Since 2012, natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica shales has made up 85 percent of the United State’s growth in natural gas production, The Business Journal reports. Improvements such as advanced drilling techniques, various drilling components and other technological advancements has made drilling more productive.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Drilling Productivity Report released July 28 shows that in the Marcellus Shale, new-well gas production per rig increased from 3.2 million cubic feet per day in January 2012 to 8.3 Mmcf/d in July 2015. Overall estimated Marcellus production increased from 6.3 billion cubic feet per day in January 2012 to 16.5 Bcf/d in July 2015.

In the Utica Shale, January 2012 new-well gas production per rig was 0.31 Mmcf/d; in July 2015, it was 6.9 Mmcf/d. Overall Utica natural gas production increased from 0.15 Bcf/d in January 2013 to 2.6 Bcf/d in July 2015.

Via: The Business Journal > Marcellus, Utica Account for 85% of Shale Gas Production Growth