By David Bird 
 

NEW YORK--Natural-gas output in the Lower 48 U.S. states rose 0.6% in September from an upwardly revised August level and was up 3.9% from a year earlier, government data released Friday show.

September output averaged 73.05 billion cubic feet per day, the highest output level on data beginning in January 2005, according to the Energy Information Administration.

The EIA revised the August output level up by a slim 0.07% to 72.6 billion cubic feet per day.

With the revision, August output was down 0.08% from July and 4.2% above a year earlier.

The unrevised August data had shown a 0.2% fall from July, to 72.55 billion cubic feet per day, and a 4.1% rise from August 2011.

August output had slipped due to shutdowns caused by Hurricane Isaac.

The EIA said output from so-called other states outside the historical producing areas posted the largest month-to-month increase of any area, at 1.9%, or 0.43 Bcf/d, "as operators reported new wells coming online in the Marcellus and other shale plays."

"Texas production grew 0.5%,or 0.12 Bcf/d, as operators reported new wells in the Eagle Ford and Haynesville shale plays," the EIA said. "Gulf of Mexico production increased 1.4%, or 0.05 Bcf/d, as production resumed for many operators following Hurricane Isaac," the EIA said. "Louisiana, New Mexico, and Wyoming all displayed a decrease."

"Other states" refers to states other than Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming.

Write to David Bird at david.bird@dowjones.com

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