Cracking

FERC should consider developing a model — one that is closer to those used by other federal enforcement agencies — for cracking down on individual traders who repeatedly manipulate energy markets, Commissioner Philip Moeller said Thursday.

FERC should consider developing a model — one that is closer to those used by other federal enforcement agencies — for cracking down on individual traders who repeatedly manipulate energy markets, Commissioner Philip Moeller said Thursday.

Revenues from natural gas liquids (NGL) — particularly those from liquids-rich shale plays — have been like a mega vitamin for anemic dry gas economics, but it’s not the fourth quarter of 2011 anymore, and currently depressed NGL prices are expected to stick around for a while.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to mark up four bills aimed at cracking down on the federal agency responsible for the safety inspections and enforcement of regulations governing the oil and natural gas industry, as well as the operators of the oil and natural gas rigs and platforms in the offshore.

Cracking down on firms that are attempting to manipulate the natural gas futures market for financial gain, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) late last week levied $750,000 in fines on three Canadian companies for “wash” and prearranged trades.

Cracking down on firms that are attempting to manipulate the natural gas futures market for financial gain, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Thursday levied $750,000 in fines on three Canadian companies for “wash” and prearranged trades.

Cracking down on firms that are attempting to manipulate the natural gas futures market for financial gain, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Thursday levied $750,000 in fines on three Canadian companies for “wash” and prearranged trades.

While cracking down on market fraud and abuse with tough new penalties, the draft energy bill also seeks to increase transparency in natural gas prices by ordering regulated entities to report prices to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and to price publishers.

About 1 Bcf/d of NOVA capacity will be cut from May 31 to June9 as part of the system is inspected for stress corrosion crackingwhile tie-ins and other maintenance are performed. NOVA will take100 miles of 36-inch line between the Miekle River and Knightcompressor stations in northwest Alberta out of service during thattime. NOVA normally moves a total of about 11.8 Bcf/d, a spokesmansaid.