US natural gas futures up on record LNG exports, tight storage

The average amount of gas flowing to the eight big US LNG export plants has risen to 17.4 bcfd so far in November, up from a record 16.6 bcfd in October, and those flows are on track to increase further in coming months.

The Imsaikah LNG vessel was moving south across the Indian Ocean toward the Atlantic Ocean and Exxon Mobil/ QatarEnergy's 2.4-bcfd Golden Pass LNG export plant under construction in Texas, according to LSEG data and analysts' comments.

The ship, which was expected to arrive at Golden Pass around December 1, is carrying LNG from Qatar that traders and analysts say will be used to cool equipment at the plant as part of its commissioning. The facility is expected to start producing and exporting LNG later this year or early next year.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York; Editing by Joe Bavier and Paul Simao)