Administration

The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) officially takes over the weekly storage report from the American Gas Association (AGA) in May. However, the EIA already is fielding “a lot of calls and a lot of interest” in what the new report will look like, and the agency is now field testing the system to ensure no future problems, said William Trapmann, team leader of natural gas analysis within EIA’s Office of Oil & Gas.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) sees spot wellhead prices for natural gas, which currently are hovering around $2-$2.20/Mcf, averaging just under $1.90/Mcf for the rest of the year due to a weakened economy, slower industrial demand and bulging inventories. This would be less than half of the spot price that existed during 2001.

The Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) officially takes over the weekly storage report from the American Gas Association (AGA) in May. However, the EIA already is fielding “a lot of calls and a lot of interest” in what the new report will look like, and the agency is now field testing the system to ensure no future problems, said William Trapmann, team leader of natural gas analysis within EIA’s Office of Oil & Gas.

Despite predictions from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and energy industry analysts that gas production probably will be flat to slightly higher in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, analysts from Raymond James & Associates said a recent survey shows domestic natural gas production actually may be down 1.5-2% from the third quarter.

Despite predictions from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) and energy industry analysts that gas production probably will be flat to slightly higher in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, analysts from Raymond James & Associates said a recent survey shows domestic natural gas production actually may be down 1.5-2% from the third quarter.

The Energy Information Administration is preparing take over the American Gas Association’s (AGA) storage survey at the end of the winter. But it first must get clearance from the Office of Management and Budget for the reporting burden placed on storage companies, EIA’s survey methodology and the budget requirements for conducting the survey. It also has to arrange the staffing and resources and perform an operational test before it can get a green light.

Given the huge overhang of natural gas in storage at the end of November, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has adjusted its prior-month forecast for spot gas prices “somewhat downward” to about $2.15/Mcf for the winter heating season. This is two-thirds lower than the average of $6.48/Mcf for last winter, and about 43 cents below the EIA’s November forecast for winter prices.

Given the huge overhang of natural gas in storage at the end of November, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) has adjusted its prior-month forecast for spot gas prices “somewhat downward” to about $2.15/Mcf for the winter heating season. This is two-thirds lower than the average of $6.48/Mcf for last winter, and about 43 cents below the EIA’s November forecast for winter prices.

U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said on Tuesday he may order the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to examine the potential impact on energy markets of the collapse of Enron Corp., which over the weekend filed the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy case in history. However, Abraham said he did not think Enron’s fall would affect energy deregulation.