EQT Sees Higher US Gas Output in 2026 as Prices Rise and Demand Grows

EQT Corporation, the second-largest US natural gas producer, plans to boost production in 2026 by spending less on extraction. According to CEO Toby Rice, the company will take advantage of a 'shut-in program' that curtails output during low gas prices and ramps up production when prices rise.

This strategy has allowed EQT to beat pricing expectations, with the company benefiting from around $200 million in additional revenue each year due to its ability to adjust production levels. Rice emphasized the importance of having a business model that can 'throttle' production in line with market demands.

EQT's projected 2026 output is expected to reach an average of 6.5-6.7 billion cubic feet equivalent per day (bcfed), up from 6.5 bcfed this year. This increase comes despite EQT and other producers curtailing production in the Marcellus and Utica shale regions due to low prices.

Rice also highlighted EQT's focus on expanding demand for Appalachian natural gas molecules, with the company launching an open season for its proposed POWER pipeline project. The pipeline aims to transport up to 1 bcfd of gas from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where data centers are being built or expanded.