In General Energy News 09/03/2017
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected dry natural gas production would rise in 2017 after falling in 2016, while gas consumption would decline in 2017 after rising to a record high last year.
EIA projected production would rise to 73.69 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2017 from 72.31 bcfd in 2016, according to its Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) in March.
That 2017 output projection is the same as EIA made in its February STEO report and falls short of the record high 74.14 bcfd produced on average in 2015.
Annual production declined in 2016 for the first time since 2005 as low energy prices reduced drilling activity .
EIA also projected U.S. gas consumption would fall to 73.65 bcfd in 2017 from a record 75.13 bcfd in 2016. The 2016 high was the seventh annual demand record in a row.
If correct, that would be the first decline in usage since 2009. EIA’s 2017 consumption projection in March is down from the 74.68 bcfd it forecast for the year in its February report.
EIA projected both production and consumption would rebound in 2018 to record highs with output hitting 77.80 bcfd and usage reaching 76.58 bcfd.
EIA said the United States would become a net exporter of gas on an annual basis in 2018 as sales of liquefied natural gas and pipeline flows to Mexico increase, while imports from Canada ease. The country was last an exporter on an annual basis in 1957.
In the electric space, EIA projects gas would remain the primary fuel for power generators in 2017 and 2018 as gas production increases and energy companies retire more coal plants for environmental and economic reasons.
Coal lost its title to gas in 2016 when gas prices dropped to their lowest since 1999. Coal had been the primary fuel for U.S. power plants for the last century.
EIA projected coal’s share of generation would rise to 31.1 percent in 2017 from 30.4 percent in 2016 before sliding to 30.3 percent in 2018.
EIA projected gas’ share of power generation would slide to 31.8 percent in 2017 due to a forecast increase in gas prices this year from 33.8 percent in 2016 before rising to 32.9 percent in 2018.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by David Gregorio)
