r  Market Oversight Section
June 11, 2012      N a t u r a l G a s T r e n d s
Highlights  Data
EIA’s SHORT-TERM ENERGY OUTLOOK
According to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA’s) June 12,
2012 Short-Term Energy Outlook:
Spot prices, natural gas. EIA projects a Henry Hub
natural gas average spot price of $2.55 and $3.23 per million British
thermal units (MMBtu) in 2012 and 2013, respectively. The price
per MMBtu averaged $4 in 2011, $4.39 in 2010, $5.50 in 2009,
$9.13 in 2008, and $7.17 in 2007. 
Spot prices, crude oil. EIA expects the price of West
Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil to average about $95 per barrel
during the second half of 2012, with the average U.S. refiner
acquisition cost averaging $100 per barrel. The WTI crude oil spot
price per barrel averaged about $95 in 2011, $79 in 2010, $62 in
2009, $100 in 2008, and $72 in 2007.
Consumption. EIA
expects U.S. natural gas
consumption to average
69.5 billion cubic feet per
day (Bcf/d) in 2012, an
increase of 2.7 Bcf/d
(4.1%) over 2011
consumption. Electric
power sector consumption
of natural gas is expected
to grow by about 20% in
2012, because natural gas is
now priced lower than coal,
in some regions.
Production. EIA
expects 2012 production
growth to average 2.3 Bcf/d (up 3.4%) in 2012. Total marketed
U.S. natural gas production increased by 7.9% in 2011, by 4.4% in
2010, by 3.7% in 2009, and by 5.9% in 2008.
Imports. EIA expects gross pipeline imports of natural gas to
decline by .4 Bcf/d (4.3%) in 2012, as U.S. supplies displace
Canadian sources. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports are
expected to decline by .3 Bcf/d (33%) in 2012. An average of .7
Bcf/d of LNG will be imported in 2012 and 2013 to fulfill longterm contract obligations or to provide additional  supply during
cold snaps and supply disruptions. U.S. imports of  LNG totaled
about 431 Bcf in 2010, 452 Bcf in 2009, 352 Bcf in 2008, and 771
Bcf in 2007. 
Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html
• July Natural Gas Futures Contract (as of Jun 8), NYMEX at
Henry Hub closed at $2.299 per million British thermal units
(MMBtu)
• July Light, Sweet Crude Oil Futures Contract (as of Jun 8),
NYMEX at Cushing closed at $84.10 per U.S. oil barrel (Bbl.)
or approximately $13.39 per MMBtu
Last week:  Texas CDD higher than normal
For the week beginning 6/3/12 and ending 6/9/12, cooling degree
days (CDD) were higher than normal for Texas and lower than
normal for the U.S. For the cooling season (1/1/12 to 12/31/12),
cumulative cooling degree days were 40% above normal for Texas
and 37% above normal for the U.S.      Source:  www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov
* A minus (-)
value is cooler
than normal; a
plus (+) value
is warmer than
normal. NOAA
uses 65°
Fahrenheit as
the ‘normal’
basis from
which CDD
are calculated.
** State and
U.S. degree
days are
populationweighted by
NOAA.
Last week:  U.S. natural gas storage at 2,877 Bcf
For the week ending 6/1/12, U.S. working gas in storage rose from
2,815 to 2,877 Bcf, compared to 2,164 Bcf in storage a year ago and
compared to an average of 2,190 Bcf in storage during the 5-year
period from 2007 to 2011. Working gas in storage in the producing
region (which includes Texas) rose from 1,080 to 1,091 Bcf. 
                                                             Source: www.eia.doe.gov
Region
Week
ending
6/1/12
Prior
week
Oneweek
change
Current ∆
from 5-YR
Average
(%)
East 1,363 1,325 38 + 34.2%
West 423 410 13 + 27.4%
Producing 1,091 1,080 11 + 29.6%
Lower 48
Total
2,877 2,815 62 + 31.4%
U.S. WORKING GAS IN STORAGE
Lower 48 states, underground storage, units in billion cubic feet (Bcf)
Unlike 2012,
residential,
commercial, and
industrial customer
demand is expected
to drive
consumption growth
in 2013.
City or
Region
Total
CDD for
week
ending
6/9/2012
*Week
CDD + / -
from normal
Year-todate total
CDD
* YTD % 
+/- from
normal
Amarillo 61 8 387 121%
 Austin 115 10 869 26%
DFW 116 19 832 73%
El Paso 128 24 740 56%
Houston 134 31 1128 60%
SAT 124 16 1015 38%
Texas** 111 16 864 40%
U.S.** 35 -5 290 37%
COOLING DEGREE DAYS (HDD)