Cash market predictions proved accurate again as pricescontinued to slide going into the weekend Friday. It didn’t take arocket scientist to make that call, sources said, as forecasts ofgorgeous weather virtually throughout the nation (and north of theborder too) should lower gas load greatly by encouraging a lot ofoutdoor activity.

Generally, Friday’s downticks ranged from about a nickel forMichigan citygates to 20 cents or so in the Southwest basins andRockies and at the Southern California border. Most of them were oneither side of a dime.

Intra-Alberta continued to buck the trend by staying flat in themid C$2.50s for the third straight day. A Calgary source was unableto explain why her C$2.71 deal at Westcoast’s Station 2 was aboutC15 cents above intra-Alberta; usually they trade much closertogether, she said.

Columbia Gas (TCO) in Appalachia showed the most relativestrength south of the border, edging down by a bare penny andrunning slightly above Transco Zone 6 and Texas Eastern M-3citygates in the Northeast. TCO pool gas is in great demand, asource said, because no interruptible gas is being accepted at theinterconnects; only FT gas can enter the system from outside.

Consumers Energy in Michigan was not allowing any intradaynominations Friday that would have increased weekend volumes, amarketer said. The restriction was due to considerably mildertemperatures expected in the state.

There was little in the way of November bidweek developments inwhat several sources described as a quiet market Friday. MichConbasis got a little weaker, said a marketer placing it at plus13-13.5. He also thought Chicago basis had softened a bit more toplus 16-17. Another trader reported doing an El Paso-San Juan(Blanco) deal for next month at $2.01.

Tropical Storm Mitch formed in the southwestern Caribbean Seaand was expected to develop into a hurricane over the weekend, butany threat to the Gulf production area will not occur until laterthis week, if at all.

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