DENVER, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural gas production in the lower 48 United States increased by 2.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) during the month of December, according to Platts oil and gas analytics unit Bentek Energy. Production averaged 72.8 Bcf/d in December, the highest monthly average on record, and an 11.6% increase (7.5 Bcf/d) over daily average production levels in December 2013.

U.S. production hit another one-day record high of 73.6 Bcf/d on December 20, according to Bentek, and U.S. Northeast production achieved a new one-day record of 19.8 Bcf/d on December 19.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) will publish its domestic production estimates for December on or around February 28, 2015.

"The Northeast region, including the Marcellus and Utica shales, continues to lead the growth in natural gas production," said Catherine Bernardo, manager of energy analysis for Bentek. "The mild weather in December allowed volumes to continue to push higher during a time when production growth is typically curtailed due to freeze-offs. Infrastructure additions to the Northeast in November also facilitated this recent growth."

Bentek data analysis suggests 2014 production averaged approximately 68.4 Bcf/d, driven primarily by extraordinary gains in the Northeast and continued growth in liquids-rich basins such as the Eagle Ford, Bakken, Permian and Greater Anadarko.

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 the first week of every 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