In an appearance before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Tuesday, July 19, Howard Gruenspecht, the acting administrator of the Energy Information Administration, testified that domestic natural gas production has increased to historic levels.
“After a decade of stagnation, U. S. natural gas production increased by almost 17 percent between 2006 and 2010, reaching 21.6 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in 2010, the highest level since 1973. Production has continued to increase despite a significant and sustained decline in natural gas prices since mid-2008.”
Gruenspecht credited the jump in supplies as “largely the result of increases in production from shale gas formations.”
U.S. total natural gas proved reserves grew 11 percent in 2009 and are now at the highest level since 1971. Shale gas proved reserves grew 76 percent after having grown by 48 percent in 2008, reflecting continued strong drilling activity even as natural gas prices declined from their mid-2008 level.
Download the administrator’s complete statement before the Senate HERE.