Believes

While winter may be officially coming to an end, WSI Corp. said the April-through-June period should average cooler than normal in the major cities of the northeastern United States, along with the entire southwestern quarter of the country.

While winter may be officially coming to an end, WSI Corp. said the April-through-June period should average cooler than normal in the major cities of the northeastern United States, along with the entire southwestern quarter of the country.

In a sign that at least one industry player believes an Alaskan natural gas line may not become reality for some time, Burlington Resources Inc. has abandoned 32 Alaskan North Slope Foothills leases it obtained in 2001. Burlington apparently no longer considers the North Slope to be a core area, and the company did not want to pay the annual rent to retain the leases, according to a spokesman for the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas.

In a sign that at least one industry player believes an Alaskan natural gas line may not become reality for some time, Burlington Resources Inc. has abandoned 32 Alaskan North Slope Foothills leases it obtained in 2001. Burlington apparently no longer considers the North Slope to be a core area, and the company did not want to pay the annual rent to retain the leases, according to a spokesman for the Alaska Division of Oil and Gas.

Merrill Lynch analyst Sam Brothwell believes the last four major pipeline company sales indicate that the market for pipeline assets is “likely peaking here” at nine or 10 times earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization (9X or 10X EBITDA) and should drift back to more normal levels of about 8X EBITDA over time.

Merrill Lynch analyst Sam Brothwell believes the last four major pipeline company sales indicate that the market for pipeline assets is “likely peaking here” at nine or 10 times earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization (9X or 10X EBITDA) and should drift back to more normal levels of about 8X EBITDA over time.

Nearly everyone you talk to in the gas industry today believes there’s a gas supply problem and that gas prices are going to remain high or even continue rising. James Allison, regional risk manager for ConocoPhillips, said he too sees a supply problem and higher prices, but he also said there’s a pretty good chance that everyone is wrong.

Nearly everyone you talk to in the gas industry today believes there’s a gas supply problem and that gas prices are going to remain high or even continue rising. James Allison, regional risk manager for ConocoPhillips, said he too sees a supply problem and higher prices, but he also said there’s a pretty good chance that everyone is wrong.

The Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) believes the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which assists the president in overseeing the federal budget, has been dragging its feet on an important proposed rule that is designed to stimulate more natural gas production from deep gas wells in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico.