WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Natural gas production in the Lower 48 states increased 0.5 percent for October, the U.S. Energy Department said in its latest data compilation.
The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said natural gas production increased 320,000 cubic feet per day in October to 75.5 billion cf/d, a 0.4 percent increase from the previous month.
"Other states contributed the largest volumetric gain at 1.8 percent or 0.43 Bcf/d as operators reported new wells coming online in the Marcellus and Bakken shale plays," the administration stated.
The eastern Marcellus and north-central Bakken shale plays are among the largest in the United States, placing the country among the world leaders in terms of natural gas production.
The EIA stated that natural gas production from the Gulf of Mexico increased 9.5 percent in the reporting period as operators returned to work following Hurricane Isaac, a Category 1 storm that hit the southern United States late August.
"Texas, Louisiana and Wyoming production decreased as many operators cited shut-ins and maintenance issues," the administration said.
The latest natural gas report from the EIA was delayed because of the recent holiday season.
