Shrinking volumes from gassy plays will overshadow higher associated output from the Permian Basin to drive a modest decline in natural gas production from key Lower 48 regions in early 2024, according to the latest modeling from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

In its updated Drilling Productivity Report (DPR), EIA projected 98.889 Bcf/d of combined production in February from the seven Lower 48 regions tracked in its monthly report. That would represent a 187 MMcf/d sequential decline from January output of 99.076 Bcf/d.

Alongside the Permian, the DPR tracks production trends in the Anadarko and Appalachian basins, as well as the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville and Niobrara shales.

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