Top navigation skipped
top 10 counties in Texas
Energy is Good for Texas
Natural Gas
Natural gas plays a crucial role in providing reliable and affordable energy for the state. If Texas were a country, it would be the third-largest producer of natural gas in the world. Natural gas, a hydrocarbon gas mixture formed from the decay of organic matter over millions of years, is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than coal and oil.
Nearly 25 percent of U.S. natural gas reserves are in Texas.
30 percent of the 100 largest U.S. natural gas fields are in Texas.
According to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), natural gas provides 41.8 percent of Texas’ electric generating capacity, making it the largest single source of power in the state.
Nuclear Energy By the Numbers
Jobs, 2022
109,884
Average Annual Wage for Natural Gas Jobs, 2022
Natural Gas Extraction
$179,227
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
$117,515
Support Activities for Oil and Gas Operations
$110,604
Gross Domestic Product, 2021
$161.9 billion
top 10 counties in Texas
by natural gas production, 2022
Map Details
| County | Shale Formation | Total MCF (One thousand cubic feet ) |
|---|---|---|
| Reeves | Barnett-Woodford | 928,780,348 |
| Webb | Eagle Ford | 907,729,255 |
| Panola | Haynesville-Bossier | 764,014,865 |
| Culberson | Barnett-Woodford | 456,123,664 |
| Harrison | Haynesville-Bossier | 409,130,750 |
| Loving | Barnett-Woodford | 354,457,807 |
| Tarrant | Barnett | 312,277,490 |
| La Salle | Eagle Ford | 244,128,082 |
| San Augustine | Haynesville-Bossier | 228,478,277 |
| Wise | Barnett | 165,017,890 |
Montgomery County Power Station in Willis, Texas, is a state-of-the-art natural gas power plant with an installed capacity of 993 MW. This plant first came to operation in 2021 and helps to provide reliable and affordable energy to customers in the region.
Outlook
Natural gas in liquified form (LNG) is shipped all over the world via two LNG export facilities located in Texas, with plans for eight additional LNG export facilities to be constructed in the future. LNG is projected to experience a 152 percent increase in exports from now until 2050.
This contributes to economic growth and strengthens Texas' position in the global energy trade. Natural gas continues to be a preferred fuel for electricity generation in Texas due to its lower emissions profile and cost-effectiveness.
Along with its abundant reserves and technological advancements, natural gas remains a crucial component of Texas' energy portfolio.
Sources: Texas Oil and Gas Association, U.S. Energy Information Administration, ERCOT, Entergy Newsroom
This is one in a series of reports the Comptroller has prepared on energy in Texas.
See more information on energy Issues and the Texas economy.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.