Slide 23 of 26
Notes:
- Working gas in storage is estimated to have been about 1,250 billion cubic feet at the end of January, about one-third below the previous 5-year average. The estimated end-year level for 2000 was the lowest for the period of time that EIA has records.
- The current outlook for winter demand and supply suggests that storage is likely to remain very low for the remainder of this winter. In the base case, we project that gas storage will fall to about 567 billion cubic feet at the end of the heating season (March 31, 2001). The previous 30-year observed low was 758 billion cubic feet at the end of the winter of 1995-1996.
- If summer gas demand next year is as strong as we currently expect it to be, the low end-winter storage levels will present a strong challenge to the North American gas supply system to maintain flexibility and provide additional gas in preparation for the subsequent winter season.
