The
Energy Information Administration recently released its annual energy outlook
report. Following are snippets of the report that highlight the role of natural
gas in our country’s expected condition with regard to energy use, consumption
and cost.
Average natural gas wellhead prices are projected to fall from today’s levels
to just over $5.30 per thousand cubic feet in 2016, as the initial availability
of new import sources, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), and increased
drilling, expand available supply. After 2016, wellhead prices rise gradually
to just over $6.60 per thousand cubic feet in 2030.
Natural gas demand grows at a rate of 0.2 percent per year, with the most rapid
growth rates for electricity generation.
Total natural gas supply is projected to increase to 22.7 trillion cubic feet
in 2030, with major contributions from LNG imports, the completion of an
Alaskan natural gas pipeline in 2020, and domestic unconventional production.
In 2030, net LNG imports are 2.8 trillion cubic feet, production from Alaska is
2.0 trillion cubic feet, and unconventional production is 9.5 trillion cubic
feet. ND