Averaged

Natural gas spot prices, which averaged $2.75/MMBtu at the Henry Hub last year and $3.33 last month, are expected to climb to an average of $3.41 this year and $3.63 in 2014, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Shares of EV Energy Partners LP (EVEP) took a hit Friday after the company announced net losses for the fourth quarter and full-year 2012, and said it could take anywhere from one month to the rest of the year to sell most of its acreage in the eastern Ohio portion of the Utica Shale.

The overall cash market averaged close to 8 cents higher Friday, but if the widely fluctuating gains and losses of eastern points are subtracted, the market fell close to a nickel for weekend and Monday deliveries.

Physical gas markets were led lower again by the super-sized declines posted at eastern and northeast locations. Overall, the market averaged a 33-cent decline, but if the multi-dollar losses on New England and eastern pipes are factored out, the average loss was just a nickel.

Physical natural gas prices averaged about a penny lower for weekend and Monday deliveries, with dollar-plus losses at eastern and Northeast pipes offsetting widespread gains at Gulf, Midcontinent and California points.

The cash market overall averaged 9 cents higher Friday as eastern portions of the country were still in the crosshairs of a major storm that traversed the country earlier in the week. The advance was broad and led by New England locations, and the isolated points that did show losses endured setbacks of a couple of pennies or less. January futures fell 1.1 cents to $3.451, and February gave up 1.3 cents to $3.482. February crude oil shed $1.47 to $88.66/bbl.

Cash prices overall averaged a 20-cent drop Friday as weather forecasts called for moderation in the Northeast and marketers cited an abundance of available gas. Rockies, the Midwest and the Gulf Coast were all lower. At the close of trading, December futures had dropped 10.5 cents to $3.503 and January was off by 10.3 cents to $3.634. December crude oil gained 98 cents to $86.07/bbl.

Spectra Energy Corp. is taking a one-third interest in the Sand Hills and Southern Hills pipelines, both of which are under construction by DCP Midstream LLC, a joint venture of Spectra and Phillips 66. The deal is expected to close by the end of November when Spectra, Phillips 66 and DCP Midstream each would own one-third of the pipelines and equally fund their completion. The aggregate investment by Spectra is expected to be $700-800 million. Sand Hills, which would take natural gas liquids from the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale to Gulf Coast markets, would have an initial capacity of 200,000 b/d and be expandable to 350,000 b/d. The first phase recently came online and connection to Mont Belvieu, TX, is expected by year-end (see Shale Daily, Oct. 29). The timing of Sand Hills’ second phase, the Permian portion of the pipeline, has advanced and is due to be in service in 2Q2013. Southern Hills would provide 150,000 b/d, expandable to 175,000 b/d, of capacity from the Midcontinent to Mont Belvieu and has a targeted in-service date of mid-2013.

With markets still a little off kilter after Hurricane Sandy left a path of destruction Monday, natural gas cash quotes averaged 4 cents higher Tuesday for Wednesday delivery with double-digit gains at Midwest and Rockies points offsetting flat Gulf quotes and a number of declines in the Northeast. At the close of trading December futures had slipped 11.2 cents to $3.691 and January was 10.8 cents lower at $3.824. December crude oil was 14 cents higher at $85.68/bbl.