Estimated U.S. natural gas well completions increased by 3% in the third quarter of 2014 compared to year-ago levels, according to API's 2014 Quarterly Well Completion Report, Third Quarter.

“America’s oil and natural gas industry increased natural gas drilling in the third quarter thanks in large part to access on private and state lands,” said Hazem Arafa, director of API's statistics department. “Additional access to our own vast energy resources and streamlined federal permitting would allow for more opportunities to produce U.S. energy while creating more American jobs and generating more revenue for our government."

Total oil well drilling increased 1% in the total year-to-date figures for 2014, according to the report, and exploratory oil wells increased 12% for the 3rd quarter. Total gas drilling decreased over the same time frame, resulting in the total well completions for year-to-date 2014 remaining steady.