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The total U.S. net energyÌýimports fell to their lowest level in 29 years for the first six months of 2014, said the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Ìý
The total U.S. energy imports in the first six months of 2014 fell 6 percentÌýcompared with the first six months of 2013, almost entirely because of the decreasing petroleum and natural gas imports, which fell 6 percentÌýand 5 percent, respectively, said the administration.Ìý
TheÌýconsumption growth was outpaced with increases in the total energy production in the U.S., while there wasÌýa 17 percentÌýreduction in net imports compared with the first six months of 2013, according to the U.S. agency.Ìý
While natural gas accounted for 55 percentÌýof the 2014 year-to-date increase, coal accounted for 24 percent, renewable energy with 12 percent, petroleum at 8 percentÌýand nuclear electric power's increase at 3 percent, the administration said.Ìý
Of the total natural gas consumption increase, the residential and commercial sectors accounted for 69 percentÌýof the gain, while 30 percentÌýof the increase came from the industrial sector, continuing aÌýlong-term trend toward higher industrial use of natural gas.
In the increase in total energy production, petroleum accounted for 52 percentÌýof the 2014 year-to-date increase, natural gas for 27 percent, renewable energy for 9 percent, and nuclear electric power for 2 percent, while the total coal production fell 1 percent.Ìý
According to the U.S. agency, the increased liquids production reflects the use of advanced drilling methods, including hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.
Hydraulic fracturing, aÌýtechnique used in "unconventional" gas production,Ìýproduces fractures in the rock formation that stimulate the flow of natural gas or oil, increasing the volumes that can be recovered, according to the U.S.ÌýEnvironmental Protection Agency.Ìý
The Energy Information Administration said thatÌýthese techniques have led to higher production in areas such as theÌýBakken Region,ÌýMarcellus Region,ÌýEagle Ford play, andÌýPermian Basin, and have greatly increased U.S. oil and natural gas production.
Since the boom in 2008, the U.S.Ìýdependency on foreign oil sourcesÌýhas decreased. The U.S. imported 3.6Ìýbillion barrels of crude oil in 2008, which fell to 2.8Ìýbillion barrels in 2013, according to data compiled on the Energy Information Administration website.Ìý
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
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