Based on data in EIA’s Monthly Crude Oil, Lease Condensate, and Natural Gas Production Report , average crude oil production in the Lower 48 states fell to 8.39 million barrels per day (b/d) in 2016, a decrease of approximately 0.55 million b/d, or 6.1% from the 2015 average. Natural gas gross withdrawals in the Lower 48 states also decreased in 2016, averaging 80.39 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), or 1.03 Bcf/d (1.3%) lower than in 2015. EIA now has two complete years of monthly survey-based data on crude oil and natural gas production since expanding the EIA-914 survey in 2015. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration After declining throughout 2015, crude oil and natural gas prices began to recover in 2016, increasing through much of the year, which drove production increases in the second half of 2016. The price for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil, after reaching a […]