Jeremiah Shelor

Spurred on by historically low storage levels, a strong start to winter and forecasts that seem to continue ratcheting up the cold risks, natural gas futures bulls picked up the pace Wednesday, taking the front month to levels not seen since the polar vortex-inflected 2013-2014 winter.

Spurred on by historically low storage levels, a strong start to winter and forecasts that seem to continue ratcheting up the cold risks, natural gas futures bulls picked up the pace Wednesday, taking the front month to levels not seen since the polar vortex-inflected 2013-2014 winter.

December natural gas futures continued to race higher early Tuesday, adding 25.2 cents to $4.040/MMBtu shortly before 9 a.m. ET, with colder forecast trends overnight prompting further gains as the market frets over lean storage inventories.

The recently consolidated Energy Transfer LP (ET) remains committed to the Lake Charles liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project in Louisiana, and management expects to reach a final investment decision (FID) by next year.

With impressive early winter cold amplifying the risks posed by lean stockpiles, the recent rally in the natural gas futures market showed no signs of letting up Tuesday — and if anything seemed to accelerate. Meanwhile, another day of widespread weather-driven gains yielded some of the strongest early winter spot prices since 2014; the NGI Spot Gas National Avg. tacked on another 35.5 cents to $4.410/MMBtu.

With impressive early winter cold amplifying the risks posed by lean stockpiles, the recent rally in the natural gas futures market showed no signs of letting up Tuesday — and if anything seemed to accelerate. Meanwhile, another day of widespread weather-driven gains yielded some of the strongest early winter spot prices since 2014; the NGI Spot Gas National Avg. tacked on another 35.5 cents to $4.410/MMBtu.

December natural gas futures were trading 13.8 cents higher at $3.857/MMBtu shortly before 9 a.m. ET Monday as colder forecast trends over the weekend provided more fodder for the bulls in a market skittish over lean stockpiles and wintry weather in the near term.

Natural gas bulls were stirring Monday, with the futures market taking its cues from volatile forecasts to figure out a fair price as lean storage and the onset of winter heating drive risk premiums.

Natural gas bulls were stirring Monday, with the futures market taking its cues from volatile forecasts to figure out a fair price as lean storage and the onset of winter heating drive risk premiums.