For Immediate Release
December 2, 2005

Contact Information


WASHINGTON – Data released this week by the Energy Information Administration indicates that despite the high prices that consumers are currently paying for natural gas, there is no shortfall in natural gas supplies in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. In fact, there appears to be a natural gas surplus.  

Despite the loss of offshore natural gas platforms during Hurricane Katrina, the Energy Information Administration reported that 3,225 billion cubic feet of natural gas are currently in storage in the U.S. as of November 25th. This total exceeds the 5-year average of 3,035 billion cubic feet set for this week of the year from 2000-2004.  

“It is clear from these numbers that natural gas prices aren’t following the law of supply and demand,” said Erik Molvar, a wildlife biologist for Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, a conservation group based in Laramie, Wyoming. “We have more natural gas on hand than normal for this time of year, and yet natural gas drillers and suppliers are still reaping record gas prices to add to their already astronomical profits.” 

A shortfall in natural gas supplies as a result of Hurricane Katrina has been touted as a justification for faster drilling on public lands in the West, as well as for recent exemptions from seasonal wildlife protections in western Wyoming.

“Political appointees in Washington are using the alleged gas shortage and Hurricane Katrina as an excuse to ramp up the already out-of-control drilling on our western public lands. In Wyoming last week, the administration gave the oil industry a free pass to ignore the moratorium on winter drilling in crucial big game winter range on the Pinedale Anticline,” said Molvar. “And now it turns out that there was never a gas shortage after all.” 

“Instead of feeding the hysteria over natural gas supplies that are cyclical by nature, the administration should be developing clean, renewable energy sources which will provide a steady energy supply for our nation,” Molvar added. 

Statistics were provided by the Energy Information Administration, which provides the official energy statistics for the U.S. Government. Complete data for natural gas storage is presented at http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngs/ngs.html.