Associates

The U.S. natural gas supply is beginning to fall, but not as fast as many may think, according to public company data reviewed by Raymond James & Associates Inc. Meanwhile, Newfield Exploration Co. last week said it would voluntarily curtail about 2.5 Bcfe of its 3Q2009 output in response to low natural gas prices.

The U.S. natural gas supply is beginning to fall, but not as fast as many may think, according to public company data reviewed by Raymond James & Associates Inc.

Although independent oil and natural gas producers would likely disagree, Raymond James & Associates energy analysts don’t believe that President Obama’s proposal for a $32.6 billion tax hike on producers in his fiscal year 2010 budget will be all that paralyzing.

It’s not a question of “if” but rather “when” the market will see sub-$3/Mcf natural gas, Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts said in a research note last week in which they took a bow for calling the bear market early and predicted more pain to come for gas producers.

J.D. Power and Associates on Thursday released its rankings for natural gas utilities’ work satisfying business customers on a regional basis. Dividing the nation into four broad areas, Washington, DC’s Washington Gas Light, PSNC Energy in North Carolina, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. and Southwest Gas Corp. topped the lists in the East, South, Midwest and West regions, respectively.

It’s not a question of “if” but rather “when” the market will see sub-$3/Mcf natural gas, Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts said in a Monday research note in which they took a bow for calling the bear market early and predicted more pain to come for gas producers.

There was not a bit of cheer to be found in Raymond James & Associates’ outlook Monday for U.S. natural gas markets, with analysts cutting 2009 price forecasts to $5/Mcf from $6.75. U.S. producers may have to shut in around half, or 800 Bcf, of output in the coming year to balance the markets, said analysts.

Reduced cash flows, the credit crunch and the need to remove excess natural gas supply led Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts to reduce their 2009 rig count forecast for the second time in less than two months.

Reduced cash flows, the credit crunch and the need to remove excess natural gas supply led Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts to reduce their 2009 rig count forecast for the second time in less than two months.