U.S. natural-gas production hit its highest level since at least 2009 in November, according to a government report released Tuesday, and domestic production is expected to grow in 2014. The rise in output is expected to be met by a decline in imports, leading to a leveling out of U.S. natural-gas supplies next year, the Energy Information Administration said in its short-term energy outlook. Total marketed production in the U.S. hit 72 billion cubic feet per day in November, up from 71.2 bcf/d in October and 70.3 bcf/d in November 2012. U.S. natural-gas production has soared as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques have enabled energy producers to tap into supplies trapped in shale-gas fields. The EIA also expects a decline in imports, from an average of 8.6 bcf/d in 2012 to 7.84 bcf/d this year and 7.77 bcf/d in 2014. Total primary supply of natural gas in the […]