Natural gas production from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations will increase exponentially over the next two decades, according to Farm and Dairy. In fact, the production jumps will be enough to supply nearly half of the nation’s natural gas by 2040.

According to an IHS Market Study released March 19 at the World Petrochemical Conference in San Antonio, Texas, natural gas from the tri-state region of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia is expected to see a 31 percent increase from this year’s production numbers and supply 45 percent of the U.S.’s natural gas by 2040.

The production of the natural gas liquids ethane, propane and butane (LPG) is expected to nearly double in the same period, accounting for 19 percent of the nation’s total by 2040, up from 14 percent in 2018, the study shows.

Learn more: Farm and Dairy > Ohio Valley will supply nearly half of US natural gas by 2040