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Major weather forecast contrasts for Tuesday — cold to below-freezing lows in much of the northern half of the U.S. and Canada, along with highs due to hit the mid to upper 80s and even low 90s occasionally in several broad swaths across the southern U.S. — combined to produce spot price gains at all but two locations Monday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is ordering water treatment plants in the state to immediately test for radioactivity and other contaminants from Marcellus Shale wastewater.

Setting aside the “near-term noise” in terms of North American natural gas fundamentals, prices should average below $4.00/Mcf this year, with summer contracts averaging around $3.25, Raymond James & Associates Inc. said last week.

Setting aside the “near-term noise” in terms of North American natural gas fundamentals, prices should average below $4.00/Mcf this year, with summer contracts averaging around $3.25, Raymond James & Associates Inc. said Monday.

Mainland Resources Inc. reported positive results from its Burkley Phillips No. 1 Well in Jefferson County, MS, in the Buena Vista Haynesville Shale that suggest there is more adsorbed and free gas in place in the reservoir than previously thought.

Spring temperatures are expected to be either at or below normal across the northern and western United States, but warmer than normal in parts of the South Central and southeastern states, according to Andover, MA-based WSI Corp.

Spring temperatures are expected to be either at or below normal across the northern and western United States, but warmer than normal in parts of the South Central and Southeastern states, according to Andover, MA-based WSI Corp.

Onshore natural gas plays that are able to generate profits even when gas prices are below $4/Mcf, including the Marcellus Shale, should see rig activity up by 18% in 2011 over this year, according to analysts with Raymond James & Associates Inc.

After ending a previous one Friday, Florida Gas Transmission issued a new Overage Alert Day to market-area customers Monday, citing forecasts of below-freezing temperatures in Florida during the next couple of nights. The pipeline set a 20% tolerance for negative daily imbalances.