DENVER, March 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural gas production in the lower 48 United States increased by 0.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) to 72.3 Bcf/d during the month of February, according to Bentek Energy(®), an analytics and forecasting unit of Platts. While production in February remains below peak levels reached in December 2014, it represents a 10.5% increase (6.8 Bcf/d) over daily average production levels witnessed last February.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will publish its domestic production estimates for February on or around April 30, 2015.

"Cold weather continued to disrupt operations in February, suppressing production growth during the month," said Catherine Bernardo, manager of energy analysis for Bentek. "While production in the Northeast and Texas recovered from January freeze-offs early in February, frigid temperatures returned in the second half of the month, pushing production levels closer to the January average."

Bentek data analysis suggests 2015 production will average approximately 73.2 Bcf/d. Natural gas production should continue to grow throughout the year, driven primarily by continued gains in the Northeast, with associated gas production in Texas and the Midcontinent region providing additional supply.

The Bentek data analysis is based on an extensive sample of near real-time production receipt data from the U.S. lower 48 interstate pipeline system. Platts' Bentek production models are highly correlated with and provide an advance glimpse of federal government statistics from the U.S. EIA.

This Bentek Energy U.S. natural gas production data estimate will be published each month, covering the previous month's output activity. Bentek's dry gas production estimates are not observed data and are based on pipeline receipt nominations and certain state production data.

Bentek Energy, which specializes in energy market analytics and is recognized as an industry leader in natural gas market fundamental analysis, was acquired by Platts in 2011. For more information about natural gas supply and demand fundamentals and Bentek Energy, visit www.bentekenergy.com. For more information on natural gas spot price trends and Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemicals, metals and agriculture information provider, visit the website at www.platts.com.

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SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts