Although

Although Norse Energy Corp. ASA has applied for a permit to drill an unconventional gas well in New York’s portion of the Marcellus Shale, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said the company’s application is premature.

Although it lifted a meter-specific Balancing Alert OFO, Tennessee cited high temperatures across much of its system in saying a systemwide Imbalance Warning would become effective Wednesday. The action requires “all delivery and receipt point operators to match physical flow to scheduled volumes regardless of cumulative imbalance.” Later the pipeline also said that due to anticipated hot weather, it was issuing an OFO Action Alert for market-area Zones 5 and 6 that would take effect Thursday.

Although the odds for a Lower 48 gasline originating in Alaska’s North Slope appear to be waning, the state has choices to consider for serving the needs of consumers in the interior and Southcentral regions of the state.

Connecting wellheads — particularly those in shale gas fields — to gas-fired turbines and burner tips will require billions in spending on midstream infrastructure over the next 25 years, according to a new report. Adding to the projected demand for new pipe, storage and other facilities is the increasing focus on liquids-rich gas production.

Southern California Gas did not extend a high-linepack OFO beyond Sunday’s Intraday cycle nominations. However, although the e-mail notice did not get sent until late afternoon Central time, it issued a new high-linepack OFO for Tuesday with a 10% tolerance for positive daily imbalances.

Encana Corp., Canada’s No. 1 natural gas producer, on Tuesday said it has ended talks with a subsidiary of PetroChina International Ltd. to jointly develop a gassy Cutbank Ridge leasehold, which straddles the borders of northeast British Columbia (BC) and northwest Alberta.

Although state authorities can overrule local opposition, the fate of long-standing plans for NRG Energy Inc. to repower its 100-acre natural gas-fired electric generation complex in Carlsbad, CA, remain uncertain following the completion Friday of two days of local hearings by the California Energy Commission (CEC).

June natural gas futures eased, although a major contingent — funds and managed accounts — now appears to be aligned on the long side of the market and technical support remains intact. At the close June futures had fallen 2.3 cents to $4.670 and July was lower by 2.5 cents to $4.738. June crude oil cascaded lower giving up $2.47 to $111.05/bbl.

Although it missed its long-sought 20% renewable portfolio standard (RPS) goal last year, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said last week it is on track to hit it this year if projections by the investor-owned utilities (IOU) turn out to be correct and by 2013 if other forecasts turn out to be more accurate.