The U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a report that natural gas prices have continued their downward trend this winter as a result of warmer-than-normal temperatures, ample natural gas in storage, and growing production.
Average spot natural gas prices for January were at $2.68/MMBtu.
Spot natural gas prices in January 2012 reached their lowest level in 10 years except for a 4-day period over the Labor Day weekend in 2009.
Population-weighted heating degree days since November 1, 2011 are down 12% nationally from the 30-year average.
Total working natural gas in underground storage in the lower 48 states was 3,098 Bcf for the week ending January 20, 21% above the storage levels from one year ago.
Daily dry gas production averaged about 64.2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) in January, up almost 10% from last January.
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LNG World News Staff, February 2, 2012; Image: EIA