Improvements in drilling rig efficiency have allowed U.S. crude oil and natural gas production to move higher this year even as the overall rig count – which is normally a bellwether of production trends – has moved lower. That trend was discussed as part of the U.S.

 The rapid changes in the North American energy market mean it’s more important than ever to talk about how the

Permian natural gas production ranged from 21.7 Bcf/d to 22.2 Bcf/d during the week ended August 25, averaging 22 Bcf/d, up 0.2 Bcf/d from the week prior. Production increases were reflected in higher receipts on El Paso Pipeline, particularly in the back half of the week.

This week was another slow one for US oil and gas rig count, with total rigs falling to 538 for the week ending August 22, a decline of one vs. a week ago according to Baker Hughes. The Bakken dropped one rig this week, while all other basins were unchanged.

Ethane exports hit a low of 372 Mb/d in June as the license requirements for exports of ethane to China implemented by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) were in effect. Those requirements were lifted after a deal was struck with China. Exports recovered in July with Energy Transfer’s Nede