The federal government reported this week that the February 2021 winter storm that hit Oklahoma and Texas hard resulted in the largest monthly decline of natural gas production on record.
The Energy Information Administration reported that at the same time, residential sector consumption reached a record high.
The historic results came as a record-breaking cold snap hit the Lower 48 states and extreme winter weather, as we know in Oklahoma caused natural gas production freeze-offs, higher electricity and commodity prices and rolling black-outs.
The harsh winter weather affected natural gas production and industrial sector consumption the most according to the EIA in its report issued on Monday. But Texas was hardest hit stated the government.
U.S. natural gas production in February 2021—measured by gross withdrawals—averaged 104.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), an 8.1 Bcf/d (7%) decrease from January, the largest monthly decline on record. Decreased natural gas production in Texas accounted for most of the overall decline. Texas natural gas production fell by a record 4.3 Bcf/d (15%) to 21.5 Bcf/d.
From February 8 to 17, natural gas production in Texas fell by more than 10 Bcf/d. The decline in natural gas production was mostly a result of freeze-offs, when water and other liquids in natural gas wells freeze at the wellhead or in natural gas gathering lines and block the flow.
Texas natural gas production infrastructure is more susceptible to the effects of extremely cold weather because it is not winterized to the same extent as natural gas production infrastructure in colder, northern areas of the Lower 48 states.