EQT Corp. (NYSE: EQT), the biggest U.S. natural gas producer, said Dec. 13 it expects to spend $2.4 billion next year, the majority of which will be to develop more wells in two key shale plays in the Appalachian region.

The company recently completed its $6.7 billion acquisition of Rice Energy, a deal that combined two of the largest players in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations. The Rice acquisition also included the assumption of $1.5 billion in debt and preferred equity.

EQT's budget is 60% more than its forecast for 2017 as its looks to boost its production of natural gas, which is expected to be the main source of power generation in the U.S. in 2018.

The Pittsburgh, Pa.-based company has earmarked $2.2 billion of its overall 2018 budget to develop wells—139 in Marcellus and 25 net wells in Utica.

The company said it expects total production sales volume of 1,520 billion-1,560 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe) in 2018 and sales volume to increase 15 percent in 2019.

The 2018 sales volume forecast is lower than the 1,569 Bcfe RBC Capital Markets analyst Scott Hanold was expecting.

EQT had said in March it expected $1.5 billion in capex this year. That was two months before it announced the deal to buy Rice Energy.

In July, EQT forecast sales volumes of 825 Bcfe to 840 Bcfe for 2017.

EQT's shares dipped 0.34% in thin premarket trading.

They have fallen 4.7% since it announced the Rice Energy deal, while the broader S&P 500 energy index has risen 4.7% in that same period.