Kevin Dobbs joined the staff of NGI in April 2020. Prior to that, he worked as a financial reporter and editor for S&P Global Market Intelligence, covering financial companies and markets. Earlier in his career, he served as an enterprise reporter for the Des Moines Register. He has a bachelor's degree in English from South Dakota State University.
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Articles from Kevin Dobbs
Weekly Natural Gas Spot Prices, Futures Flounder Amid Mild Weather Outlook, West Texas Weakness
Weekly natural gas cash prices gave up modest ground despite a dose of chilly temperatures and lighter production readings to launch into the spring season. In a Good Friday holiday-abbreviated week, NGI’s Weekly Spot Gas National Avg. for the March 25-27 trading period shed 5.5 cents to $1.300/MMBtu. Gas during the period was to flow…
Abundant Western Canadian Natural Gas Supplies Support Seismic Pacific Storage Rebound
Natural gas production in Canada proved robust through the past winter, even as heating demand waned in the back half of the season. Supplies in storage swelled and prices dropped as a result, mirroring and compounding conditions in the United States. Related U.S. challenges include elevated supplies in the Pacific region, due in part to…
Negative West Texas Natural Gas Spot Prices Persist Amid Stout Supply, Soft Demand
West Texas natural gas cash prices remain mired in negative territory amid weak weather-driven demand and a massive supply overhang. Waha cash prices on Monday ticked up a half-cent but still averaged negative 69.5 cents/MMBtu, according to NGI data. The West Texas benchmark has mostly hovered in the red since early March. El Paso Permian…
Midwest Natural Gas Supply Glut May Fester, Hamper Prices Amid Mild Weather Outlook
Natural gas stored underground in the Midwest finished winter far above historical norms, reflecting strong production and unusually weak weather-driven heating demand. Spot gas prices have struggled to find momentum as a result. Chicago Citygate prices hovered around $1.500/MMBtu over the past week, roughly in line with NGI’s Spot Gas National Avg., but down about…
Natural Gas Prices, Infrastructure Investments Await Fed Action on High Interest Rates
Federal Reserve (Fed) policymakers left their benchmark interest rate unchanged and near the highest level of this century – where it has held since mid-2023 – amid lingering inflation worries. However, Fed officials on Wednesday hinted that costs are nearing a healthy level. That could open the door for rate reductions and lower borrowing costs…
With Enduring Economic Vigor, Industrial Natural Gas Demand Proves Pocket of Strength
Unlike home heating demand amid one of the mildest winters on record, industrial consumption of natural gas is holding relatively steady due to ongoing robust economic activity and energy needs in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Industrial gas demand averaged 24.0 Bcf/d over the 30-day period through last week, according to Wood Mackenzie data. That was…
Supply Glut, Massive Storage Surplus Whack West Texas Natural Gas Spot Prices
Strong Permian Basin production of oil and, by extension, associated gas continues to propel supplies in West Texas and depress prices in the region. Natural gas production nationally reached record levels around 107 Bcf/d early this year, according to Wood Mackenzie estimates. But leading exploration and production (E&P) companies, including Chesapeake Energy Corp. and EQT…
Weakest Winter Suppresses Natural Gas Prices but Sizzling Summer Could Flip Script
The winter of 2023-2024 is likely to go down as the warmest on record for the United States. That goes a long way toward explaining why natural gas demand and prices deflated over the course of the heating season. Ahead of an official call later this month by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),…
February Inflation Data Choppy, but Costs Contained Overall Amid Sagging Natural Gas Prices
Slumping natural gas prices offset festering high prices in other corners of the economy and helped to keep overall inflation mostly in check last month. The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased at a rate of 3.2% in the 12-month period through February. That was up from 3.1% the…
Canadian Natural Gas Supply Glut Hampers Prices – Yet Production Cuts Uncertain
Canadian natural gas production and storage are both elevated heading toward shoulder season – much like in the United States – and bearish pressure on prices persists. There are hints that exploration and production (E&P) companies may pull back, following the lead of their Lower 48 brethren and creating the potential for supply/demand balance this…