EIA: US natural gas storage capacity increased slightly in 2025

Underground natural gas storage provides a source of energy when demand increases, balancing US energy needs. The EIA calculate natural gas storage capacity in two ways: demonstrated peak capacity and working gas design capacity. Both increased in 2025.

Demonstrated peak capacity is the sum of the largest volume of working gas stored in each storage field during the previous five-year period, regardless of when the peaks occurred. Demonstrated peak capacity for the Lower 48 states rose 0.1%, or 6 billion ft³, in 2025, increasing for the third year in a row. In the last three years, use of both existing storage facilities and new storage facilities has increased. Demonstrated peak capacity increased by 16 billion ft³ and 18 billion ft³ in the South Central and Mountain storage regions, respectively. Meanwhile, demonstrated peak capacity in the Midwest region decreased by 5 billion ft³; the Pacific region by 8 billion ft³; and the East region by 15 billion ft³. Demonstrated peak capacity is typically less than working gas design capacity because it relates to actual usage rather than potential capacity based on the design of the facility.

Design capacity, sometimes referred to as nameplate capacity, is based on the physical characteristics of the reservoir, installed equipment, and operating procedures on the site, which federal or state regulators usually must certify. As of November 2025, the design capacity of underground natural gas storage facilities in the Lower 48 states rose by 26 billion ft³ to 4683 billion ft³ compared with the previous year. The South Central and Mountain regions reported the largest capacity additions in the Lower 48 states. Working gas design capacity increased 21 billion ft³ in the South Central region and 6 billion ft³ in the Mountain region. Working gas design capacity declined 2 billion ft³ in the East region primarily due to base gas adjustments in the region. Working gas design capacity in the Pacific and Midwest regions remained unchanged from the previous year.

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