Permian Basin Drives Record U.S. Natural Gas Production in July
U.S. natural gas production reached an all-time high in July 2026, driven by increased output in the Permian Basin.
Gross withdrawals, which is the total volume of gas extracted at the wellhead, reached a record 137 billion cubic feet per day (Bft3d) in July 2026. This marked the first new monthly record for gross withdrawals in 2026 after five record-setting months in 2025.
The Permian region, which includes parts of western Texas and eastern New Mexico, is one of the most prolific oil and gas regions in the world. The increased output was primarily driven by new wells coming online in Texas and New Mexico.
New natural gas pipeline infrastructure has also eased long-standing gas transport bottlenecks in Texas. For example, the Hugh Brinson Pipeline began interstate pipeline flows ahead of schedule this summer, increasing takeaway capacity out of the Permian Basin to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals on the Gulf Coast.