That’s up 40 percent compared with the 432.5 billion cubic feet produced in the first half of the year, and up 123 percent from the 272 billion cubic feet produced in the second half of 2010.

Natural gas production has increased by leaps and bounds over the past several years, making Pennsylvania a net natural gas exporter. This year, however, several companies have announced production cutbacks due to record-low natural gas prices.

DEP also released a waste report today, showing how companies disposed of frackwater, drill cuttings and so forth. From July to December, companies reused more than 202 million gallons of fracking fluid and brine rather than disposing of it, DEP’s records show.