Natural Gas Week articles from January 2006

Natural Gas Week archives from January 2006

Natural gas weekly spot prices.
January 2, 2006... NATURAL GAS WEEKLY SPOT PRICES Flow Dates: 12/27-1/2 Avg. Avg. Jan. Price Daily Daily Bid Point $/MMBtu Chg....

Exxon Mobil implements drilling innovation for sharp rate rise.
January 2, 2006... Engineers and scientists at Exxon Mobil have developed a revised drilling scheme that accelerates penetration rates by as much as 400% while cutting overall drilling time by up to 35%, allowing the company to reduce costs and bring on...

2005: the Year of the Rig; More companies buying their own.
January 2, 2006... Looking back, 2005 might be called the Year of the Rig. Faced with a tight supply of available land and offshore drilling rigs, some booked years in advance, many companies took the step of buying their own. One of those was Tri-Valley...

Fading reprieve of cold weather likely to trigger return of bulls.
January 2, 2006... Despite last week's deep sell-off of the Nymex February gas futures contract, which created more than $3 of losses in 3-days early last week thus plummeting gas prices south of $11, it appears market bulls could be set to stage a comeback on...

Ranchers challenge pipeline approval, citing livestock losses.
January 2, 2006... Ranchers, who've spent generations working the land around Navajo Lake in New Mexico, have watched bitterly as oil and gas development encroached. The first natural gas pipeline in the area was completed in the 1950s. That was the start of a...

MMS reports on shut-in totals.(Late news)
January 2, 2006... MMS reports on shut-in totals: The federal Minerals Management Service last week reported that since Aug. 26, a total of 560.766 Bcf of natural gas and 108 million barrels of oil have been shut-in as a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The...

Omni to buy company.(Late news)
January 2, 2006... Omni to buy company: Carencro, Louisiana-based Omni Energy Services has announced plans to buy Preheat Inc. in a deal valued at $23 million. Omni President and Chief Executive James C. Eckert said the deal calls for Omni to pay $16 million in...

Storm season continues.(Late news)
January 2, 2006... Storm season continues: The National Hurricane Center said Friday that Tropical Storm Zeta formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the latest storm in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ended on Nov. 30. Forecasts said Zeta...

Intrastate weekly spot prices.
January 2, 2006... INTRASTATE WEEKLY SPOT PRICES Flow Dates: 12/27-1/2 Avg. Avg. Jan. Price Daily Daily Bid Point $/MMBtu Chg. High Low...

Independents unveil big boosts in '06 capital spending budgets.
January 2, 2006... Three independents, one in New York City and two from Texas, are all seeing gold in 2006 as all three announced major increases in spending for 2006 over their 2005 budgets. At least one of the major independents, though, announced it was...

Prices and differentials for major hubs and selected city gates.
January 2, 2006... PRICES AND DIFFERENTIALS FOR MAJOR HUBS AND SELECTED CITY GATES January 2, 2006 US$/MMBtu, Volume-Weighted [GRAPHIC OMITTED] SELECTED DAILY DIFFERENTIALS Differential 12/26 12/27 12/28 12/29 12/30 HH-NY ...

Technological advances took center stage in energy industry during '05.
January 2, 2006... Downstream, mid-stream or upstream--one of the big topics in 2005 were the technological advances that have arrived, are enroute or planned for the energy industry. Among the big items introduced this past year--a first generation...

Composite spot wellhead price.
January 2, 2006... COMPOSITE SPOT WELLHEAD PRICE January 2001 to Present ($/MMBtu) Year Jan. Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Oct. 2005 6.05 5.99 6.77 6.99 6.26 6.91 7.50 8.99 11.24 12.32 2004 5.90 4.79...

Composite spot delivered-to-pipeline price.
January 2, 2006... COMPOSITE SPOT DELIVERED-TO-PIPELINE PRICE January 2001 to Present ($/MMBtu) Year Jan. Feb. March April May June July August Sept. Oct. 2005 6.94 6.17 6.98 7.14 6.39 7.00 7.45 8.96 11.48 12.44 2004...

Subsea work in Gulf, around world may soon take UK flavor.
January 2, 2006... Subsea work in the Gulf of Mexico may soon take a distinctive European flavor with the UK taking the lead in the development of subsea programs and the training of engineers. That said, David Pridden with Subsea UK--a consortium of subsea...

Natural gas futures.
January 2, 2006... NATURAL GAS FUTURES Trading Dates: Dec. 27-Dec. 30, 2005 NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE (NYMEX) (HENRY HUB) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Last Volume Last Volume Last Volume ...

It's no Kyoto, but US has plan to cap northeastern C[O.sub.2] emissions.
January 2, 2006... With the signing of the long-awaited Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) by seven northeastern states, the US now has its first mandatory carbon dioxide (C[O.sub.2]) cap-and-trade program ready to roll. The program will begin making...

North American weekly gas storage.
January 2, 2006... NORTH AMERICAN WEEKLY GAS STORAGE (Billion Cubic Feet) Dec. 23 Dec. 16 Weekly Year Yr. Ago 5-year 5-year Region Week Week Change Ago Change Average Change US East 1539 ...

Natural gas bidweek prices.
January 2, 2006... NATURAL GAS BIDWEEK PRICES Flow Dates: 1/1-1/31 January Chg. Price Avg. from Point $/MMBtu Prev. High Low Vol. GULF COAST ANR SE 11.15...

Citygate prices.
January 2, 2006... CITYGATE PRICES January Chg. Prev. Price Avg. from Bid- Point $/MMBtu Prev. High Low Vol. Deals Week ...

Banks developing taste for LNG trade--physical and financial.
January 2, 2006... Cheniere Energy's announcement last month that it is teaming up with Wall Street giant Morgan Stanley in an effort to procure LNG for its US Gulf Coast terminal projects may be vague on the specifics of the trading relationship envisaged, but...

NGW's monthly weighted averages.
January 2, 2006... NGW'S MONTHLY WEIGHTED AVERAGES $/MMBtu Price Point Dec-05 Nov-05 Oct-05 Sep-05 Aug-05 Jul-05 Gulf Coast ANR SE 12.72 9.33 13.24 11.46 8.90 7.40 Col. Gulf--Erath 13.46 10.31...

Ontario replacing coal; Renewables, nukes win later.(CURRENT)
January 2, 2006... Natural gas remains the leading fuel option helping Ontario achieve its coal-replacement strategy in the near term, according to a recent release of recommendations that the provincial government will now examine. The Ontario Power...

Nation's largest generator sticks with coal.(CURRENT)
January 2, 2006... The nation's largest power generator plans to invest billions in retrofitting traditional coal plants and building next generation coal plants, though natural gas generation could be a source for subsidiaries of peaking needs around 2008-09....

Coal to gas plant seeks OK from Minnesota officials.(CURRENT)
January 2, 2006... Excelsior Energy has a request with state regulators to approve a long-term purchase agreement for the output of its first coal gasification unit in Minnesota. Mesaba One, a 603-MW plant, will use ConocoPhillips' coal gasification...

Major reliability group emerges.(CURRENT)
January 2, 2006... Effective Jan. 1, 2006, ReliabilityFirst became the largest regional electric reliability council, operating under the North American Electric Reliability Council (Nerc). Nerc is the electric reliability standards group that represents...

Regulators, Honda advance solar.(CURRENT)
January 2, 2006... Honda Motor Co. plans to mass-produce solar cells starting in 2007, with marketing first happening in Japan from late 2006. According to Reuters, revenues are expected between $40 million and $70 million from its planned 27.5-MW production...

Spot electricity trading.(CURRENT)
January 2, 2006... SPOT ELECTRICITY TRADING Trading Dates: December 27-December 30, 2005 NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE (NYMEX) (HENRY HUB) Avg. Price Avg. Price This Last Year Month POINT ...

Comparative fuel prices.(CURRENT)
January 2, 2006... COMPARATIVE FUEL PRICES (Cash Market) January 2, 2006 APPALACHIA Appalachian Pool Ohio/Big Sandy River Coal Dlvd (Util) $57.50/ton $10.23/MMBtu $2.40/MMBtu EAST COAST...

Whiting reports hedging losses; Revises its production forecast.(Regional Market Roundup)
January 2, 2006... Denver-based Whiting Petroleum last week forecast a hedging loss for 2005's fourth quarter and for the first quarter of 2006. In a prepared statement, Whiting said its output for the fourth quarter would be down due to weather problems in...

Baker Hughes rig count.(Regional Market Roundup)
January 2, 2006... BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT Week Ended Dec. 30 Rotary Rigs Current Previous Year Week Week Ago Total US 1,471 1,475 1,243 Land ...

Gas price trends.(Regional Market Roundup)
January 2, 2006... GAS PRICE TRENDS ($/MMBtu) ROCKY NEW CALIFORNIA MTNS MEXICO TEXAS Gulf Coast Gulf Coast South...

Natural gas not causing Alberta's higher power costs.(Canadian Markets)
January 2, 2006... Alberta consumers have seen their electricity costs soar over the past few months, but unlike in the US, coal, not natural gas, is the primary cause, reports Martin King, energy commodities research analyst for Calgary-based First Energy...

Cuba reports decline continues in oil, natural gas production.(World Roundup)
January 2, 2006... Cuba's combined oil and natural gas production fell by 3.7% in 2005, following a similar decline in 2004, according to the country's Economy and Planning Minister. Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said oil production fell and gas output...

Pemex to add FPSO ship to Campeche project.(World Roundup)
January 2, 2006... Officials with Mexico's state-owned Pemex said last week the company plans to add a floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) ship to the Ku-Maloob-Zaap project in Campeche state to start operations in 2007. The FPSO ship would...

Canadian price report.(World Roundup)
January 2, 2006... CANADIAN PRICE REPORT ($U.S. per MMBtu/$Can per Gigajoule) BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA Huntingdon/ Kingsgate/ Total Sumas...

Gas Metrics: providing a new dimension of market intelligence for North America's natural gas business.
January 2, 2006... Gas Metrics is a unique data service providing a comprehensive, rigorous and systematic set of daily volume data for the entire US natural gas supply system. Gas Metrics allows you to discover all significant daily changes in gas...

New price index methodology posted.
January 2, 2006... Natural Gas Week has posted to the EI website (www.energyintel.com) an updated version of its price index methodology. Many of the Natural Gas Week price tables have been enhanced to provide more information and to conform to changing industry...

Drunk on Enron's punch, Calpine follows fallen giant.
January 2, 2006... Few warnings were ever issued about the dangers of drinking too much of the Enron-flavored punch, and even fewer heeded any such caution. And at least one company lingered far too long at the fountain, even after the enticing brew was certified...

Gas price report.
January 2, 2006... GAS PRICE REPORT ($/MMBtu--Spot) January 2, 2006 Interstate Intrastate Delivered Delivered Wellhead Wellhead To Pipeline To Utility Bid Bid...

Natural gas weekly spot prices.
January 9, 2006... NATURAL GAS WEEKLY SPOT PRICES Flow Dates: 1/3-1/9 Price Point $/MMBtu Chg. High Low Avg. Avg. Jan. Daily Daily Bid ...

Gulf production could remain 2 Bcf/d down in second quarter.
January 9, 2006... Despite an impressive effort to restore storm-damaged Gulf of Mexico oil and gas production, a large chunk of supply remains offline, exacerbating a persistent supply-decline curve. Together these problems are likely to affect the remainder of...

Lease 181 sparks concern as MMS resketches Gulf OCS boundaries.
January 9, 2006... Recent changes by the US Minerals Management Service to offshore boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico spooked some to speculate that the government was trying to covertly swap control of disputed Lease 181 areas off Florida's western coast. ...

Storage gain blindsides traders; light report ahead a certainty.
January 9, 2006... It's not surprising that last week's unprecedented net increase in inventories "walloped everybody in the head" as one New York futures trader said. And the market could be in for more of the same this week, according to Gas Metrics storage...

Successful Gulf royalties pilot project may be tried in Rockies.
January 9, 2006... A royalty-in-kind (RIK) program, still in its infancy but already formalized in the Gulf of Mexico, has drawn speculation as to whether it could be applied in other areas of the country, particularly in the booming drilling regions of the...

Habitat opened.(Late news ...)
January 9, 2006... Habitat opened: The Canadian government has opened part of the protected Beluga whale marine habitat in the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea to oil and gas exploration and production companies. A government official said the companies will have...

Season over.(Late news ...)
January 9, 2006... Season over: The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season finally ended Friday when Tropical Storm Zeta became disorganized and was downgraded to a tropical depression that was quickly breaking up. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said that...

Well test.(Late news ...)
January 9, 2006... Well test: Canadian independent Ivanhoe Energy said it plans to test its Lost Hills 1-22 well for natural gas beginning this week. The well, which is operated by Aera Energy, was drilled to a depth of 21,000 feet and is located in Kern County...

Analysts urge fixed comparison between natgas and renewables.
January 9, 2006... Natural gas prices might be even higher than we think. In comparing natural gas generation costs with renewable power generation costs, the appropriate apples-to-apples comparison would be on a "fixed-cost" basis for both options, so say...

Intrastate weekly spot prices.
January 9, 2006... INTRASTATE WEEKLY SPOT PRICES Flow Dates: 1/3-1/9 Price Point $/MMBtu Chg. High Low Avg. Avg. Jan. Daily Daily Bid ...

Oklahoma independent runs for roses with Kentucky natgas play.
January 9, 2006... Energas Resources is a small independent that has found a potential project that could push them up into the ranks of the larger exploration and production companies in the US. The company is basing that bold projection on what it is...

Prices and differentials for major hubs and selected city gates.
January 9, 2006... January 9, 2006 US$/MMBtu, Volume-Weighted [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SELECTED DAILY DIFFERENTIALS Differential 1/2 1/3 1/4 1/5 1/6 HH-NY +0.74 +0.83 +0.93 +0.87 +0.64 HH-Chicago -0.45 -0.56...

Range resources raises budget, expands several shale gas plays.
January 9, 2006... Texas independent Range Resources started the new year off in a dead run, announcing a major expansion in its shale gas plays which now cover 180,000 acres of leaseholds, as well as adding an industry veteran to its management team. ...

North American weekly gas storage.
January 9, 2006... NORTH AMERICAN WEEKLY GAS STORAGE (Billion Cubic Feet) Dec. 30 Dec. 23 Weekly Year Yr. Ago 5-year 5-year Region Week Week Change Ago Change Average Change US East 1520 ...

Growing threat: gas, oil firms beefing up their cyber security.
January 9, 2006... Recent and expected reports that address physical and cyber security of "critical infrastructure" aim to help the oil and natural gas sectors better secure assets and operations. "All kinds of digital control systems and industrial...

Natural gas futures.
January 9, 2006... NATURAL GAS FUTURES Trading Dates: January 3 - January 6, 2006 NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE (NYMEX) (HENRY HUB) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Last Volume Last Volume Last...

Conoco, Shell solidify plans to send Qatari LNG to US terminals.
January 9, 2006... Late December saw both ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell conclude final contracts with state Qatar Petroleum (QP) for 30% stakes in projects dubbed Qatargas-3 and -4, respectively--confirming that, whatever Qatar's hesitance about...

Pipline capacity utilization.
January 9, 2006... PIPELINE CAPACITY UTILIZATION Pipeline Point Name Capacity Dec.'05 Nov.'05 Colorado Interstate Cheyenne 590,000 94% 88% Gas Columbia Gas Leach 2,218,000...

NRG may carry IGCC torch in anti-coal northeast.(CURRENT)
January 9, 2006... Connecticut needs to quickly add new capacity to meet its growing demand, without falling into the "natural gas trap" and avoiding "a dangerous swing toward a gas-dominated generation fleet," one company believes. Princeton, New...

Mirant exits bankruptcy; energy merchant finds needed financing.(CURRENT)
January 9, 2006... Former major energy merchant Mirant said Tuesday the company is emerging from bankruptcy, ending the 30-month process full of revisions to the exit strategy because of challenges between bank lenders and bondholders. Mirant filed for...

Spot electricity trading.(CURRENT)
January 9, 2006... SPOT ELECTRICITY TRADING Trading Dates: January 3-January 6, 2006 NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE (NYMEX) (HENRY HUB) POINT Avg. Price Avg. Price Change Year Month This Week Last Week ...

Comparative fuel prices.(CURRENT)
January 9, 2006... COMPARATIVE FUEL PRICES (Cash Market) January 9, 2006 APPALACHIA Appalachian Pool Ohio/Big Sandy River Coal Dlvd (Util) $56.75/ton $9.82/MMBtu $2.36/MMBtu EAST COAST ...

FERC gives nod to draft report on new Elba Island pipelines.(Regional Market Roundup)
January 9, 2006... The pieces are falling into place for the expansion of El Paso's LNG terminal at Elba Island, Georgia, following the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's release of a draft environmental report that sees little problem with the proposed...

Baker Hughes rig count.
January 9, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT Week Ended Jan. 6 Rotary Rigs Current Previous Year Week Week Ago Total US 1,464 1,471...

Gas price trends.(Regional Market Roundup)
January 9, 2006... GAS PRICE TRENDS ($/MMBtu) CALIFORNIA ROCKY NEW MTNS MEXICO South North Jan 9, 2006 Inter (well) - - 7.38 7.29 ...

Alberta economy gets boost from Shell Canada, oil sands growth.(Canadian Markets)
January 9, 2006... The energy industry continues to boost Alberta's economy, and Shell Canada plans to invest millions in 2006 to increase Canadian natural gas production, including funding for additional activity near its massive Tay River discovery in Alberta....

High global prices spike Shell India LNG receiving terminal.(World Roundup)
January 9, 2006... Royal Dutch Shell is reported to have suspended operations at its $600 million Hazira LNG receiving terminal in India within a year of commencing business because it was unable to sell internationally priced imported LNG to Indian gas users,...

Canadian price report.(World Roundup)
January 9, 2006... CANADIAN PRICE REPORT ($U.S. per MMBtu/$Can per Gigajoule) BRITISH COLUMBIA Total Huntingdon/ Kingsgate/ Province Sumas ...

Shocking December injection may weigh heavy, but oil rules day.(World Roundup)
January 9, 2006... One thing you can always count on in the natural gas market. Trends can turn on a dime. Take storage. In the wake of Katrina, analysts were wondering if storage could make it out of winter with 1,000 Bcf left in the ground. And Rita...

Natural gas weekly spot prices.
January 16, 2006... NATURAL GAS WEEKLY SPOT PRICES Flow Dates: 1/10-1/16 Price Point $/MMBtu Chg. High Low GULF COAST ANR SE 8.34 -0.74 8.55 8.20 Col. Gulf--Erath 8.50 -0.92 9.10 8.35...

Market mulling possible split of flagship 10,000 MMBtu contract.
January 16, 2006... Floor traders have been whispering lately that the recent split of the New York Mercantile Exchange miNY gas futures contract could be a prelude to a coming split of its 10,000 MMBtu flagship contract, as exorbitantly high gas prices--and...

Last undeveloped Sable Island field may have to be abandoned.
January 16, 2006... Once heralded as a savior of Nova Scotia's declining industrial fortunes and a source of both big government revenues and high paying jobs, the Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP) is now in "terminal" decline, according to a study by professor...

Bear trap could be developing as futures prices continue to fall.
January 16, 2006... For the first time in about five months, natural gas futures tumbled well below the $9 mark last week amid extraordinarily lackluster winter demand and anemic storage reports. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] But what might be seen as a rout for...

MMS: Gulf production may take months to hit pre-storm totals.
January 16, 2006... It may be this coming summer before the Gulf of Mexico's energy industry returns to something resembling itself before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. That's the official word from the federal Minerals Management Service, the agency that...

Solar push.(Late news)
January 16, 2006... Solar push: California regulators have approved a $2.5-billion solar-power subsidy, the largest ever in the US, offering more business to solar-panel makers such as SunPower and Evergreen Solar, companies that already are struggling to meet...

LNG outlook.(Late news)
January 16, 2006... LNG outlook: A new study on the global LNG sector foresees 35 LNG producing countries by 2015, up from 14 today. The report, published by Research and Markets, examines different scenarios that could play out in LNG over the next decade....

Passamaquoddy comments.(Late news)
January 16, 2006... Passamaquoddy comments: The US Coast Guard is soliciting comments from Canadians as well as US residents along Passamaquoddy Bay on proposals by two companies to build LNG receiving terminals at Pleasant Point and Robbinston, Maine. The...

Far East Energy flaunts China's huge coalbed methane potential.
January 16, 2006... Nothing makes a deal good as much as being in the right place, at the right time, with the right product. For Houston-based Far East Energy, the place is China, the time is now and the product is coalbed methane, says Michael R. McElwrath,...

Two Canadian independents, one major ramping up E & P in Alberta.
January 16, 2006... Two independents and one major have turned their attention to unconventional gas plays in Alberta in a remote area west of Edmonton. The two Canadian independents have reported encouraging early results from coalbed methane projects in Alberta...

Intrastate weekly spot prices.
January 16, 2006... INTRASTATE WEEKLY SPOT PRICES Flow Dates: 1/10-1/16 Avg. Avg. Jan. Price Daily Daily Bid Point $/MMBtu Chg. High Low...

Prices and differentials for major hubs and selected city gates.
January 16, 2006... PRICES AND DIFFERENTIALS FOR MAJOR HUBS AND SELECTED CITY GATES January 16, 2006 US$/MMBtu, Volume-Weighted [GRAPHIC OMITTED] SELECTED DAILY DIFFERENTIALS Differential 1/9 1/10 1/11 1/12 1/13 HH-NY ...

ICE to launch WTI contract in challenge to Nymex open outcry.
January 16, 2006... Fresh from its public flotation, the Atlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) announced last week that it would launch an electronically traded West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures contract next month. The move poses a direct...

North American weekly gas storage.
January 16, 2006... NORTH AMERICAN WEEKLY GAS STORAGE (Billion Cubic Feet) Jan. 6 Dec. 30 Weekly Year Region Week Week Change Ago US East 1491 1520 -29 1500 West ...

ETP profits up fourfold; Texas expansion paying off in spades.
January 16, 2006... Veterans of the Texas natural gas business have known for years that a well-run intrastate pipeline network is about as close as you can get to a legal right to print money, and financial results from Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners (ETP)...