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Based on evidence that U.S. natural gas production has flattened and the shift back to coal-fired generation is “stickier” than expected, Stephen Smith Energy Associates on Thursday raised its price forecast through the rest of 2013.

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), which represents major natural gas producers and marketers, said Greg Vesey, president of Houston-based Chevron Natural Gas, was elected chairman of the association for a two-year term. Vesey is responsible for marketing natural gas to wholesale and large end-use customers throughout North America, as well as contributing to the growth of Chevron’s European gas business. NGSA’s other officers for the 2013-2014 period are Bill Green of Devon Energy, who has been elected vice chairman; and Frans Everts of Shell, who is serving as secretary/treasurer. R. Skip Horvath will continue as president and CEO of the NGSA.

In its efforts to maximize the opportunities provided by the domestic shale oil and gas boom, Houston-based Phillips 66 said it plans to develop a 100,000 b/d natural gas liquids (NGL) fractionator in Old Ocean, TX, which would provide an alternative for suppliers wary of congestion at facilities located in and around Mont Belvieu, TX.

BP plc is putting its U.S. wind energy business on the market to refocus on growing its oil and natural gas operations, the operator said Wednesday.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP) and BP North America have struck a long-term, fee-based agreement supporting an additional 50,000 b/d of throughput capacity at a condensate processing facility KMP is constructing on the Houston Ship Channel.

Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities on Wednesday gained approval Wednesday from Idaho regulators to raise its retail natural gas utility rates 5.2% this year with the bulk of the hike effective Monday. Retail electric rates for the combination utility will stay unchanged until Oct. 1 when a 1.9% power utility retail rate increase will start, according to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The rate changes are part of a settlement the PUC approved, dividing the gas hike into two parts: 4.9% effective Monday and 0.3% held until Oct. 1. Avista originally had proposed a 7.2% gas rate increase overall, and a 4.6% electric rate hike for Monday. The settlement precludes a separate base rate settlement from becoming effective until Jan. 1, 2015, the PUC said.

Sempra Energy’s San Diego Gas and Electric Co. (SDG&E) was directed by state regulators Thursday to develop more locally based electricity generation, including some natural gas-fired plants and repowering. SDG&E now seeks to have nearly 300 MW of additional power under contract by 2018.

BP plc on Thursday completed a landmark transaction with Russian oil giant OAO Rosneft, which gives the London-based major a 20% stake in what now is the world’s largest publicly traded oil company.

Houston-based Sanchez Energy Corp. is buying producing acreage in the Eagle Ford Shale for $265 million that will more than double current company-wide production and increase proved reserves by 63%.