The reason why Oil and Gaz prices are low is due to Saudi Arabia strategy to punish the US for it new oil policy (shale and what's not) and of course political reasons such as the US getting closer to Iran....
By keeping Oil prices low, Saudi Arabia mainly is making investement and breaking even point of shale oil and other alternative very difficult and Saudi Arabia is ready to keep the price low for a couple of years if it needs two, other countries like Venezella or Algeria ...ect cannot afford that
Higher oil prices would have a much worse impact on the US economy and the US government over both the short and long term, especially sharply higher oil prices (just think of what happened in the 1970's oil/gas crisis.
You didn't read my comment properly please reread it again.
I suggest you to look at US Oil importation production, and Shale Oil production in the last 4 years, also check out, the production for shale oil in the US, maybe you'll understand, I also invite you to check out the Shale oil revolution plan by the whitehouse
And for good measure and read :
http://online.wsj.com/articles/saudi-oil-price-cut-upends-market-1415063053
http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-collapse-of-oil-prices-has-washington-just-shot-itself-in-the-oily-foot/5412265