<article><p class="lead">Freezing temperatures across the Appalachian natural gas production region likely had a minor impact on output. </p><p>Production freeze-offs occur when temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C) in producing fields, causing water and other liquids in above-ground gathering lines at the wellhead to freeze and block the flow of natural gas. </p><p>The largest producer by volume in Appalachia is EQT, with output of 4 Bcf/d during the third quarter. Other top producers include Cabot Oil &amp; Gas, Range Resources and Antero Resources.</p><p>Temperatures in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on 22 November fell to low as 9°F. Output from Appalachia that day fell by less than 1pc from the day prior to 28.7 Bcf/d (813mn m³/d), according to data from BTU Analytics. </p><p>Most of the production decline was in Pennsylvania, where the coldest weather hit. It is hard to say if the slight drop in output that day is specifically because of freeze-offs, Andrew Bradford from BTU Analytics said. Temperatures in Scranton sank even lower the following day, to 5°F, but production rose that day to 28.9 Bcf/d. </p><p>Bradford last week said freeze-offs are likely with temperatures in the single digits, but said he did not expect disruptions to be widespread or long-lasting amid forecasts for warmer weather to return by this week. </p><p>Despite the limited impact to output, spot natural gas prices in the production region last week found strong support from higher heating demand. A set of seven key Appalachian indexes averaged at least 36pc higher than a year earlier. The Leidy Line index last week averaged $4.43/mmBtu, 46pc higher than in 2017. </p></article>
