US Shale Gas Production
Track shale gas production from America's major natural gas basins. Marcellus, Haynesville, Utica, and Barnett data via API.
US Shale Gas Production Overview
What is Shale Gas?
Shale gas is natural gas (primarily methane) trapped within shale rock formations deep underground. Unlike conventional natural gas that accumulates in porous reservoir rock, shale gas is locked within tight, low-permeability shale and requires hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract.
The shale gas revolution began in the Barnett Shale of Texas in the early 2000s, then expanded to the massive Marcellus Shale in Appalachia. By 2009, the US surpassed Russia as the world's largest natural gas producer, primarily due to shale gas growth.
Today, shale gas has transformed the US into a major LNG exporter, with gas from the Haynesville Shale and other basins feeding Gulf Coast liquefaction terminals for shipment to Europe and Asia.
Major US Shale Gas Basins
Marcellus Shale
35% of USPennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio
America's largest natural gas field, producing over a third of US natural gas.
Haynesville Shale
16% of USLouisiana, Texas, Arkansas
Major Gulf Coast gas play with proximity to LNG export terminals.
Utica Shale
8% of USOhio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
Deep shale beneath Marcellus with rich gas and condensate production.
Barnett Shale
4% of USTexas (Fort Worth Basin)
The pioneer shale gas play that launched the shale revolution in the 2000s.
Shale Gas & LNG Exports
US shale gas production growth has enabled America to become one of the world's largest LNG (liquefied natural gas) exporters. Key factors:
- •Haynesville Advantage: Proximity to Gulf Coast LNG terminals makes it the preferred supply source for exports
- •Export Capacity: US LNG export capacity exceeds 13 Bcf/day across 7 major terminals
- •Global Markets: US LNG reaches Europe, Asia, and Latin America, providing energy security diversification
Enterprise Natural Gas Data
Access comprehensive shale gas production data for trading, analytics, and business intelligence. RESTful API with real-time and historical data.
GET /v1/prices/latest?by_code=NATURAL_GAS_USD GET /v1/prices/historical?by_code=NATURAL_GAS_USD&interval=daily GET /v1/rig-counts/latest # Includes gas rig breakdown
Henry Hub Prices
Real-time and historical data
Gas Rig Counts
Weekly Baker Hughes data
Production Forecasts
EIA projections via API
Frequently Asked Questions
What is shale gas?
Shale gas is natural gas trapped within shale rock formations deep underground. Extracting shale gas requires hydraulic fracturing (fracking) combined with horizontal drilling to release gas from the low-permeability rock.
How much shale gas does the US produce?
The US produces approximately 90-95 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas per day, with shale gas accounting for about 75% of total production. The Marcellus Shale alone produces over 35 Bcf/day.
What are the major US shale gas basins?
The major US shale gas basins are: Marcellus Shale (35 Bcf/day), Haynesville Shale (16 Bcf/day), Utica Shale (8 Bcf/day), and Barnett Shale (4 Bcf/day).
How does shale gas relate to LNG exports?
US shale gas production growth has enabled significant LNG exports. The US became a net natural gas exporter in 2017 and is now one of the world's largest LNG exporters, with gas from the Haynesville and other basins feeding Gulf Coast LNG terminals.