Domestic natural gas production in the Lower 48 states fell 0.2%, or 0.15 MMcf/d, in October, the latest month for which statistics are available, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Tuesday. All onshore areas of the Lower 48 experienced a drop in output, including Louisiana where production fell for the first time since December 2009.

Surprisingly, the Gulf of Mexico, where activity has been at a standstill, reported a 0.3% hike in activity to 5.95 Bcf/d, the agency said in its monthly natural gas gross production report.

Total Lower 48 production in October fell to 65.72 Bcf/d in October from 65.87 Bcf/d in September, the EIA said. Lower 48 natural gas production accounted for the bulk of overall U.S. output of 75.16 Bcf/d in October, which was up 0.6% from 74.68 Bcf/d in September.

Both Lower 48 production and total U.S. production were considerably lower a year ago — 61.44 Bcf/d and 70.82 Bcf/d, respectively.

Although Texas continued to be the single largest producer, its output fell 0.7% to 20.77 Bcf in October. Louisiana, home to the Haynesville Shale, saw production inch down to 6.62 Bcf/d from 6.65 Bcf/d in September.

Oklahoma maintained its status quo at about 5 Bcf/d in October. Production in Wyoming fell to 6.67 Bcf/d in October from 6.71 Bcf/d, while New Mexico dropped 2.6% to 3.73 Bcf/d in October from 3.83 Bcf/d in September.

Alaska gas output climbed 7.2% to 9.44 Bcf/d in October from 8.81 Bcf/d. States outside the major producing states named above had a combined production of 16.99 Bcf/d production, up 0.9% in October.

©Copyright 2010Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. The preceding news reportmay not be republished or redistributed, in whole or in part, in anyform, without prior written consent of Intelligence Press, Inc.