Analysis

Fourth quarter profits are over the top but not natural gasproduction figures, according to a preliminary analysis of U.S.companies. Overall, the majors and the independents showed stunningmonetary gains in the final quarter of last year, but theproduction levels for many of the larger independents were actuallylower than those recorded in the third quarter.

Fourth quarter profits are over the top but not natural gasproduction figures, according to a preliminary analysis of U.S.companies. Overall, the majors and the independents showed stunningmonetary gains in the final quarter of last year, but theproduction levels for many of the larger independents were actuallylower than those recorded in the third quarter.

Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc. (EEA) released a reportyesterday warning that the North American gas market is on coursefor entering the winter heating season with dangerously low storagelevels.

For the second year in a row, Houston’s Conoco tops the list inexploration and production results for 1999 in a comprehensive,comparative performance analysis of the major integrated energycompanies by Prudential Securities.

For the second year in a row, Houston’s Conoco tops the list inexploration and production results for 1999 in a comprehensive,comparative performance analysis of the major integrated energycompanies by Prudential Securities.

A continental supply and demand analysis released by TransCanadaPipelines in its most recent Update projects the North American gasmarket will grow to 87 Bcf/d by 2010 from 68 Bcf/d in 1998, a 28%increase, with gains made in every region of the continent.

Technical analysis was originated by Charles Dow in the late1800s as an attempt to interpret recurring historical pricemovements displayed by a group of stocks, which have since evolvedinto today’s Dow Jones Industrial Average. He would have been proudof the natural gas futures market last week. For four days the Maycontract ebbed and flowed within a 10-cent trading range until itbroke higher Friday in a technical buying spree. But as if it werefollowing the same script rehearsed during the prior two tradingdays, the May contract couldn’t hold onto its gains Friday,releasing them in the form of profit taking ahead of the weekend.The May contract capped the week with a 2.7-cent advance to $2.096after notching a $2.15 high.

Industrial consumption of natural gas increased 3.3% annually inthe eight years between 1985 and 1992, according to an in-depthanalysis of industrial energy demand by the Gas Research Institute.The increase, which was nearly twice the rate of competing fuels,”was largely due to a 28% increase in gas used for industrialheating and power, including a significant expansion ofcogeneration systems in the paper, chemical and petroleumindustries,” GRI said. The report, “The Implications of the Changesin Industrial Energy Demand 1985-1992 (GRI-99/0030), also analyzesindustrial energy consumption data nationally, regionally and byindustry. “The report looks in detail at changes in product mix,processes and energy use during the eight-year period for the sixmajor energy-intensive industries – food, paper chemical, petroleumrefining, primary metals, and stone, clay and glass, and the twomost rapidly growing, but less energy-intensive industries, rubberand metal durables,” said Marie Lihn, GRI project manager. “Thedata can provide real insight into potential future energyconsumption in each of these key industrial sectors.” To ordercopies of the report, call Kelly Murray at 703-526-7832 (fax 7808)or e-mail at baseline@GRI.org. The report is $125 for GRI members,$175 for non-members, plus shipping and taxes.

A survey conducted by Promark Research Corp. between Aug. 23-25,with subsequent data analysis by Baselice & Associatesdetermined that 95% of Pennsylvanians are aware that they can orwill soon be able to choose their electric generation supplier.It’s a huge improvement for the Pennsylvania program when comparedwith a June survey that showed awareness 15 percentage pointslower. Nationwide awareness of electric restructuring is about 40%,according to another survey by Yankee Energy.