據管道&天然氣雜志網3月10日報道，美國天然氣期貨上漲約2%，因接近歷史最高水平的液化天然氣出口導致公用事業公司上周從庫存中提取的燃料多于預期，而且預計未來兩周供暖需求將增加。

近幾個月來，美國的液化天然氣出口一直強勁，因為由于全球石油和天然氣價格已經達到或接近歷史最高水平。

美國能源情報署(EIA)表示，截至3月4日當周，公用事業從儲氣庫中提取了1240億立方英尺天然氣。

這高于分析師在路透調查中預測的1170億立方英尺的提取量，而去年同一周減少590億立方英尺，五年(2017-2021年)的平均減少量為890億立方英尺。

美國即月天然氣期貨上漲10.5美分，漲幅2.3%，收于4.631美元/百萬英熱單位。

美國的天然氣期貨仍然不受創紀錄的歐洲價格的影響，因為美國擁有國內使用所需的所有燃料，而且該國出口更多液化天然氣的能力受到產能限制的限制。

美國已經在接近滿負荷生產液化天然氣，因此無論全球天然氣價格上漲多高，它都無法在短期內生產更多的過冷燃料。

由于美國液化天然氣出口已經接近最大產能，一些分析師表示，全球能源價格飆升將導致美國天然氣價格下跌，因為美國鉆探商尋求更多的石油供應。這將增加與石油一起從地下開采出來的伴生天然氣的量。

據數據提供商Refinitiv表示，隨著更多油氣井在今年早些時候凍結后重新投入使用，美國本土48個州的天然氣日均產量有望從2月份的925億立方英尺上升至3月份的934億立方英尺。相比之下，去年12月紀錄的962億立方英尺。

周四，由于一些生產盆地的寒冷天氣導致產量下降，天然氣日產量有望降至923億立方英尺。

據Refinitiv預計，包括出口在內的美國天然氣日均需求將在本周和下周保持在1120億立方英尺左右。該預測高于Refinitiv周三的展望。

流向美國液化天然氣出口工廠的天然氣量從2月的124.3億立方英尺/天和1月創紀錄的124.4億立方英尺/天升至3月迄今的125.8億立方英尺/天。美國有能力將約125億立方英尺的天然氣轉化為液化天然氣。流向設施的其余燃料用于運行核電站。

郝芬 譯自 管道&天然氣雜志網

原文如下：

US Natgas Up 2% on Big Storage Draw, Near Record LNG Exports

U.S. natural gas futures gained around 2% as near-record LNG exports caused utilities to pull more of the fuel from storage last week than expected and on forecasts for more heating demand over the next two weeks.

U.S. LNG exports have been strong in recent months because global oil and gas prices have traded at or near record highs .

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said utilities pulled 124 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas from storage during the week ended March 4.

That was higher than the 117-bcf withdrawal analysts forecast in a Reuters poll and compares with a decline of 59 Bcf in the same week last year and a five-year (2017-2021) average decline of 89 Bcf.

U.S. front-month gas futures rose 10.5 cents, or 2.3%, to settle at $4.631 per MMBtu.

U.S. gas futures remain shielded from record European prices because the United States has all the fuel it needs for domestic use and the country's ability to export more LNG is limited by capacity constraints.

The United States is already producing LNG near full capacity, so no matter how high global gas prices rise, it would not be able to produce much more of the supercooled fuel any time soon.

Since U.S. LNG exports were already near maximum capacity, some analysts said soaring global energy prices would cause American gas prices to decline as U.S. drillers seek more oil supplies. That would boost the amount of associated gas that comes out of the ground with that oil.

Data provider Refinitiv said average gas output in the U.S. Lower 48 states was on track to rise to 93.4 Bcfd in March from 92.5 Bcfd in February as more oil and gas wells return to service after freezing earlier in the year. That compares with a monthly record of 96.2 Bcfd in December.

On a daily basis, gas output was on track to drop to 92.3 Bcfd on Thursday as cold weather in some producing basins reduces output.

Refinitiv projected average U.S. gas demand, including exports, would hold around 112.0 Bcfd this week and next. Those forecasts were higher than Refinitiv's outlook on Wednesday.

The amount of gas flowing to U.S. LNG export plants rose to 12.58 Bcfd so far in March from 12.43 Bcfd in February and a record 12.44 Bcfd in January. The United States has the capacity to turn about 12.5 Bcfd of gas into LNG. The rest of the fuel flowing to the facilities is used to operate the plants.