U.S. natural gas
production, consumption and net imports
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Consumption of natural gas in the U.S. will
average 82.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in
2021, down 0.4% from last
year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. In its
most recent short-term energy outlook, the agency said that stronger
gas prices this year will likely cause consumption from electric power
generators to fall.
The EIA said it expected the share of electric power generated from
natural gas in the U.S. will
average 36% in 2021 and 35% in 2022, down from 39% in 2020.
Despite the expected decline in demand for gas from power producers,
the agency said that the use of gas among residential and commercial
consumers in 2021 will increase by 1.1 Bcf/d and 1.4 Bcf/d
respectively. The increase in demand outside of the power sector is
caused by expanding economic activity and colder temperatures.
Looking farther ahead, the agency said it expected U.S. gas
consumption to average 82.1 Bcf/d in 2022.
Natural gas inventories in the U.S. ended March 2021 at nearly 1.8 Tcf,
down 2% from the five-year average from 2016 through 2020. The U.S.
market saw more inventories withdrawn from storage than average
because of cold temperatures in February and low natural gas
production.
Injections of gas into storage are expected to outpace the five-year
average this season because of rising gas production and lower gas
consumption for power generation. The agency predicted that gas
inventories will end the 2021 injection season, usually around the end
of October, at more than 3.7 Tcf, on par with the five-year average.
The EIA also forecast that dry gas production will average 91.4 Bcf/d
in 2021, about the same as the 2020 average. It predicted that dry gas
production will fall to a low of 90.8 Bcf/d in May before steadily
increasing for the rest of the year and reaching a high of 92.4 Bcf/d
in November.
The stronger production in 2021 reflects stronger prices for both oil
and gas, Additional oil production, particularly in the Permian Basin,
is expected to result in additional associated gas production, the
agency said.
Editors Note: Each 1 ton of
Anhydrous Ammonia produced in the Haber Bosch gas reformation process
has 2 tons of carbon released into the atmosphere using Natural gas
sourced methane to build ammonia. Coal is about double at 4 plus tons
to 5.4 tons per 1 ton of Anyhrous Ammonia.
Green Play Ammonia™, Yielder® NFuel Energy.
Spokane, Washington. 99212
www.exactrix.com
509 995 1879 cell, Pacific.
exactrix@exactrix.com
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