Natural Gas

Highlights



October 2020

• In October 2020, for the sixth consecutive month, dry natural gas production decreased year over year for the month. The preliminary level for dry natural gas production in October 2020 was 2,758 billion cubic feet (Bcf), or 89.0 Bcf/d. This level was 7.1 Bcf/d (-7.4%) lower than the October 2019 level of 96.0 Bcf/d. Despite this year-over-year decrease, the average daily rate of dry production was the second highest for the month since the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) began tracking monthly dry production in 1973.
• Estimated natural gas consumption in October 2020 was 2,328.9 Bcf, or 75.13 Bcf/d. This level was 0.03 Bcf/d (0.04%) higher than the 75.10 Bcf/d consumed in October 2019. The average daily rate of natural gas consumption for October 2020 was the highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
• The year-over-year average daily rate of consumption of dry natural gas in October 2020 increased in two of the four consuming sectors and decreased in the other two. Deliveries of natural gas by consuming sector in October 2020 were as follows:
  
  • Residential deliveries: 244 Bcf for the month, or 7.9 Bcf/d
    • Up 5.2% compared with 7.5 Bcf/d in October 2019.
  • Commercial deliveries: 208 Bcf for the month, or 6.7 Bcf/d
  • Down 3.7% compared with 7.0 Bcf/d in October 2019.
  • Industrial deliveries: 696 Bcf for the month, or 22.5 Bcf/d
  • Up 1.8% compared with 22.1 Bcf/d in October 2019. Industrial deliveries were the highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
  • Electric power deliveries: 954 Bcf for the month, or 30.8 Bcf/d
  • Down 0.6% compared with 31.0 Bcf/d in October 2019. Despite this decrease, electric power deliveries were the second highest for the month since EIA began using the current definitions for consuming sectors in 2001.
• Net natural gas imports (imports minus exports) were -278 Bcf, or -9.0 Bcf/d, in October 2020, making the United States a net exporter. Natural gas imports and exports in October 2020 were as follows:
  
  • Total imports: 202 Bcf for the month, or 6.5 Bcf/d
    • Down 4.3% compared with 6.8 Bcf/d in October 2019. The average daily rate of natural gas imports was the lowest for the month since 1993.
  • Total exports: 479 Bcf for the month, or 15.5 Bcf/d
    • Up 12.4% compared with 13.7 Bcf/d in October 2019. The average daily rate of natural gas exports was the highest for the month since EIA began tracking monthly exports in 1973. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports in October 2020 were up 25.3% compared with October 2019. In October 2020, the United States exported 7.2 Bcf/d of LNG to 25 countries.