Natural gas industry in the United States - statistics & facts
The United States is the largest natural gas producer in the world. In the late 2000s, advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing allowed the U.S. to explore previously inaccessible shale gas and tight oil plays. The extraction of which has made the U.S. the world’s leading producer of natural gas. Natural gas is one of the most in-demand primary fuels today, not only in the U.S., but around the world, and largely used as a heating fuel, for electricity generation and the manufacturing of chemicals.
These surges in both natural gas productivity and trading have not only benefited U.S. producers but the economy overall, increasing the U.S. oil and gas extraction industry’s value two-fold since 2019.
Haynesville and Marcellus are busiest U.S. plays
Some of the country’s largest natural gas reservoirs are found in the Appalachian Basin and along the Gulf Coast. As of 2023, the Haynesville play, which stretches across Louisiana and Texas, had the highest number of U.S. gas rigs in operation. The play was first discovered in 2008 by Chesapeake Energy, which has remained active in the area along with other industry heavyweights such as ExxonMobil. Both companies are listed among the leading natural gas producers in the U.S. based on production volume. EQT Corporation was found to be the largest natural gas producer, relying largely on shale gas extracted from the Marcellus play - the most productive U.S. shale play and area with the second-largest number of active gas rigs.How the U.S. became the largest natural gas exporter
Due to an increase in production output and added LNG terminal capacity, U.S. exports of natural gas have more than doubled in the past five years. Around seven trillion cubic feet of natural gas are exported through pipelines or on tankers carrying LNG every year. Growth in LNG trading especially has made the U.S. the largest natural gas exporter worldwide.These surges in both natural gas productivity and trading have not only benefited U.S. producers but the economy overall, increasing the U.S. oil and gas extraction industry’s value two-fold since 2019.
