The natural gas market is back on track and buyers and sellers are headed for GasMart 2004 to talk about the latest market issues, make new contacts and reestablish old ones in Denver May 17-19.

So far representatives of more than 160 companies — producers, marketers, pipelines, gas and electric utilities, end users, analysts and suppliers have signed on to be among the estimated 400-plus attendees at the 18th annual conference and exhibit hosted by the publishers of Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) newsletters. Go to https://www.gasmart.com/attendees.htm for the current list.

“We’re seeing an improvement this year, not just in the quantity of attendees, but in the quality. A good percentage are principal buyers and sellers,” said Ellen Beswick, NGI publisher. She credited the market rebuilding efforts throughout the industry over the last year and a half with the increase in this year’s attendance. “GasMart has always been an important place for buyers and sellers, who may communicate long distance most of the year, to meet face-to-face, so it’s an easy barometer of market strength.”

Another indicator is NGI’s natural gas price surveys, where there has been a major upswing in both the number of transactions and contributors.

Also, “this year’s GasMart program is one of the strongest we’ve had in a long time. We’ve found executives are more willing this year to talk about their natural gas ventures.” The program includes key executives with large gas producers and pipeline companies with emphasis on developments in the Rocky Mountain production area and in liquefied natural gas (LNG). End users and LDCs also are represented in sessions on buying, selling and risk management in the new market.

“These are the topics everyone is talking about, and our GasMart speakers are on the front lines in these areas. Attendees will have a chance to hear and question the decisionmakers,” Beswick said.

Highlights of GasMart 2004 – the 18th annual event:

Keynoters

Keith Rattie, chairman of Questar, will lead off a discussion with an overview of the promise and possibilities of the Rocky Mountain area

Scott A. Nauman, Gas Marketing Manager for ExxonMobil Gas Marketing’s Americas, will discuss how new LNG supplies are expected to blend into the gas supply portfolio gradually, as other sources decline.

Roger Biemans, President, EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., will review his company’s growing production and pipeline activities in the Rockies area.

FERC Commissioner Joseph T. Kelliher will advise on how he sees the Commission dealing with regulatory issues impacting natural gas, such as approval of LNG terminal operations, pipeline construction, pipeline gas specifications, and gas pricing.

Luncheon Presentation

Stu Wagner with Petrie Parkman in Denver and John Olson, analyst with Sanders Morris Harris, Houston, will discuss the Rockies potential and “Wall Street and the Gas Cycle.”

Sessions

Representatives of ChevronTexaco and Shell, will give an update on the world LNG market and their separate plans to build LNG receiving terminals offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. An analyst from ESAI will be explaining how much the LNG will cost.

Ron Arnold, author of the book, “Undue Influence,” will advise on how the national economy is being undermined as overzealous environmentalists campaign to restrict access to resources and block transportation facilities, boosting energy prices and making U.S. products uncompetitive in the world market.

Advice on “Buying and Selling at Fair Market Prices,” will come from ConocoPhillips, NiSource, the American Gas Association and Procter & Gamble

Representatives of Kinder Morgan, TransColorado Gas Transmission, El Paso’s Colorado Interstate Gas, Transwestern Pipeline and NEGT’s Gas Transmission Northwest will discuss where and how the Rockies gas is going to market, and

Alan H Levine of Morgan Stanley and Tom Riley, Petroleum Development Corp., will help show buyers of natural gas market timing and strategies for procuring their supply in a market marked by resurgent demand and uncertain supply.

There also is a chance to participate in a golf tournament or attend a Colorado Rockies baseball game. Go to www.gasmart.com for more information.

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