Texas extracts more shale gas than any other U.S. state. In 2021, shale gas production output in Texas reached 8.3 trillion cubic feet. Pennsylvania followed as the second most productive state. Pennsylvania is located within the Appalachia basin, which is the
greatest natural gas producing U.S. basin. In total, the United States extracted around 27.99 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in 2021. Shale gas refers to natural gas that is trapped within shale formations of low permeability.
History of shale gas production
Shale gas resources can contain large accumulations of natural gas and/or oil. Production of natural gas from Texas’ Barnett Shale began around a decade ago and has acted as a model for new natural gas extraction technologies in other parts of the country. It was one of the first cases of large-scale natural gas production from shale resources under the Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation. More than 30 states are sitting on top of shale formations.
The production of shale gas has increased dramatically under the development of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling.
U.S. shale gas and tight oil production has increased from 1.77 trillion cubic feet in 2000 to approximately 25 trillion cubic feet in 2021. It is predicted that output will reach nearly 34 trillion cubic feet by 2050. As of 2020, the
U.S. natural gas reserves amounted to 12.6 trillion cubic meters.