Foundation for Energy Education

U.S. proved gas reserves (wet) totaled 255.035 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) in 2008, up 2.9% from the 2007 figure. The 2007 number had increased 12.4% from the 2006 figure, which had risen 3.3% from 2005’s level.
As of 2008, the top 10 states/areas for proved gas reserves in the U.S. include Texas (81.843 Tcf); Wyoming (32.399 Tcf); Colorado (24.169 Tcf); Oklahoma (22.113 Tcf); New Mexico (17.347 Tcf); the Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (13.187 Tcf); Louisiana (11.816 Tcf); Alaska (7.766 Tcf); Utah (6.714 Tcf); and Arkansas (5.628 Tcf).
U.S. proved gas reserves are now 43.6% higher than they were in 1990, 20 years ago.
Shale gas plays (as in Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Arkansas) have contributed significantly to gains in U.S. gas reserves in recent years.

In 2009, the U.S. produced 21.893 Tcf of gas (marketed production), up 3.1% from the 2008 figure. Previously, U.S. output grew 5.2% in 2008, increased 4.0% in 2007 and was up 2.6% in 2006.
The 2009 output figure was the highest in 36 years, since 1973. In that year, U.S. gas production was 22.648 Tcf.
The top 10 gas-producing states/areas in the U.S. during 2009 included Texas (6.851 Tcf); the Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico (2.433 Tcf); Wyoming (2.359 Tcf); Oklahoma (1.858 Tcf); New Mexico (1.404 Tcf); Louisiana (1.532 Tcf); Colorado (1.389Tcf); Arkansas (0.447 Tcf); Utah (0.434 Tcf); and Kansas (0.374 Tcf).
Across the U.S., the number of producing gas wells was roughly 496,000 in 2009, up 3.6% from the 2008 figure.
Over the 20 years from 1989 to 2009, the number of U.S. gas-producing wells rose 82.3%.
During the 20 years from 1989 to 2009, average gas well productivity has fallen 36.3%. It takes a far greater number of wells to achieve the same production levels compared to 1989.
Given the trend in gas production, consumption and gas well productivity, the industry will be required to drill a large number of new gas wells at an accelerated pace, if the country’s output and reserves are to grow further.

U.S. gas consumption (deliveries to consumers) in 2009 was 20.844 Tcf, down 2.4% from the 2008 figure. If lease and plant fuel, and pipeline requirements are added in, then consumption was 22.740 Tcf, down 2.7%.
The 2009 consumer consumption figure includes 6.888 Tcf (33.0% of the national total) for electricity generation, 6.091 Tcf (29.2%) for industrial purposes, 4.739 Tcf (22.7%) for direct residential purposes, and 3.095 Tcf (14.8%) for direct commercial usage.
Texas leads the nation in natural gas consumption (volumes delivered to consumers) with 2.933 Tcf in 2009. The rest of the top 10 states includes California (2.245 Tcf); Louisiana (1.200 Tcf); New York (1.136 Tcf); Illinois (0.934 Tcf); Florida (0.925 Tcf); Pennsylvania (0.756 Tcf); Ohio (0.715 Tcf); Michigan (0.694 Tcf); and New Jersey (0.622 Tcf).