural gas capacity of this facility may be lower because of ongoing operational constraints. |