Independent Fiscal Office Reports Lowest Quarterly Natural Gas Production In PA Since 4th Quarter Of 2020, First Decrease In Production Growth Since 2018

On May 26, the Independent Fiscal Office reported the lowest recent quarterly natural gas production in Pennsylvania since the fourth quarter of 2020 and a 105 billion cubic foot decrease (0.6%) in production since the fourth quarter of 2021.

The 0.6% decrease in production was the first recent quarterly rate of production decrease since the second quarter of 2018.

First quarter production was 1,851 billion cubic feet and the last recent quarter with less production than that was the fourth quarter of 2020-- 1,827 billion cubic feet.

There were 136 new horizontal wells spud (drilled)in the first quarter of 2022. This figure represents an increase of nine wells (7.1%) compared to the same period in the prior year. 

Preliminary data for the second quarter show that the number of wells spud in April and May is up 18.2% from the same period in 2021.

There were 10,872 total producing wells in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 4.1% from the prior year. 

Horizontal producing [unconventional] wells, which account for over 99% of production, recorded an annual increase of 4.6%. Decelerating growth in producing wells is due to less drilling activity in 2020 and 2021 and older wells that were shut in or plugged.

Click Here for the full report.

Related Article This Week:

-- DEP Federal ‘Orphan’ Well Plugging List Includes 7,300 Active Conventional Wells With Identified Owners; DEP Says Cost Recovery A Priority 

[Posted: May 26, 2022]  PA Environment Digest