U.S. natural gas production projected to hit record 122.5 Bcf/d in 2026

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that United States natural gas production will reach a new record in 2026, averaging 122.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). This forecast, released in the August Short-Term Energy Outlook, surpasses the previous record of 118.5 Bcf/d set in 2025.

Growth is primarily driven by two major regions: the Permian Basin, spanning Texas and New Mexico, and the Haynesville Shale, located in Louisiana and East Texas. In the Permian Basin, production is expected to average 29.2 Bcf/d in 2026, a 6 percent increase over 2025. Much of this is attributed to rising oil drilling activity, where natural gas is captured as a byproduct of crude oil extraction.

The Haynesville Shale is also seeing significant expansion, with a projected 9 percent growth for the full year of 2026. This region is strategically important due to its proximity to Gulf Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals and major industrial corridors. To support this increased output, midstream developers are working on new pipeline capacity, with Texas accounting for two-thirds of the planned new capacity for 2026 and 2027.