Amid

Amid rising gasoline prices and a boost from President Obama, natural gas use in vehicles is drawing increased support, according to Ford Motor Co., which reported Wednesday that demand has risen for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.

Canadian natural gas exports are still shrinking, but the speed of the decrease is slowing amid early signs that the prolonged supply decline will end.

Canadian natural gas exports are still shrinking, but the speed of the decrease is slowing amid early signs that the prolonged supply decline will end.

Amid the prolific output of gas shales, the lumpiness of liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries and the peakiness of gas-fired power generation demand lies the home of numerous high-deliverability gas storage projects coming on-line now and in the coming years. Storage developers in the Gulf Coast region are betting that their services will be in high demand as the market juggles the volatility of the emerging supply-demand landscape.

Amid generally upbeat financial results reported for the third quarter San Diego-based Sempra Energy divulged that its Liberty Gas Storage Project in Louisiana may have to be shelved if it can’t find an engineering solution to cavern development problems. Separately, cost increases and delays are plaguing two other major gas and power projects.

Amid the prolific output of gas shales, the lumpiness of liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries and the peakiness of gas-fired power generation demand lies the home of numerous high-deliverability gas storage projects coming on-line now and in the coming years. Storage developers in the Gulf Coast region are betting that their services will be in high demand as the market juggles the volatility of the emerging supply-demand landscape.

Amid generally upbeat financial results reported for the third quarter Monday (see related story), Sempra Energy divulged that its Liberty Gas Storage Project in Louisiana may have to be shelved if it can’t find an engineering solution to cavern development problems. Separately, cost increases and delays are plaguing two other major gas and power projects. CEO Don Felsinger said Liberty in a worst case scenario might have to be written off at about $65 million to cover Sempra’s share of the salt dome storage project.

Natural gas futures crashed lower for a third consecutive session Wednesday amid rumors that a large commodity trading firm was rapidly exiting its positions. August natural gas traded as low as $11.920 before closing out the day’s regular session at $12.006, down 36.2 cents from Tuesday’s finish.

April natural gas futures tumbled as traders rushed to cash in on recent gains amid perceptions of market instability Friday. Futures prices at one point had the trajectory of a Saturday morning cartoon character falling off a cliff and traders noted that much of the selling took place late in the session as traders holding gains “bolted for the door.”