Country

Last year Canada’s natural gas and oil producers suffered their weakest performance since 2002, but the downturn prepared the country’s energy sector for a promising future, according to the Canadian Annual Energy Survey, an annual review of the top producers by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Last year Canada’s natural gas and oil producers suffered their weakest performance since 2002, but the downturn prepared the country’s energy sector for a promising future, according to the Canadian Annual Energy Survey, an annual review of the top producers by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Lawmakers should look to the recent crafting of “one of the most comprehensive underground mine safety laws in the country” for inspiration when they consider the further regulation of Marcellus Shale natural gas activities in Pennsylvania, John Hanger, secretary of the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), told a state Senate panel Wednesday.

While acknowledging the country’s growing frustration with BP plc’s inability to stop the oil gushing in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), a major producer group last Thursday called on President Obama to reconsider his decision to halt or suspend drilling or planned drilling in the GOM and offshore Alaska and Virginia in response to the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig and mammoth oil spill.

There was no general consensus on natural gas prices on Monday as cash averages across the country picked up a few pennies or declined by a few pennies. The indecisiveness also carried over in the futures arena where the June contract declined for the fifth consecutive day, but only by 1.8 cents to $4.017.

Will this country’s abundant, home-grown natural gas shale resources reach their full potential as a bridge fuel to a clean, green energy future or will market forces and onerous government restrictions combine to ratchet down their explosive development? Industry leaders at the 24th annual GasMart will be discussing how companies now are moderating their spending on natural gas development while emphasizing oil and liquids-rich properties, just as the economy and industrial markets are coming back to life.

Will this country’s abundant, home-grown natural gas shale resources reach their full potential as a bridge fuel to a clean, green energy future or will market forces and onerous government restrictions combine to rachet down their explosive development? Industry leaders at the 24th annual GasMart will be discussing how companies now are moderating their spending on natural gas development while emphasizing oil and liquids-rich properties, just as the economy and industrial markets are coming back to life.

Will this country’s abundant, home-grown natural gas shale resources reach their full potential as a bridge fuel to a clean, green energy future or will market forces and onerous government restrictions combine to rachet down their explosive development? Industry leaders at the 24th annual GasMart will be discussing how companies now are moderating their spending on natural gas development while emphasizing oil and liquids-rich properties, just as the economy and industrial markets are coming back to life.

Natural gas futures values continued to plod lower on Tuesday as much of the country has begun to see the first signs of spring. The April contract reached yet another new low for the down move before closing the regular session at $4.347, down 4.4 cents from Monday’s finish.