Bigger

With energy traders and other companies becoming bigger credit risks, Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America (NGPL) has proposed tariff changes to shield it from its transportation capacity being released by non-creditworthy shippers at cut-rate prices.

Weekend price drops were large in the West but fairly moderate at eastern and Permian/Waha points. Declines were in double digits Friday in the Rockies/San Juan/Pacific Northwest and in triple digits at all California points except Malin (which was nearly a dollar lower) as a West Coast heat wave receded and PG&E issued another OFO (see Transportation Notes). But in the East quotes tended to range from flat to down about a dime, and scattered points registered tiny gains.

North America’s largest liquefied natural gas terminal isgetting bigger — CMS Energy officials confirmed yesterday theywill expand the Lake Charles, LA, terminal within a few months iffederal approval is received. The LNG facility, which now producesup to 700 MMcf/d could eventually increase its daily production to1.25 Bcf/d, CEO William McCormick said during a morning pressbriefing.

North America’s largest liquefied natural gas terminal isgetting bigger — CMS Energy officials confirmed yesterday theywill expand the Lake Charles, LA, terminal within a few months iffederal approval is received. The LNG facility, which now producesup to 700 MMcf/d could eventually increase its daily production to1.25 Bcf/d, CEO William McCormick said during a morning pressbriefing.

North America’s largest liquefied natural gas terminal is getting bigger — CMS Energy officials confirmed last week they will expand the Lake Charles, LA terminal within a few months if federal approval is received. The LNG facility, which now produces up to 700 MMcf/d could eventually increase its daily production to 1.25 Bcf/d, CEO William McCormick said.

Even though natural gas is and will remain the company’sbackbone, El Paso Corp. CEO William Wise told energy executiveslast week that coal will play an increasingly “preferable” role asthe Houston-based company works to sustain its leadership positioninto the future.

Even though natural gas is and will remain the company’sbackbone, El Paso Corp. CEO William Wise told energy executivesyesterday that coal will play an increasingly “preferable” role asthe Houston-based company works to sustain its leadership positioninto the future.

Strengthened by its merger with The Coastal Corp. last week thatmade it the fourth largest U.S. energy company, the former El PasoEnergy Corp. unveiled an impressive show of strength yesterday asit began a two-day analysts’ conference in Houston, showcasing anew energy trading floor, new corporate identify and details togrow earnings at least 25% in the coming year.

As anticipated after Wednesday’s dollar-plus screen plunge, cashprices also were falling bigtime Thursday. Exceptions to declinesof 50 cents or more were rare. However, some sources detected signsthat the huge erosion of cash numbers that started late last weekmight be near an end.