LNG

Jan 16 (LNG) - The first cold snap of 2015 in the United States has driven up short-term natural gas demand across all sectors. The day-ahead Henry Hub benchmark price that makes LNG exports so attractive was last at $3.30 per million British thermal units. During the past week average US natural gas consumption rose 23 percent. "The high demand was met by continued strong production, increased storage withdrawals, and more imported natural gas," said the Energy Information Administration. Total US consumption averaged more than 122 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) through the first four days of the cold spell, peaking at more than 130 Bcf/d. Consumption levels for several days were the third-highest recorded since 2005, the EIA added.