Associated natural gas from oil wells is contributing to growth in the U.S.' natural gas production, according to a statement released by the country's Energy Information Administration (EIA).
'A growing share of U.S. natural gas production is associated-dissolved natural gas, natural gas produced from oil wells, which is the result of increased crude oil production from low permeability, tight rock formations --- Permian, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Niobrara, and Anadarko,' the statement said on Monday.
'By contrast, non-associated gas is natural gas produced by natural gas wells,' it added.
Last year, associated-dissolved natural gas production in the five major crude oil producing regions in the U.S. was 12 billion cubic feet (340 million cubic meters) per day, or around 37% of total gas production in these regions, and approximately 12% of total U.S. gas production, according to the EIA.
Of the five major oil producing regions, the Bakken formation in the U.S. state of North Dakota has the largest share of associated gas. In this region, associated gas accounts for 92% of the total natural gas production. The Bakken produced 2.2 billion cubic feet (62.3 million cubic meters) per day of associated gas in 2018.
The Eagle Ford formation in southern Texas produced 2.1 billion cubic feet (59.5 million cubic meters) per day of associated gas.
The Niobrara Basin, in the states of Wyoming and Colorado, and Anadarko Basin along northeast Texas and southwest Oklahoma, both saw increases in associated gas production in 2018, with their combined associated gas volume reaching 1.9 billion cubic feet (53.8 million cubic meters) per day.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr