The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Tuesday projected dry natural gas production would rise in 2017 after falling in 2016, while gas consumption would decline in 2017 after rising to a record high last year. EIA projected production would rise to 73.69 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in 2017 from 72.31 bcfd in 2016, according to its Short Term Energy Outlook (STEO) in March. That 2017 output projection is the same as EIA made in its February STEO report and falls short of the record high 74.14 bcfd produced on average in 2015. Annual production declined in 2016 for the first time since 2005 as low energy prices reduced drilling activity . EIA also projected U.S. gas consumption would fall to 73.65 bcfd in 2017 from a record […]