U.S. Gas Subdued as EU Moves Further from Russia

Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--With potential export commitments on the rise, industry data show both U.S. natural gas production and feed gas for liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries are on a slight decline.

The daily natural gas report from IIR Energy for Thursday showed Lower 48 natural gas production was about 105 billion cubic feet for the second consecutive day due to lower nominated receipts across multiple states. The average production rate last month was closer to 106 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d).

Much of the decline came from the Appalachia Basin, the largest inland natural gas producer in the U.S.

The amount of feed gas running to the eight operational LNG export terminals was lower as well due to maintenance on the Corpus Christi LNG facility, operated by Cheniere Energy (Houston, Texas).

Since Monday, was maintenance at a compressor station that sidelined about 100 million cubic feet per day. That maintenance was expected to end on Thursday. The facility can export 13.5 million metric tons of LNG per year. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Oil & Gas Production Plant Database can click here for a detailed plant profile.

The U.S. is the world leader in natural gas production and exports of LNG, but both sides of the sector are slowing. Lower 48 natural gas production, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, is expected to average 114.8 Bcf/d this year and reach 115.3 Bcf/d by 2026, a 0.4% annual increase. Gas production this year, however, should show a 4% annual increase, should government forecasts prove accurate.

LNG is no different. Export volumes are on pace to average 15 Bcf/d this year, increasing 6.6% to 16 Bcf/d by next year. Growth should show a 25% annual increase from year-ago levels this year.

That comes as U.S. President Donald Trump tries to advance the industry, though not all of the projects backed so far will make it to the finish line. Commonwealth LNG, a facility led by Kimmeridge (New York, New York) and slated for Louisiana, faced a setback in courts on environmental grounds, while the long-proposed Alaska LNG facility has yet to start construction. GMI subscribers can click here to learn more about Alaska LNG and click here for a project report on Commonwealth LNG.

With LNG volumes, the U.S. is nonetheless one of the top suppliers to the European market, helping to ensure regional energy security at least since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

That new dependency may be increasing. On Thursday, the European Parliament approved draft legislation that would ban piped gas and LNG deliveries from Russia, with limited exceptions.

"We have strengthened the European Commission's initial proposal by including oil and its products, ending long-term contracts a year earlier than proposed, adding penalties for non-compliance, and deleting exceptions for landlocked countries," said Inese Vaidere, a Latvian representative in the European Parliament.

The International Energy Agency, meanwhile, said it expects to see LNG markets bloated to levels not seen since 2019, leading to market headwinds as early as next year. While lower prices are good for consumers, it's a detriment to an industry already hobbled by sanctions and industry-specific tariffs.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).