Buyers

Three top global liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyers have agreed to cooperate in the “joint procurement of LNG” as global LNG consumers continue to seek more flexible contract terms and favorable prices.

During a week when some Lower 48 liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects saw advances, analysts at Barclays Commodities Research wrote that there’s reason for the backers of U.S. LNG exports to be hopeful as the global market tightens.

Global liquefied natural gas (LNG) buyers clearly have the upper hand as even more supply is slated to enter a glutted market in the coming years. As smaller countries enter the LNG-consuming ranks, sellers will need to accommodate their particular needs while adapting to new demands from their traditional clientele.

With numerous U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects creeping toward first cargo and a posse of would-be exporters on the Canadian west coast, global buyers might be looking to North America as their future cheap gas breadbasket. They probably shouldn't, said analysts at BernsteinResearch in a note last week.

U.S. oil and natural gas mergers and acquisition activity (M&A) plunged in the second quarter from the first three months of 2012, with divestitures driving activity, according to PwC US.

The physical natural gas market on average moved a penny lower Wednesday, as buyers seemed content with mild weather to rely mostly on baseload volumes. Points in and around the Great Lakes were up by a couple of pennies and around the Gulf, prices held within a 2-cent range of unchanged. Rockies points were mostly unchanged as well. Futures gained on light volume as players positioned themselves ahead of Thursday’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) storage report. At the close of trading, June futures had risen 5.8 cents to $3.978 and July closed 5.6 cents higher at $4.030. June crude oil gained $1.00 to $96.62/bbl.

Natural gas cash prices jumped an average 15 cents Monday for Tuesday delivery as a strong screen provided a firm platform for buyers, and utilities commenced with early summer buying. The advance was widespread and nearly every point posted double-digit gains. A handful of locations were up by 20 cents or more.

EnerVest Ltd. hasn’t nailed down buyers for some of its Utica Shale portfolio in Ohio, but there is plenty of interest in the big leasehold. Now it’s a matter of getting the right prices and the right terms, CEO John Walker said Tuesday.

Cash natural gas prices fell on average just over a nickel Thursday as weather continued to moderate and buyers balked at buying spot gas and resorted to storage gas withdrawals. Nearly all points experienced losses, and the biggest declines were seen on New England pipelines. Eastern points were also weak, and in the Midwest, prices slipped just under a nickel.