Electricity from natural gas surpasses coal for first time, but just for one month

In April, traditionally the month when total electricity demand is lowest, U.S. generation of electricity fueled by natural gas exceeded coal-fired generation for the first time since the start of EIA's monthly generation data in 1973. However, EIA's latest Electric Power Monthly shows that coal's generation share once again exceeded that of natural gas during May. Total generation from coal and natural gas in May increased 14% from its April level, with coal generation accounting for 65% of the combined increase. More »

EIA reports show different aspects of U.S. oil production statistics and trends

EIA publishes several reports covering current crude oil and natural gas production conditions and how recent trends may affect the near-term outlook for the oil and gas industry. Each EIA product is distinct in its purpose, methodology, timeframe, and regional coverage. Some reports are considered estimates of actual production volumes, while others focus on future production. More »

New methanol and fertilizer plants to increase already-growing industrial natural gas use

Reversing a decline that lasted more than a decade, industrial natural gas consumption has grown steadily since 2009 as relatively low natural gas prices have supported use of natural gas as a feedstock for the production of bulk chemicals. Industrial facilities, including methanol plants and ammonia- or urea-based fertilizer plants, consumed an average of 21.0 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas in 2014, a 24% increase from 2009. More »

Marcellus, Utica provide 85% of U.S. shale gas production growth since start of 2012

The productivity of natural gas wells in the Marcellus Shale and the neighboring Utica Shale is steadily increasing because of ongoing improvements in precision and efficiency of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing occurring in those regions. Since January 2012, natural gas production in the Marcellus and Utica regions has accounted for 85% of the increase in production reported in EIA's Drilling Productivity Report and has driven recent growth in total U.S. natural gas production. More »

Natural gas salt-facility storage serves special gas market needs

Natural gas stored in salt facilities, principally in the greater Gulf Coast gas-producing region, accounts for only 10% of storage capacity in the Lower 48 states, but it provides 28% of daily deliverability. More »

U.S. nuclear outages are low during summer peak electricity demand season

As the country reaches the summer peak electricity demand season, nearly all U.S. nuclear generators have returned from refueling outages. Total outages were less than 1.5 gigawatts (GW) on July 6, the lowest level since late January. Daily nuclear outage levels and plant-by-plant status updates can be found in EIA's new Status of U.S. Nuclear Outages page. More »

Average diesel retail price below gasoline price for first time in six years

On July 13, the U.S. average diesel fuel retail price fell below the average regular gasoline retail price for the first time since the week of August 10, 2009. From August 2009 through June of this year, retail diesel fuel prices sold at an average premium of 34 cents per gallon (gal) over regular grade gasoline, with the difference reaching more than 90 cents/gal in January. More »

Beyond Shell-BG, oil company merger activity is down

The second quarter of 2015 exhibited the largest amount of oil companies' merger and acquisition (M&A) activity by value since fourth-quarter 2012. The announced merger between Royal Dutch Shell and BG Group in early April accounted for $84 billion of the $115 billion quarterly total. More »

Consensus process provides alternate approach to energy efficiency standard development

Last month a group of industry stakeholders, and energy efficiency and environmental advocates, along with the Department of Energy (DOE), proposed consensus energy conservation standards for multiple commercial heating and cooling equipment types. DOE estimates these standards could save about 15 quadrillion Btu over 30 years. The working group represents an alternate approach to energy efficiency standards development within the DOE More »

China will soon surpass South Korea, Russia, and Japan in nuclear generating capacity

Nuclear power currently makes up slightly more than 2% of China's total power generation. However, the Chinese government has a stated goal to provide at least 15% of overall energy consumption by 2020 (increasing to 20% by 2030) from non-fossil fuel sources, including nuclear, hydroelectricity and other renewable sources. To help achieve this target, China plans to increase nuclear capacity to 58 gigawatts (GW) and to have 30 GW of capacity under construction by 2020. More »

U.S. nuclear outages are low during summer peak electricity demand season

As the country reaches the summer peak electricity demand season, nearly all U.S. nuclear generators have returned from refueling outages. Total outages were less than 1.5 gigawatts (GW) on July 6, the lowest level since late January. Daily nuclear outage levels and plant-by-plant status updates can be found in EIA's new Status of U.S. Nuclear Outages page. More »

EIA now reporting monthly base gas levels in underground natural gas storage

With the release of the most recent Natural Gas Monthly, EIA began publishing base gas levels in natural gas storage facilities through the natural gas query system. Base gas plays an important role in underground natural gas storage, serving to maintain cavern or reservoir pressure and keeping natural gas storage facilities operational. More »

In Rocky Mountain region, increased crude production is being shipped by pipeline, rail

Rail and pipeline shipments of crude oil from the Rocky Mountain region (PADD 4) have steadily increased as regional crude oil production has increased. The recently released Petroleum Supply Monthly, which contains data for April 2015, shows that 122,000 barrels per day of crude oil was moved by rail from PADD 4 to other regions of the country, representing 19% of total crude shipments from the region. More »

Summer gasoline prices are lowest in years

The average retail price for motor gasoline this summer (April through September) is expected to be $2.67 per gallon, the lowest price (in real dollars, meaing adjusted for inflation) since 2009, based on projections in EIA's Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO). This decline is mainly the result of the projected 41% year-over-year decline in the average price of North Sea Brent crude oil. More »

Last Monday's large percentage decline in crude oil prices was relatively rare

The front-month futures price for crude oil benchmark West Texas Intermediate declined 7.7% on Monday, July 6, the largest single-day decline in percentage terms since February 4. Uncertainty over Greece's fiscal position, volatility in the Chinese stock market, and uncertain prospects for a nuclear deal with Iran were cited as immediate factors affecting expectations for future crude oil supply and demand. Other market indicators over past weeks, such as the stabilization of the U.S. rig count and growing petroleum product inventories, may have also contributed to lower prices. More »

EIA's estimates for state crude oil production account for incomplete, lagged data

Market analysts have a keen interest in understanding how crude oil production has been affected by recent changes in crude oil prices and drilling activity. EIA develops state-level production estimates based in part on state-level data. However, data from state agencies are often incomplete when first published because of late reporting and processing delays. Because EIA's methodology for state-level production estimates aims to anticipate and account for expected revisions to data collected by the states, production data published by EIA and state agencies can differ. More »

U.S.-Canada electricity trade increases

U.S. electricity trade with Canada is increasing, providing more economic and reliability benefits to both the United States and Canada. Although the amount of electricity imported over the Canadian border is a small part of the overall U.S. power supply, the transmission connections linking Canada and the United States are an important component of the electricity markets in northern states. More »

Net petroleum product exports continue to increase

Over the past decade, domestic refinery output of petroleum products has grown significantly while consumption has declined, resulting in a major increase in product exports. Petroleum product exports averaged 4.1 million barrels per day (b/d) in the first four months of the year, an increase of 0.5 million b/d over exports the same time last year. Product imports are also higher than last year, but to a lesser extent, leading to an increase in net petroleum product exports. More »

California grid expected to maintain reliability despite drought

According to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the bulk power system in California is not expected to lose grid reliability this summer, despite a drought that has lowered hydroelectric generation. Overall, NERC expects more than 72 gigawatts (GW) of electric generating capacity to be available this summer in the part of the electric grid covering much of California. More »

Fossil fuels have made up at least 80% of U.S. fuel mix since 1900

While the overall energy history of the United States is one of significant change, three fossil fuel sources—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—have made up at least 80% of total U.S. energy consumption for more than 100 years. Recent increases in the domestic production of petroleum liquids and natural gas have prompted shifts between the uses of fossil fuels, but the predominance of these three energy sources is likely to continue. More »

EIA expands geographic coverage of natural gas production with new data for 10 states

Beginning this week, EIA is expanding its reporting of monthly natural gas production by 10 additional states. The addition of these states significantly enhances EIA's monthly coverage. Accompanying EIA's expanded coverage is a new webpage, Monthly Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production, which replaces the Monthly Natural Gas Gross Production Report. More »