Independent Fiscal Office Reports 2025 PA Natural Gas Production Up 5.1% Over 2024; Average Natural Gas Prices Up 70.9% From 2024

On February 25, the Independent Fiscal Office reported 4th quarter natural gas production in Pennsylvania increased 3.4% over the 4th quarter last year and 2025 production was up 5.1% over 2024 production.

The average price of natural gas increased 70.9%% in 2025 compared to the average in 2024.

Preliminary data show that average prices increased dramatically in January 2026 due to abnormally cold temperatures and Winter Storm Fern. 

Due to the regional impact of the storm, the average Pennsylvania spot price temporarily surged to nearly $10.00 for January, which outpaced the Henry Hub (national benchmark). 

US EIA data show that the Henry Hub spot price fell significantly in February

There were 129 new horizontal wells spud, an increase of 46 new wells (55.4%) from the prior year. 

There were 446 wells drilled in 2025, a gain of 137 wells (44.3%) from the prior year and the first annual increase in new wells since CY 2022. 

Click Here for the full report.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Feb. 21 to 27 - 19 More Abandoned Conventional Well Violations: Casing/Cementing Failures; Shale Gas/Conventional Well Spills & Releases  [PaEN] 

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - February 28 [PaEN]

    -- DEP Publishes Corrected Notice Of Shell Petrochemical Plant Air Quality Plan Approval March 19 Meeting, April 7 Hearing In Beaver County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 72 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In February 28 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Invites Comments On Chapter 105 Permit For CDE Acquisitions, LLC 412 Acre, 6 Building, 5 Million Square Foot A.I. Data Center Campus In South Whitehall Twp., Lehigh County  [PaEN] 

     -- DEP Sets March 31 Hearing On Air Quality Permit For The BASF Corp Monaca Plant In Beaver County  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week:

-- Sen. Santarsiero Introduces Bill To Define Obligations Of Pipeline Owners, Anyone Discharging Hazardous Substances To Clean Up Spills, Releases  [PaEN]  

-- PA Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Supervisor Cindy Fisher - How Cecil Township Adopted 2,500 Foot Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads With Extensive Public Involvement Facing Threats And Intimidation  [PaEN] 

-- PA Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: Dr. Lauren Minsky - People’s Cancer Incidence Screening Tool Reports Cancer Rates In Washington County Up To 16 Times Higher Than PA Averages  [PaEN] 

-- Ohio Senate Committee Hearing I: Penn State Professor Testifies In Support Of A Ban On The Disposal Of Conventional Oil & Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping  [PaEN] 

-- Ohio Senate Committee Hearing II: Studies By Ohio State Agencies Document Environmental, Health Hazards Of Disposing Of Oil & Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping [PaEN]

-- Ohio Senate Committee Hearing III: Ohio Farmers Union Supports Ban On Disposal Of Oil & Gas Wastewater By Road Dumping To Protect Soil, Livestock, Farm Products From Contamination  [PaEN] 

-- DEP: S R Star O&G LLC Violates Order To Plug 11 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Butler County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Accepting Bids On Plugging 11 Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Howe Twp., Forest County

-- Independent Fiscal Office Reports 2025 PA Natural Gas Production Up 5.1% Over 2024; Average Natural Gas Prices Up 70.9% From 2024  [PaEN] 

-- TribLive - Jack Troy: 71% Natural Gas Price Increase In PA Could Mean Higher Utility Bills 

-- In Case You Missed It: A.I./Data Center Articles - NewClips From Last Week - March 2  [PaEN] 

-- The Derrick: Aqua Pennsylvania Boil Water Advisory Now Lifted For Venango Water Company Customers In Reno, Venango County [Water System Impacted By 2023 Conventional Oil Well Wastewater Spill]  [PaEN] 

NewsClips:

-- Erie Times: Natural Gas Pipeline Company Wood Group USA Removes $18.9 Million In Liens On Erie County Property Owners In Dispute

-- TribLive Guest Essay: 10 Years Of US LNG Gas Exports - Why Pennsylvania Matters More Than Ever - By Jim Welty, Marcellus Shale Gas Coalition  [To Keep Prices High] 

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Steelton Natural Gas Pipe Factory To Benefit Entire Commonwealth - By Jim Snell, Steamfitters Local Union 420

-- Reuters: US EIA: US Oil Output Fell In December To Lowest Since June 2025

-- The Guardian: North Dakota Judge Orders Greenpeace To Pay Energy Transfer/Sunoco $345 Million Over 2016 Protests Against Dakota Access Oil Pipeline; Group Says Case Is Far From Over

-- Reuters: Hundreds Of Crude Oil, LNG Gas Ships Drop Anchor In Middle East Due To US/Israeli Strikes On Iran Showing Supply Line Vulnerabilities [Again] 

-- Bloomberg: Iran Strikes Threaten Worst Natural Gas Market Disruption Since Russian Invasion Of Ukraine 

-- The Economist: War In Iran Could Cause The Biggest Oil Price Shock In Years  [PDF of Article]

[Posted: February 25, 2026]  PA Environment Digest