Pennsylvania’s unconventional natural gas production in the third quarter hit 1.751 Tcf, an increase of only 2% from the same period last year and the lowest annual growth rate on record as operators continued to pare activity throughout a tumultuous year.

Production increased slightly from 2Q2020 volumes of 1.717 Tcf, according to the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). Sequential production declined in the first half of the year as gas prices fell. Production has been so robust in Pennsylvania in recent years, driven by the Marcellus, Utica and Upper Devonian shales, that the IFO noted a 1.3% decline in production between September 2019 and September 2020. The office said it was the first year/year decline in monthly production since February 2017.

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