A two-year trend of rising proved reserves of natural gas and oil in the United States ground to a halt amid a decline in prices in 2019, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Natural gas proved reserves decreased 1.9% year/year in 2019 to 494.9 Tcf from 504.5 Tcf. This is the first annual decrease in proved gas reserve in the United States since 2015, but reserves remain at their second highest level ever, the agency said. Total U.S. gas production increased 9.8% year/year.

Lower 48 basins fared better. Proved gas reserves from unconventional U.S. plays increased to 71% at year-end 2019 from 68% in 2018. The largest net gain by volume in 2019 occurred in Ohio, which grew by 10.4 Tcf. The EIA said the increase was driven by continuing development of the...