Natural Gas

Exploration & Reserves

U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves Annual Report

Released: August 1, 2012

U.S. proved crude oil and natural gas reserves achieved record annual volumetric increases in 2010. Crude oil proved reserves increased by 13 percent, the highest volume of proved reserves since 1991. Natural gas proved reserves increased by 12 percent to 300 trillion cubic feet for the first time. (archived versions)

 
Natural Gas Year-In-Review

Released: July 10, 2012

Natural gas production grew by 7.9 percent in 2011, with large gains in onshore production offsetting continuing declines in the Gulf of Mexico. Production grew despite a year over year decline in prices. Growth in the electric power and industrial sectors drove overall increases in total consumption. Strength in domestic supplies, as well as mild weather in the fourth quarter of the year, reduced the need for pipeline imports, while pipeline exports from the U.S. to Mexico increased substantially. (archived versions)

Gulf of Mexico Fact Sheet

Released: July 10, 2012

Updated data and maps of energy infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, and updated information on past energy disruptions in the U.S. (archived versions)

Oil and Gas Field Code Master List

Released: April 30, 2012

Comprehensive listing of U.S. oil and gas field names. (archived versions)

What is shale gas and why is it important?

Released: April 11, 2012

Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations. Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas. Over the past decade, the combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has allowed access to large volumes of shale gas that were previously uneconomical to produce. The production of natural gas from shale formations has rejuvenated the natural gas industry in the United States.

Natural Gas Annual

Released: December 29, 2011

Provides information on the supply and disposition of natural gas in the United States. Production, transmission, storage, deliveries, and price data are published by state for the current year. Summary data are presented for each state for previous 5 years. (archived versions)

 
Review of Emerging Resources: U.S. Shale Gas and Shale Oil Plays

Released: July 8, 2011

To gain a better understanding of the potential U.S. domestic shale gas and shale oil resources, EIA commissioned INTEK, Inc. to develop an assessment of onshore Lower 48 States technically recoverable shale gas and shale oil resources. This paper briefly describes the scope, methodology, and key results of the report and discusses the key assumptions that underlie the results.

 
World Shale Gas Resources: An Initial Assessment of 14 Regions Outside the United States

Released: April 5, 2011

EIA sponsored Advanced Resources International, Inc., to assess 48 gas shale basins in 32 countries, containing almost 70 shale gas formations. This effort has culminated in the report: World Shale Gas Resources: An Initial Assessment of 14 Regions Outside the United States.

 
Rising Gasoline Prices and the Role of Available Domestic Oil and Natural Gas Resources

Released: March 17, 2011

Presented by: Richard G. Newell, Administrator, U.S. Energy Information Administration, to: Committee on Natural Resources, United States House of Representatives; Washington, DCMarch 17, 2011

 
Financial News for Major Energy Companies

Released: January 5, 2011

The "Financial News for Major Energy Companies" is issued quarterly to report recent trends in the financial performance of the major energy companies. (archived versions)

 
Oil and Gas Lease Equipment and Operating Costs 1994 Through 2009

Released: September 28, 2010

Regional and national oil and gas equipping and operating cost trends.

Financial News for Independent Energy Companies

Released: September 21, 2010

The report reviews recent trends in the financial performance of independent energy companies, which are typically smaller than the majors and do not have integrated production/refining operations. (archived versions)

 
Aspects of Hess' Acquisition of American Oil & Gas

Released: August 2, 2010

On July 27, 2010, Hess Corporation announced that it had agreed to acquire American Oil & Gas, Inc. in a stock-only transaction worth as much as $488 million (based on Hess' closing price of $53.30/share, anticipated number of newly issued shares, and $30 million credit facility extended to American Oil & Gas prior to closing).

Energy Market and Economic Impacts of the American Power Act of 2010

Released: July 16, 2010

This report responds to a request from Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman for an analysis of the American Power Act of 2010 (APA). APA, as released by Senators Kerry and Lieberman on May 12, 2010, regulates emissions of greenhouse gases through market-based mechanisms, efficiency programs, and other economic incentives.

 
2010 Outlook for Hurricane-Related Production Outages in the Gulf of Mexico - Short-Term Energy Outlook Supplement:

Released: June 1, 2010

Projected impacts to Gulf of Mexico crude oil and natural gas production for the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

 
Importance of Low Permeability Natural Gas Reservoirs (released in AEO2010)

Released: May 11, 2010

Production from low-permeability reservoirs, including shale gas and tight gas, has become a major source of domestic natural gas supply. In 2008, low-permeability reservoirs accounted for about 40 percent of natural gas production and about 35 percent of natural gas consumption in the United States. Permeability is a measure of the rate at which liquids and gases can move through rock. Low-permeability natural gas reservoirs encompass the shale, sandstone, and carbonate formations whose natural permeability is roughly 0.1 millidarcies or below. (Permeability is measured in darcies.)

Aspects of Apache's Acquisition of Mariner Energy and Selected Devon Energy Assets

Released: April 15, 2010

The Energy Information Administration reviews mergers, acquisitions, and alliances by companies that are respondents to Form EIA-28 (Financial Reporting System (FRS)), or that result in a company that meets the FRS reporting criteria.

Acquisitions and Divestitures by Foreign Direct Investors in U.S. Energy

Released: April 1, 2010

This report reviews acquisitions of U.S. energy assets by foreign investors in 2007. (archived versions)

 
Aspects of Exxon Mobil Corporation's Acquisition of XTO Energy Inc

Released: December 16, 2009

A summary presentation to inform discussion of the recently announced acquisition of XTO Energy Inc. by Exxon Mobil Corporation, a transaction which is reportedly $41 billion in value. "Aspects of Exxon Mobil Corporation's Acquisition of XTO Energy Inc" presents non-proprietary company-level oil and gas production and reserve data and the relevant U.S. aggregate data published by EIA.

 
Arctic Oil and Natural Gas Potential

Released: October 19, 2009

This paper examines the discovered and undiscovered Arctic oil and natural gas resource base with respect to their location and concentration. The paper also discusses the cost and impediments to developing Arctic oil and natural gas resources, including those issues associated with environmental habitats and political boundaries.

 
Impact of Limitations on Access to Oil and Natural Gas Resources in the Federal Outer Continental Shelf (released in AEO2009)

Released: March 31, 2009

The U.S. offshore is estimated to contain substantial resources of both crude oil and natural gas, but until recently some of the areas of the lower 48 OCS have been under leasing moratoria. The Presidential ban on offshore drilling in portions of the lower 48 OCS was lifted in July 2008, and the Congressional ban was allowed to expire in September 2008, removing regulatory obstacles to development of the Atlantic and Pacific OCS.

Bringing Alaska North Slope Natural Gas to Market (released in AEO2009)

Released: March 31, 2009

At least three alternatives have been proposed over the years for bringing sizable volumes of natural gas from Alaskas remote North Slope to market in the lower 48 States: a pipeline interconnecting with the existing pipeline system in central Alberta, Canada; a GTL plant on the North Slope; and a large LNG export facility at Valdez, Alaska. NEMS explicitly models the pipeline and GTL options [63]. The what if LNG option is not modeled in NEMS.

Regulations Related to the Outer Continental Shelf Moratoria and Implications of Not Renewing the Moratoria (released in AEO2009)

Released: March 13, 2009

From 1982 through 2008, Congress annually enacted appropriations riders prohibiting the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the U.S. Department of the Interior from conducting activities related to leasing, exploration, and production of oil and natural gas on much of the Federal OCS. Further, a separate executive ban (originally put in place in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush and later extended by President William J. Clinton through 2012) also prohibited leasing on the OCS, with the exception of the Western Gulf of Mexico, portions of the Central and Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska. In combination, those actions prohibited drilling along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and in portions of the central Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-432) imposed yet a third ban on drilling through 2022 on tracts in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico that are within 125 miles of Florida, east of a dividing line known as the Military Mission Line, and in the Central Gulf of Mexico within 100 miles of Florida.

Natural Gas: Major Legislative and Regulatory Actions (1935 - 2008)

Released: January 30, 2009

This special report Web-based product presents a chronology of some of the key Federal legislative and regulatory actions that have helped shape the natural gas market, with particular emphasis on policy directives from 1978 to October 2008. Separate reports provide brief descriptions of specific legislation, regulations, or policies, and their impacts on the natural gas market.

Impact of the 2008 Hurricane Season on the Natural Gas Industry

Released: January 26, 2009

This report provides an overview of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season and its impacts on the natural gas industry

 
Hurricane Impacts on the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Markets

Released: September 26, 2008

Report on hurricane impacts on the U.S. oil and natural gas markets

Oil and Natural Gas Market Supply and Renewable Portfolio Standard Impacts of Selected Provisions of H.R. 3221

Released: December 4, 2007

This paper responds to an October 31, 2007, request from Representatives Barton, McCrery, and Young.

 
Impacts of Increased Access to Oil & Natural Gas Resources in the Lower 48 Federal Outer Continental Shelf (released in AEO2007)

Released: February 22, 2007

This analysis was updated for AEO2009: Impact of Limitations on Access to Oil and Natural Gas Resources in the Federal Outer Continental Shelf The OCS is estimated to contain substantial resources of crude oil and natural gas; however, some areas of the OCS are subject to drilling restrictions. With energy prices rising over the past several years, there has been increased interest in the development of more domestic oil and natural gas supply, including OCS resources. In the past, Federal efforts to encourage exploration and development activities in the deep waters of the OCS have been limited primarily to regulations that would reduce royalty payments by lease holders. More recently, the States of Alaska and Virginia have asked the Federal Government to consider leasing in areas off their coastlines that are off limits as a result of actions by the President or Congress. In response, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the U.S. Department of the Interior has included in its proposed 5-year leasing plan for 2007-2012 sales of one lease in the Mid-Atlantic area off the coastline of Virginia and two leases in the North Aleutian Basin area of Alaska. Development in both areas still would require lifting of the current ban on drilling.

Technology-Based Oil and Natural Gas Plays: Shale Shock! Could There Be Billions in the Bakken?

Released: November 8, 2006

This report presents information about the Bakken Formation of the Williston Basin: its location, production, geology, resources, proved reserves, and the technology being used for development. This is the first in a series intending to share information about technology-based oil and natural gas plays.

 
EIA Short-Term Outlook for Natural Gas

Released: August 7, 2006

This presentation at the 2006 State Heating Oil and Propane Program Conference in North Falmouth, Massachusetts, outlined EIA's July 2006 forecast for natural gas supply, demand, and markets through 2007.

United States Producing and Nonproducing Crude Oil and Natural Gas Reserves From 1985 Through 2004

Released: July 1, 2006

This report discusses the regional and temporal trends in producing and nonproducing crude oil and natural gas reserves using EIA's categorization of reserves. The report first focuses on EIA's collection and reporting of crude oil and natural gas reserves data, followed by a discussion of the natural gas reserve trends, and then the crude oil reserve trends.

 
Anadarko's Proposed Acquisition of Kerr-McGee and Western Gas Resources

Released: June 23, 2006

Presentation of company-level, non-proprietary data and relevant aggregate data for worldwide oil and natural gas reserves and production of Anadarko, Kerr-McGee, and Western Gas Resources to inform discussions of Anadarko Petroleum Corp.'s proposed acquisition of both Kerr-McGee Corp. and Western Gas Resources Inc. for a total of $23.3 billion, which was announced June 23, 2006.

 
Impact of Tropical Cyclones on Gulf of Mexico Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production, The

Released: June 7, 2006

This is a special analysis report on hurricanes and their effects on oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico region.

 
Natural Gas Industry and Markets

Released: March 3, 2006

This special report provides an overview of the supply and disposition of natural gas in 2004 and is intended as a supplement to the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Natural Gas Annual 2004 (NGA). Unless otherwise stated, all data and figures in this report are based on summary statistics published in the NGA 2004. (archived versions)

 
Overview of U.S. Legislation and Regulations Affecting Offshore Natural Gas and Oil Activity

Released: August 1, 2005

This article presents a summary of the legislative and regulatory regime that affects natural gas and oil exploration and production in offshore regions of the United States. It discusses the role and importance of these areas as well as the competing interests surrounding ownership, production, exploration and conservation.

 
EIA's Natural Gas Outlook Through 2025

Released: November 1, 2004

Presented by: Guy F. Caruso, EIA Administrator Presented to: WPS Energy Services Meeting Worthington, OH November 16, 2004

Analysis of Oil and Gas Production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Released: March 1, 2004

This study analyzed the impact on future oil imports and expenditures of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to petroleum development. High, low, and mean ANWR oil resource case projections were compared to the Annual Energy Outlook 2004 reference case. The study also examined whether potential synergies exist in opening ANWR to petroleum development and the construction of an Alaska gas pipeline from the North Slope to the lower 48 States.

 
EIA's Natural Gas Outlook Through 2025

Released: November 5, 2003

Presented by: Guy F. Caruso, EIA Administrator Presented to: Oil & Money 2003 London, England November 5, 2003

EIA's Natural Gas Outlook Through 2025

Released: August 5, 2003

Presented by: Guy F. Caruso, EIA Administrator Presented to: Colorado Oil and Gas Association Denver, Colorado August 5, 2003

Outlook On Natural Gas, Arkansas Public Service Commission,

Released: July 3, 2003

Winter 2002/2003 status of working gas storage, natural gas market outlook.

EIA's Natural Gas Outlook Through 2025

Released: June 30, 2003

Presented by: Guy F. Caruso, EIA Administrator Presented to: Independent Petroleum Association of America Boca Raton, Florida June 20, 2003

Effects of Alaska Oil and Natural Gas Provisions of H. R. 4 and S. 1766on U.S. Energy Markets, Addendum

Released: March 1, 2002

This addendum provides projections on the increase in U.S. oil production from opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the decease in net petroleum imports, and the change in net petroleum expenditures across a range of cases.

 
Effects of Alaska Oil and Natural Gas Provisions of H. R. 4 and S. 1766 on U.S. Energy Markets

Released: March 1, 2002

On December 20, 2001, Sen. Frank Murkowski, the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested an analysis of selected portions of Senate Bill 1766 (S. 1766, the Energy Policy Act of 2002) and House Bill H.R. 4 (the Securing America's Future Energy Act of 2001)1. In response, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has prepared a series of analyses showing the impacts of each of the selected provisions of the bills on energy supply, demand, and prices, macroeconomic variables where relevant, import dependence, and emissions. The analysis provided is based on the Annual Energy Outlook 2002 (AEO2002) midterm forecasts of energy supply, demand, and prices through 2020.

 
Assessment of Recent Natural Gas Market Trends, An

Released: October 1, 2001

Presentation to the 62nd Conference on Glass Problems. Prices, exploration & production, pipelines, storage

 
U.S. Natural Gas Markets: Recent Trends and Prospects for the Future

Released: May 1, 2001

The purpose of this study is to examine recent trends and prospects for the future of the U.S. natural gas market. Natural gas prices rose dramatically in 2000 and remained high through the first part of 2001, raising concerns about the future of natural gas prices and potential for natural gas to fuel the growth of the U.S. economy. Pages

 
Natural Gas Market Information

Released: February 1, 2001

Presentation by Barbara Mariner-Volpe, February 2001, to the Bangladesh Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources

U.S. Natural Gas Markets

Released: February 1, 2001

Dr. Mark Rodekohr Presented to the Philippines Department of Energy February 2001

Natural Gas Data Systems Conceptual Framework, Measurement and Dissemination

Released: September 1, 2000

Measurement and Dissemination Current Developments and Changes

Natural Gas Markets and Reliability of the Electric Power Industry

Released: June 1, 2000

Prices, Resources & Reserves, Exploration & Production, Imports & Exports, Storage, Consumption/Use

Natural Gas A Preliminary Summary 1999

Released: May 1, 2000

This Special Report provides preliminary natural gas data for 1999 which were reported on monthly surveys of the industry through December.

 
U.S. Independent Oil and Gas Producers, 1993 - 1998: Survivors and Nonsurvivors

Released: May 1, 2000

Presented by: Jon Rasmussen May 2000

Natural Gas Data Systems Midwest Workshop, May 20-21, 1999

Released: June 1, 1999

Measurement and Dissemination Current Developments and Changes

Natural Gas Issues and Trends

Released: April 1, 1999

Final issue of this report. Provides a summary of the latest data and information relating to the natural gas industry, including prices, production, transmission, consumption, and financial aspects of the industry. (archived versions)

 
Offshore Development and Production

Released: April 1, 1999

Natural gas production in the Federal offshore has increased substantially in recent years, gaining more than 400 billion cubic feet between 1993 and 1997 to a level of 5.14 trillion cubic feet.

 
Offshore Oil and Gas Recovery Technology

Released: April 1, 1999

Resources & Reserves, Exploration & Production

 
Natural Gas A Preliminary Summary 1998

Released: April 1, 1999

This Special Report provides preliminary natural gas data for 1998 which were reported on monthly surveys of the industry through December.

 
Economic Analysis of a Representative Deep-Water Gas Production Project

Released: April 1, 1999

An analysis of the economic merit of a representative deep-water gas prospect.

 
EIA Completes Corrections to Drilling Activity Estimates Series

Released: January 1, 1999

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has published monthly and annual estimates of oil and gas drilling activity since 1978. These data are key information for many industry analysts, serving as a leading indicator of trends in the industry and a barometer of general industry status.

 
Revisions to Monthly Natural Gas Data

Released: July 1, 1998

(1994, 1995, and 1996) - Revisions to Monthly Natural Gas Data (archived versions)

 
EIA Corrects Errors in Its Drilling Activity Estimates Series

Released: March 1, 1998

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) has published monthly and annual estimates of oil and gas drilling activity since 1978. These data are key information for many industry analysts, serving as a leading indicator of trends in the industry and a barometer of general industry status.

 
Intricate Puzzle of Oil and Gas Reserves Growth

Released: July 1, 1997

This article begins with a background discussion of the methods used to estimate proved oil and gas reserves and ultimate recovery, which is followed by a discussion of the factors that affect the ultimate recovery estimates of a field or reservoir.

 
Natural Gas Industry Restructuring and EIA Data Collection

Released: June 1, 1996

EIA's Reserves and Natural Gas Division has undertaken an in-depth reevaluation of its programs in an effort to improve the focus and quality of the natural gas data that it gathers and reports. This article is to inform natural gas data users of proposed changes and of the opportunity to provide comments and input on the direction that EIA is taking to improve its data.

 
Natural Gas 1995: Preliminary Highlights

Released: April 1, 1996

This Special Report provides preliminary natural gas data for 1995.

 
Oil and Gas Resources of the Fergana Basin (Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan, and Kyrgysztan)

Released: December 1, 1994

Provides the most comprehensive assessment publicly available for oil and gas resources in the Fergana basin. Includes projections of potential oil supply and U.S. Geological Survey estimates of undiscovered recoverable oil and gas.

 
International Oil and Gas Exploration and Development

Released: November 1, 1993

Presents country level data on oil reserves, oil production, active drilling rigs, seismic crews, wells drilled, oil reserve additions, and oil reserve to production ratios (R/P ratios) for about 85 countries, where available, from 1970 through 1991. World and regional summaries are given in both tabular and graphical form.

 
Drilling Sideways - A Review of Horizontal Well Technology and Its Domestic Application

Released: April 1, 1993

Focuses primarily on domestic horizontal drilling applications, past and present, and on salient aspects of current and near-future horizontal drilling and completion technology.

 

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