Domestic dry natural gas production and consumption, which reached record highs several times in 2015, again soared into uncharted territory in October, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Dry gas production in October reached 2.30 Tcf (74.3 Bcf/d), the highest of any October since EIA began reporting such production data in 1973, the agency said. It was a 2.1% (1.5 Bcf/d) increase compared with October 2014, according to EIA’s latest Natural Gas Monthly report.

EIA in previous Natural Gas Monthly reports said dry gas production for July, August and September also reached record high levels (see Daily GPI, Dec. 2, 2015; Nov. 2, 2015; Oct. 1, 2015).

Through the first 10 months of 2015, dry gas production was 22.64 Tcf, compared with 21.26 Tcf in the same period last year and 20.11 Tcf in the first 10 months of 2013.

And consumption of dry natural gas in October was the highest on record for the month, EIA said, reaching 2.00 Tcf (64.6 Bcf/d), a 4.3% increase from 1.92 Tcf (2.6 Bcf/d) in October 2014. Through the first 10 months of the year consumption was 22.61 Tcf, compared with 21.64 Tcf at the same time last year and 20.92 Tcf at the same time in 2013. Electric power deliveries in October were 797 Bcf (25.7 Bcf/d), a 13.2% increase from 22.7 Bcf/d in October 2014. Industrial deliveries were 612 Bcf (19.7 Bcf/d), a 0.7% increase from October 2014. In a continuation of a lengthy downward trend, deliveries to residential consumers were 200 Bcf, (6.5 Bcf/d), down 5.7% from October 2014, and commercial deliveries were 193 Bcf, (6.2 Bcf/d), a 4.5% decrease from October 2014.

Total U.S. natural gas production was 2.82 Tcf in October, compared with 2.73 Tcf in October 2014. Alaska reported 279.43 Bcf (up from 271.47 Bcf in October 2014); Louisiana, 164.15 (down from 166.39 Bcf); Oklahoma, 212.54 Bcf (up from 202.96 Bcf); New Mexico, 112.00 Bcf (up from 107.58 Bcf); Texas, 736.09 Bcf (up from 746.11 Bcf); Wyoming, 166.74 Bcf (down from 171.62 Bcf); and Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico, 115.69 Bcf (up from 110.79 Bcf).

Entering the New Year, levels of natural gas in storage remain well above historic levels (see related story). EIA on Thursday reported a 58 Bcf withdrawal, which put inventories at 3,756 Bcf, which is 532 Bcf greater than last year and 448 Bcf more than the five-year average.

EIA last summer for the first time included in the monthly natural gas production survey state-level data from 10 states, including some shale-rich names previously grouped into its “other states” category (see Daily GPI, June 30, 2015). Production in those 10 states in October was led once again by Pennsylvania, home of the mighty Marcellus Shale, which reported 404.46 Bcf. Also formerly grouped in the Other States category were Arkansas (83.30 Bcf), California (18.87 Bcf), Colorado (144.68 Bcf), Kansas (24.34 Bcf), Montana (4.83 Bcf), North Dakota (50.87 Bcf), Ohio (103.96 Bcf), Utah (31.45 Bcf) and West Virginia (110.81 Bcf). The diminished Other States category reported 52.62 Bcf.

Net imports of natural gas were 68 Bcf for October, compared with 106 Bcf a year ago. Total net imports through the first 10 months of 2015 were 817 Bcf, compared with 958 Bcf during the same period last year and 1.05 Tcf in the first 10 months of 2013.