America

Natural gas is winning the battle to become America’s fuel for now and the future thanks to energy industry ingenuity, speakers at a Houston pipeline conference said last week. However, one said the industry should now be confident in taking more of a leadership roll in shaping the country’s energy future.

Natural gas is winning the battle to become America’s fuel for now and the future thanks to energy industry ingenuity, speakers at a Houston pipeline conference said Wednesday. However, one said the industry should now be confident in taking more of a leadership roll in shaping the country’s energy future.

A sample of 20 of North America’s top natural gas explorers indicates that 2012 output will continue to rise, despite low prices, according to Barclays Capital energy analysts.

Several companies hope one day to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from North America, but Wood Mackenzie energy analysts last week warned that the prospects continue to remain far from certain.

A sample of 20 of North America’s top natural gas explorers indicates that 2012 output will continue to rise, despite low prices, according to Barclays Capital energy analysts.

Although several companies hope one day to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from export facilities in North America, analysts at Scotland’s energy analyst group Wood Mackenzie warn that the prospects for many domestic exports are far from certain.

Low gas prices, shrunken basis differentials, modest price volatility and abundant supply should make for an end-user’s dream, and they do. But North America’s gas renaissance comes with some wrinkles.

San Antonio-based Howard Energy Partners said Thursday it will acquire the Eagle Ford Escondido Gathering System, which is partially owned by Laredo Energy, and the Cuervo Creek Gathering System from Meritage Midstream Services. Both systems are primarily 12- 16-inch diameter high-pressure gas pipelines. The transaction is expected to close in April.

RegScan, a developer of regulatory compliance products, and the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) have jointly come up with a system to help oil and natural gas operators comply with the different well stages in the Marcellus Shale basin.