US NGL output rebounds from eight-month low

OREANDA-NEWS. US NGL production at field processing plants rebounded from an eight-month low in February to stand at 3.1mn b/d, down slightly from the record high 3.126mn b/d achieved in October 2014.

Total output rose in February by 120,000 b/d, led by a surge in PADD III production, according to the latest figures from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Gulf coast total NGL production rose 96,000 b/d in February to total 1.85mn b/d. Gulf coast production peaked in August 2014 at 1.875mn b/d.

Production in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations softened by 11,000 b/d to stand at 223,000 b/d, while Bakken output hit a new record-high of 145,000 b/d.

Overall US propane production surpassed ethane output for the second consecutive month. Prior to January, ethane production has continued to outpace the heavier NGL since December 1993. Production levels amid the two NGLs have converged since the third quarter of last year when ethane rejection ramped up.

Propane production stood 11,000 b/d stronger than ethane at 1.071mn b/d. Ethane production gained 49,000 b/d to stand at 1.06mn b/d.

Butane production firmed by 11pc in February to hit a record-high 324,000 b/d. Isobutane volumes dropped to 257,000 b/d, down 12,000 b/d from a month prior. Production of pentanes plus, or natural gasoline, rose 9,000 b/d to reach 387,000 b/d.