According to figures released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. petroleum and natural gas production reached new heights last year.

In 2018, petroleum and natural gas production in the United States increased by 16 per cent and by 12 per cent, respectively. The combination of these totals established a new production record.

The United States produced 28.7 quadrillion British thermal units (quads) of petroleum in 2018, which was composed of 80 per cent crude oil and condensate and 20 per cent NGPLs.

U.S. crude oil production increased by 17 per cent in 2018, setting a new record of nearly 11.0 million barrels per day (b/d) – equivalent to 22.8 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in energy terms.

Production in the Permian region of western Texas and eastern New Mexico contributed to most of the growth in U.S. crude oil production.

The United States also produced 4.3 million b/d of NGPLs in 2018, equivalent to 5.8 quadrillion Btu.

U.S. NGPL production has more than doubled since 2008, when the market for NGPLs began to expand.

Meanwhile, U.S. natural gas production also increased by 12 per cent in 2018 to 28.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), or 31.5 quadrillion Btu, reaching a new record high for the second year in a row.

According to the EIA, ongoing growth in liquefied natural gas export capacity and the expanded ability to reach new markets supported the increases in U.S. natural gas production.

In 2011, the U.S. surpassed Russia to become the world’s largest producer of natural gas and in 2018 it surpassed Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of petroleum.

Image courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Administration.