According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average crude oil production in the United States fell by 6.1% in 2016, from 8.94 mbl/d on average in 2015 to 8.39 mb/d in 2016, while the average gas production declined by 1.3%, from 81.42 bcf/d (2.3 bcm/d) in 2015 to 80.39 bcf/d (2.27 bcm/d) in 2016.
Crude oil and gas prices began to recover in 2016 after declining throughout 2015: the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil price rose from US$30/bbl in February 2016 to US$53/bbl in January 2017, while the average Henry Hub gas prices rose from US$2/MMBtu in the first quarter of 2016 to US$2.88/MMBtu in the third quarter of 2016. These price recoveries contributed to raising oil and gas production in the United States.
Crude oil production particularly rose in the Gulf of Mexico (+96,000 bbl/d) and in New Mexico and West Virginia in a lesser extent. Texas oil production decreased (-239 kb/d) but higher production in the Permian region offset this fall.
Gas production increased in Pennsylvania and Ohio, reflecting higher production from the Utica and Marcellus shale plays. In Ohio, gas production in the Utica Shale, including the Point Pleasant formation, has continued to increase since 2011 (favourable geologic conditions and improved production efficiencies).