August

The volume of gas pipeline capacity traded January through August by the top players increased dramatically over the same period of 2008, according to Boston-based Capacity Center. The top 20 companies for activity have also changed dramatically over the past year, the firm said last Tuesday, citing upheaval in financial markets as one reason for the shift.

The volume of gas pipeline capacity traded January through August by the top players increased dramatically over the same period of 2008, according to Boston-based Capacity Center. The top 20 companies for activity have also changed dramatically over the past year, the firm said Tuesday, citing upheaval in financial markets as one reason for the shift.

Noting that natural gas prices fell nearly 20% in August and were already down almost another 20% in the first four days of September, Raymond James analyst J. Marshall Adkins said fundamentals “remain awful,” but he expects a rebound to occur next year.

Noting that natural gas prices fell nearly 20% in August and were already down almost another 20% in the first four days of September, Raymond James analyst J. Marshall Adkins said fundamentals “remain awful,” but he expects a rebound to occur next year.

NorthernStar Natural Gas attempted last Friday to squash an allegation made earlier in August by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and a local newspaper that the proponents of the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal along the Columbia River were secretly planning to export LNG from the facility.

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), an opponent of drilling near the Florida coastline, said Friday he will not return to the Senate following the August recess. Martinez previously said he planned to leave the Senate at the end of 2010, but he moved up the date for personal reasons. Martinez often joined Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) in blocking measures that attempted to open the Florida offshore to oil and natural gas drilling. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who has his own eyes set on the U.S. Senate in 2010, will appoint a successor to serve out Martinez’s term.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has scheduled two hearings this week and one in early August to explore whether the agency should set position limits on energy commodities, as well as whether exemptions are appropriate.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Tuesday said it will hold two hearings next week and one in early August to explore whether the agency should set position limits on energy commodities, as well as whether exemptions are appropriate.

Considering forecasts of weekend cooling trends in the Midwest and Rockies, it was hardly surprising that Thursday’s 24.3-cent dive by August futures was able to induce losses at all points in the cash market Friday. Naturally, the typical weekend drop of industrial load also played a part.