U.S. Energy Information Administration last week forecast record production of marketed natural gas this year. Most of the expansion is concentrated in Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico and Haynesville in Texas and Louisiana. EIA said Aug. 12 it expects marketed natural gas production to average 122.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2026 to surpass the previous record of 118.5 Bcfd from 2025.
In the first half of 2026, production of marketed natural gas averaged 121.3 Bcfd for an increase of 4.6 Bcfd (4 percent) over the same period last year.
EIA expects Permian Basin gas production to average 29.2 Bcfd in 2026 – 6 percent more than last year. Natural gas production in Permian is driven primarily by associated natural gas produced during crude oil extraction and is supported by crude oil prices. WTI crude oil prices rose from an average of $65 per barrel in 2025 to an average of $84 per barrel through July 2026.
U.S. has been the world leader in natural gas production since 2009.
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