Natural Gas Week articles from September 2003

Natural Gas Week archives from September 2003

Port Pelican flies.(Late News ...)
September 1, 2003... ChevronTexaco's application for proposed 800-MMcf/d Port Pelican offshore LNG receiving terminal advanced Friday with Coast Guard and Maritime Administration announcement in Federal/Register that final Environmental Assessment is available for...

Pigeon talks?(Late News ...)
September 1, 2003... Pigeon talks? Former Enron treasurer Ben Glisan meets with prosecutors about possible plea bargain, which could lead to huge break in case for prosecutors. Glisan is charged with multiple counts of money laundering, fraud and conspiracy....

Fuel source.(Late News ...)
September 1, 2003... Fuel source. Louisiana Energy Services to announce plan tomorrow to build $1.2 billion facility near Hobbs, New Mexico, to produce enriched uranium for US nuclear industry. Plant would be first of its kind in North America. Washington,...

Average cash prices & futures strip.
September 1, 2003... Spot gas prices eased last week, pressured by falling Nymex gas futures and the Encroaching low-demand Labor Day holidays.

Kansas' Forest City Basin may carry heavy CBM potential.
September 1, 2003... Coalbed methane (CBM) producers are turning their attention to a part of the country not generally thought of in terms of such production--Kansas. But exactly how much recoverable CBM lies beneath the surface of the Forest City Basin--a 30...

Storms, storage rumors may overshadow cool temps ahead.
September 1, 2003... Gas markets enter the Labor Day holidays with bearish weather conditions in store for major consuming regions, but other wildcards loom which may ultimately drive trading. Several hurricane threats lurk for gas producers in the Gulf of Mexico...

Canadian gas producers sue EUB to block up to 938 well shut-ins.
September 1, 2003... Five Canadian natural gas producers are looking to provincial courts to stop an Alberta regulator from shutting down as many as 938 gas wells in the Fort McMurray area. Attorneys for Paramount Energy Trust, Devon Canada, BP Canada Energy,...

Wyoming pipeline group seeks to start pipe building process.
September 1, 2003... Wyoming is tired of watching its natural gas sell at a steep discount to gas in other parts of the US. A state-supported group--called the Wyoming Natural Gas Pipeline Authority--plans to announce this fall its strategy to jumpstart pipeline...

City gate prices.
September 1, 2003... CITY GATE PRICES September 1, 2003 ($/MMBtu) Bid Week Bid Week City for Sep. for Aug. Austin, Texas Valero Transmission Co. ...

Industry cheers while greens jeer new EPA rules on emissions.
September 1, 2003... The Bush administration last week finalized new air pollution regulations that make it easier to repair and modernize electric power plants, petroleum refineries and other industrial facilities, a move that marks another bold revision of...

Patina moves into the San Juan Basin with Cordillera asset buy.
September 1, 2003... Patina Oil & Gas is acquiring all of the assets of privately owned Cordillera Energy Partners for $244 million, a move which will extend its recent expansion into the mid-Continent region and establish a third core area in New Mexico's San Juan...

Major market prices.
September 1, 2003... MAJOR MARKET PRICES September 1, 2003 ($/MMBtu) This Weekly Bid Week Week Change for Sep. Chicago City Gate 5.04 -0.14 5.02 New York...

Spot prices on intrastate pipeline systems.
September 1, 2003... SPOT PRICES ON INTRASTATE PIPELINE SYSTEMS Delivered-to-Pipeline ($/MMBtu) September 1, 2003 This Weekly Bid Week Pipeline Week Change for Sep. ...

Returning Congress must hash out state, federal grid issues.
September 1, 2003... One of the toughest issues facing lawmakers grappling with a final version of the energy bill is the question of federal versus state authority over the nation's transmission system, and particularly what role should federal regulators have in...

2003 gas price outlook.
September 1, 2003... 2003 GAS PRICE OUTLOOK September 1, 2003/Week 35 12-Month Strip Wellhead Delivered-to-Pipeline Nymex $5.37 $5.44 4.949 NOTES: (1) Prices are...

Changes to coastal law setting stage for federal, state dispute.
September 1, 2003... The Bush administration's proposed regulatory revisions relating to offshore oil and gas activities are making all parties concerned--industry, states, and environmental groups--unhappy, with some even calling for a withdrawal of the proposal...

Composite spot wellhead price.
September 1, 2003... COMPOSITE SPOT WELLHEAD PRICE January 1991 to Present ($/MMBtu) Jan. Feb. March April May June July 2003 5.15 6.91 7.14 4.94 5.48 5.63 4.87 2002 2.14 2.11 2.74 3.16...

Marathon signs LNG supply deal with Indonesian state companies.
September 1, 2003... Marathon Oil signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) last week for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies with Indonesian state oil company Pertamina and Indonesian upstream company Exspan for it's Tijuana LNG terminal in northwestern Mexico,...

Composite spot delivered-to-pipeline price.
September 1, 2003... COMPOSITE SPOT DELIVERED-TO-PIPELINE PRICE January 1991 to Present ($/MMBtu) Jan. Feb. March April May June July 2003 5.40 7.10 7.25 5.07 5.53 5.69 4.92 2002 2.28 2.23 ...

Fourth Trinidad LNG Train inches along as sides work out stakes.
September 1, 2003... While some of the pesky upstream details are still being hammered out for Train 4 at Trinidad's Atlantic LNG, the equity stakes and structure have been agreed: BP will take 37.78%, BG Group 28.89%, Repsol YPF 22.22%, and Trinidad's National Gas...

North American weekly gas storage.
September 1, 2003... NORTH AMERICAN WEEKLY GAS STORAGE (Billion Cubic Feet) Aug. 22 Aug. 15 Weekly Year Region Week Week Change Ago US East 1364.0 1327.0 37.0...

Prices and differentials for major hubs and selected city gates.
September 1, 2003... PRICES AND DIFFERENTIALS FOR MAJOR HUBS AND SELECTED CITY GATES September 1, 2003 US$/MMBtu Sumas, Wash. $4.42 Malin, Ore. $4.70 Los Angeles City Gate $5.36 Topock, Ariz. $4.87...

Power demand drives Florida's gas markets.(Current)
September 1, 2003... Florida does not need electricity deregulation to spur additional gas-based generation to meet growing demand, unlike several oversupplied deregulated markets now facing regulatory and financial uncertainty. The Sunshine State should add...

GAO: FERC must improve policing.(Current)
September 1, 2003... The US General Accounting Office (GAO) released a report last week saying that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is not up to speed in policing abuse in US electricity markets, even after finding manipulation by energy suppliers...

Comparative fuel prices.(Current)
September 1, 2003... COMPARATIVE FUEL PRICES (Cash Market) September 1, 2003 APPALACHIA GULF COAST Appalachian Pool Dlvd (Util) Ohio/Big Sandy River Coal $35.00/ton $5.32/MMBtu $1.46/MMBtu ...

Abraham keeps Cross-Sound Cable on.(Current)
September 1, 2003... US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham has ordered the continued emergency operation of the Cross-Sound Cable (CSC), a 330-MW electric transmission line that runs underneath the Long Island Sound between Shoreham, New York, and New Haven,...

Allegheny tries to sell contract.(Current)
September 1, 2003... Allegheny Energy, which has struggled to avert a bankruptcy filing, is seeking various approvals related to the $405 million sale of an energy supply contract to a division of Goldman Sachs. Allegheny and its Allegheny Energy Supply unit...

Natural gas futures and spot electricity trading.
September 1, 2003... NATURAL GAS FUTURES AND SPOT ELECTRICITY TRADING Trading Dates Aug. 25-Aug. 29, 2003 New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) (Henry Hub) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Last/Volume...

Teco to sell Florida power plant.
September 1, 2003... Teco Energy has agreed to sell a Florida power station, move that is part of the company's plan to sell assets an strengthen its balance sheet. Tampa-based Teco said its Teco Power Services unit would sell the 370-MW Hardee Power Station...

Montana Resources, PPL ink deal.
September 1, 2003... Montana Resources has secured a new three-year agreement with PPL Energy Plus to supply electricity to it Butte, Montana, copper and molybdenum mine, which is expected to reach full production by mid-November. PPL Energy Plus will provide...

Progress' Georgia plant on line.
September 1, 2003... Progress Energy has begun commercial operation of the 480-MW Effingham County Energy Complex near Rincon, Georgia. The new plant is a natural gas-fired facility located about 20 miles northwest of Savannah. The combined-cycle power...

Cash market hub trading.
September 1, 2003... CASH MARKET HUB TRADING ($/MMBtu) Henry Hub, La. Current month: Sep. 1: $5.08 Bid-Week for Sep.: $4.93 * Jan. Feb. March April May June July August 2003 5.30 7.35 8.06 5.27 5.78 5.84 5.04...

Natural gas rig count.
September 1, 2003... NATURAL GAS RIG COUNT Aug. 29: 1102/944/85.7% Aug. 22: 1082/928/85.8% Aug. 15: 1096/933/85.1% Aug. 8: 1074/920/85.7% Aug. 1: 1097/937/85.4% Jan. Feb. March April May June July 2003 Total 854...

TransGas to develop Asquith salt cavern storage near Saskatoon.(Regional Market Roundup)
September 1, 2003... TransGas, the natural gas pipeline transmission and storage subsidiary of provincially-owned SaskEnergy, plans to develop the Asquith Storage Project, a C$35 million (US$25 million) natural gas storage facility with a total capacity of 3.7 Bcf....

Spot prices on interstate pipeline systems--Part 1.
September 1, 2003... SPOT PRICES ON INTERSTATE PIPELINE SYSTEMS--PART 1 Delivered-to-Pipeline ($/MMBtu) September 1, 2003 Bid Bid Week ...

Spot prices on interstate pipeline systems--Part 2.
September 1, 2003... SPOT PRICES ON INTERSTATE PIPELINE SYSTEMS--PART 2 Delivered-to-Pipeline ($/MMBtu) September 1, 2003 Bid Bid Week ...

New Canadian LNG terminal to feed M&NP Pipe; NE gas market.(Canadian Markets)
September 1, 2003... Natural gas from a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal announced for Nova Scotia last week could help fill Atlantic Canada pipelines that were left in limbo when EnCana decided to put its Deep Panuke project on hold. Calgary-based...

Canadian price report.
September 1, 2003... CANADIAN PRICE REPORT (U.S. per MMBtu/$Can per Gigajoule) BRITISH COLUMBIA Huntingdon/ Kingsgate/ Total ...

Gas price trends.
September 1, 2003... GAS PRICE TRENDS ($/MMBtu) ROCKY NEW CALIFORNIA MTNS MEXICO South North September 1, 2003 Inter (well) ...

Gas production in Gulf debated absent of updated MMS data.
September 1, 2003... With updated data lacking on the Gulf of Mexico, analysts are at odds over the direction of gas supply in the dynamic producing region. The US Minerals Management Service (MMS) is responsible for gathering data on federal lands, such as the...

LNG report.(Late News)
September 8, 2003... LNG report. After a false start in the 1970s, US intake of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is on the rise again. In a supplement included with this issue of Natural Gas Week, reporter-at-large Barbara Shook looks at why the US is emerging as the...

Halftime score.(Late News)
September 8, 2003... Halftime score. FERC to issue progress report in early 2004 on whether energy companies are adequately reporting natural gas prices, says William Hederman, director of commission's market oversight and investigation unit. Assessment would come...

Fumble.(Late News)
September 8, 2003... Fumble. Faced with need for quick communications about problems affecting electricity grid and outages, Midwest ISO says telephone calls are not fast enough and it is developing software to share minute-by-minute information. Midwest ISO, along...

Average cash prices & futures strip.(Late News)
September 8, 2003... The Labor Day holiday, milder temperatures and a bullish injection pushed prices down this week as the US heads into fall. [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

Congress tackles energy bill, GOP promises September finish.
September 8, 2003... Negotiators trying to come to terms on a broad energy bill got down to business Friday, with the Senate and House Republican leadership vowing to finalize the legislation by the end of the month after rebuffing Democratic efforts to pass...

Gas prices likely to sputter but stay above $4 in weeks ahead.
September 8, 2003... True shoulder-month weather and expectations for heavy storage injections should weigh on gas prices in the weeks ahead, barring any hurricane developments in the Gulf of Mexico producing region. But markets are not likely to break below...

Will PUHCA demise spell merger mania for gas and power sector.
September 8, 2003... Energy legislation now on the table again includes the potential repeal of the 68-year old law that regulates gas and power utility companies with shops in more than one state. Nixing the law could lead to increased merger and acquisition...

Fuel cells gaining interest, if not more sales since blackout.
September 8, 2003... Do fuel cells represent the wave of the future as a way secure reliable power? Marketers and advocates of the fledgling technology seem to think so. Fuel cells have been emerging as an alternative to the traditional electrical grid, which...

Watson: merchants are essential.
September 8, 2003... The energy merchant sector can die another day, according to Chuck Watson, who says demand and volatility is reviving the physical need for the merchant business to connect both ends of the pipe. "There is an enormous amount of effort going...

Blackout hearing concentrates on prevention, short on causes.
September 8, 2003... Congressional hearings on the massive Aug. 14 blackout provided few definitive reasons for the collapse of the electrical grid but the numerous witnesses over two days gave a number of ways for preventing a reoccurrence. The testimony from...

BHP files for offshore LNG plant.
September 8, 2003... BHP Billiton, the Australian gas giant, announced Friday it filed an application with the US Coast Guard/Maritime Administration to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) floating storage and regasification unit on Wednesday. The company...

FERC returns from recess to address electricity, LNG issues.
September 8, 2003... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enters the fall with a number of outstanding issues to tackle against the backdrop of legislative wrangling on the energy bill that could result in the commission being able to move forward with...

Major market prices: September 8, 2003 ($/MMBtu).
September 8, 2003... MAJOR MARKET PRICES September 8, 2003 ($/MMBtu) This Weekly Bid Week Week Change for Sep. Chicago City Gate 4.75 -0.29 5.02 New York City Gate ...

FERC nears settlements over California abuses with traders.
September 8, 2003... Over the past few weeks, federal energy regulators have reached settlements with some of the nation's largest electricity traders over accusations they violated trading rules during the California energy crisis of 2000-01. Trial staff at...

Spot prices on intrastate pipeline systems: delivered-to-pipeline ($/MMBtu) September 8, 2003.
September 8, 2003... SPOT PRICES ON INTRASTATE PIPELINE SYSTEMS Delivered-to-Pipeline ($/MMBtu) September 8, 2003 This Weekly Bid Week Pipeline Week Change for Sep....

Gas use could take hit under administration's NSR program.
September 8, 2003... Efforts by the Bush administration's efforts to relax air pollution laws under the New Source Review (NSR) program could have a potentially devastating impact on natural gas demand, according to one analyst, cutting up to four years of...

North American weekly gas storage (billion cubic feet).
September 8, 2003... NORTH AMERICAN WEEKLY GAS STORAGE (Billion Cubic Feet) Aug. 29 Aug. 22 Weekly Year Region Week Week Change Ago Us East 1418.0 1364.0 54.0 1590.0 West...

Prices and differentials for major hubs and selected city gates: September 8, 2003 US$/MMBtu.
September 8, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NOTES: (1) Sumas, Wash.; Kingsgate, B.C.; Emerson, Manitoba; and Niagara Falls, Ontario, are reported as major import points from Canada. (2) City Gate represents the cost of gas at the point at which the city's...

2003 gas price outlook: September 8, 2003/week 36.
September 8, 2003... 2003 GAS PRICE OUTLOOK September 8, 2003/Week 36 12-Month Strip Wellhead Delivered-to-Pipeline Nymex $5.37 $5.44 $4.996 NOTES: (1) Prices are in...

Southwestern creates value through drill bit.(E & P Update)
September 8, 2003... Last winter, Houston-based Southwestern Energy took a risk that no one else would try in the days leading up to the US-led invasion of Iraq. The company went to Wall Street with an equity offering. "It was the only equity offering on the...

Electricity storage may prevent blackouts.(Current)
September 8, 2003... In the wake of the massive Aug. 14 blackout, the electric industry has sought the answers to preventing the problem from reoccurring through better policy. A growing segment of the industry is seeking answers, however, through better...

Conservative style suits marketer.(Current)
September 8, 2003... A breed apart from many gas and power marketers fallen by the wayside, Entergy-Koch Trading continues to grow because of its conservative trading style and strong balance sheet. And while surviving companies in the industry have begun to...

KeySpan, ANP form joint venture.(Current)
September 8, 2003... KeySpan and American National Power (ANP) announced they have formed a joint venture to build power plants in Long Island. The partnership is in response to the Long Island Power Authority's (LIPA) May 30 request for proposals for new energy...

Calpine sells interest in plant.(Current)
September 8, 2003... Calpine has completed the sale of a 70% interest in its Aurburndale (Florida) Power Plant for $86 million. The company will hold the remaining interest in the facility and will continue to provide operations and maintenance services. The...

Cross-Sound Cable eases congestion.(Current)
September 8, 2003... The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) said it used the Cross-Sound Cable (CSC) to move power from New England to ease congestion in southwestern Connecticut, one of the most congested regions in the nation. About 100 MW of power was...

Comparative fuel prices.(Current)
September 8, 2003... COMPARATIVE FUEL PRICES (Cash Market) September 8, 2003 APPALACHIA Appalachian Pool Dlvd (Util) Ohio/Big Sandy River Coal $36.00/ton $4.96/MMBtu $1.5n1Mbtu EAST COAST Natural Gas...

Natural gas futures and spot electricity trading: trading dates: Sep. 2-Sep.5, 2003.
September 8, 2003... NATURAL GAS FUTURES AND SPOT ELECTRICITY TRADING Trading Dates Sep. 2- Sep. 5,2003 New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) (Henry Hub) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Last/Volume ...

MidAmerican plans coal-fired plant.(Current)
September 8, 2003... MidAmerican Energy will start construction this week on a new $1.2 billion, 790-MW coal-fired power plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The utility will be the first in the US to use "super-critical" boiler technology, which burns coal at high...

Enron challenges refund order.(Current)
September 8, 2003... Enron is challenging a federal order to refund $32.5 million for violating electricity trading rules during the California energy crisis of 2000-01. An administrative law judge with FERC ordered the refunds in July after finding that Enron set...

Pepco, FERC ask court to intervene.(Current)
September 8, 2003... Pepco and FERC are asking a federal court in Texas to block an effort by bankrupt Mirant to bar FERC from requiring Mirant to honor its power contracts with Pepco. Pepco and FERC asked the court to remove jurisdiction to hear Mirant's...

Cash market hub trading.
September 8, 2003... CASH MARKET HUB TRADING ($/MMBtu) Henry Hub, La Current month: Sep. 8: $4.69 Sep. 1: '$5.08 Jan Feb. March April May June July 2003 5.30 7.35 8.06 5.27 5.78 5.85 ...

Natural gas rig count.
September 8, 2003... Natural Gas Rig Count Sep. 5:1091/937/85.9% Jan Feb March April May June July 2003 Total 854 907 941 983 1034 1067 1081 Gas 718 750 767 795 864 910...

Magnum Hunter discovers new field in shallow Gulf of Mexico.(Regional Market Roundup)
September 8, 2003... Irving, Texas-based Magnum Hunter Resources reported a new field discovery in the Gulf of Mexico at West Cameron 472. The No. 1 well was drilled to 6,554 feet and encountered two gas productive sand zones. Both zones have been completed and...

Spot prices on interstate pipeline systems--part 1: delivered-to-pipeline ($/MMBtu).
September 8, 2003... SPOT PRICES ON INTERSTATE PIPELINE SYSTEMS--PART 1 Delivered-to-Pipeline ($/MMBtu) September 8, 2003 This Weekly Bid Week Pipeline Week Change for Sept. ANR...

Spot prices on interstate pipeline systems--part 2: September 8, 2003.
September 8, 2003... SPOT PRICES ON INTERSTATE PIPELINES SYSTEMS--PART 2 Delivered-to-pipeline ($/MMBtu) September 8, 2003 This Weekly Bid Week Week Change for Sept....

Talisman back on track to hit earnings, production targets.(Canadian Markets)
September 8, 2003... The start-up of several new projects over the next few months has put Talisman Energy on track to hit its production growth target of 5%-10% in 2004 and 2005. The Calgary-based company, which earlier this year closed the sale of its Sudan...

Rig court.(Canadian Markets)
September 8, 2003... Rig Count: There were 405 rigs drilling for natural gas and oil in Western Canada as of Sept. 2, a decrease of 42 from a week ago, according to the Canadian Association of Oil well Drilling Contractors (CAODC). During the same period a...

Working gas.(Canadian Markets)
September 8, 2003... Working gas in all Canadian storage facilities increased to 77.8% of capacity as of Aug. 29, up from 75.3% the week before, according to the most recent Canadian Enerdata gas storage survey. Canadian storage facilities were 87.5% full a...

The composite spot import price.(Canadian Markets)
September 8, 2003... The composite spot import price this week is US$4.45/MMBtu for gas leaving Canada and entering the US through six border crossing points. Natural Gas Week's Sept. 9, 2002, average for Canadian exports was US$2.70/MMBtu. Canada's...

Canadian price report ($U.S. per MMBtu/$Can per giga joule).
September 8, 2003... CANADIAN PRICE REPORT ($U.S. per MMBtu/$Can per Gigajoule) --BRITISH COLUMBIA-- Huntingdon/ Kingsgate/ Total Sumas Eastport ...

Kerr-McGee adds to Rockies stake.
September 8, 2003... Kerr-McGee, which made its first foray into Rocky Mountain gas with its $1.7 billion acquisition of HS Resources in 2001, is currently probing two new areas that could make a meaningful addition to its reserves and production in the region. ...

Gas price trends ($/MMBtu).
September 8, 2003... GAS PRICE TRENDS ($/MMBtu) ROCKY NEW CALIFORNIA MTNS MEXICO South North September 8, 2003 ...

Mild or cold: forecasts are mixed bag for winter demand.
September 8, 2003... With summer heat expected to wane this month, traders will turn their attention to the coming winter. Early forecasts point to a mixed outlook for heating demand. In a forecast released last week, meteorologists at WSI are predicting a...

North American LNG terminals.
September 8, 2003... North American LNG Terminals Terminal Sponsor Existing terminals 1. Everett, Massachusetts Tractebel 2. Cove Point, Maryland Dominion Resources 3. Elba...