DENVER, Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural gas production in the lower 48 United States averaged 72.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in September, up nearly 0.4 Bcf/d versus the August average, according to Bentek Energy®, an analytics and forecasting unit of Platts. On a month-over-month basis, September natural gas production was up less than 1% from August.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) won't publish its domestic production estimates for September for a couple months. EIA is due to report data for August on or around October 30, 2015.

"The month-on-month U.S. natural gas production jump can be attributed almost entirely to the Northeast," said Sami Yahya, Bentek energy analyst. "While most of the upcoming pipeline expansion projects in the Northeast are slated for a November 1 release date, some projects came online ahead of schedule. Northeast gas production shot to a record 20.8 Bcf/d in September, which marks a month-on-month increase of nearly 0.45 Bcf/d between August and September."

Yahya said the Northeast is helping offset declines coming from various regions in the United States.

"Whether the declines are caused by maintenance events or shut-ins that are due to crumbling commodity prices, the Northeast is helping keep U.S. natural gas production afloat, Yahya said. "Between August and September, production from the Southeast region dropped by more than 0.1 Bcf/d, while Texas shed about 0.05 Bcf/d. The remaining U.S. basins were relatively flat during the same time period. Given that the Northeast is expected to add another 2.4 Bcf/d in November, U.S. dry gas production is set to reach new highs and average a little less than 74 Bcf/d by year end."

Bentek data analysis suggests 2015 U.S. natural gas production will average approximately 72.2 Bcf/d, with growth occurring throughout the year. This will mark a year-over-year growth of 3.4 Bcf/d versus 2014.

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 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 the 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 about natural gas spot price trends, or Platts, a leading global energy, petrochemical and metals information provider, visit the website at www.platts.com.

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SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts