The Appalachian Basin saw record shale natural gas production in the first half of 2021.
The Energy Information Administration reported Sept. 1 that production in the Marcellus and Utica shales averaged 31.9 billion cubic feet per day during the first half of the year. That’s the highest average for a six-month period since production began in 2008.
The Marcellus and Utica shales in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia account for about 34% of all U.S. dry natural gas production.
This record production was due in part to growth in pipeline capacity, especially in the Midwest, the EIA said. From 2008 to 2020, total pipeline takeaway capacity from the northeast increased from 4.5 bcf/d to 24.5 bcf/d.
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