Critical

Columbia Gas Transmission LLC said gas days Sept. 17-19 were to be deemed to be a “critical days” for storage. “Based on storage injection capacity and on forecasted firm storage injection requirements, transporter projects that all available storage injection capacity will be required to meet firm service obligations,” the company said. “Transporter projects no availability of interruptible storage injection services. Storage withdrawal services are not impacted by this notice.”

Because the House and Senate pipeline safety reauthorization bills are nearly identical on critical issues and there appears to be strong bipartisan support for them, the legislation has a good chance of clearing Congress this year, officials with a major pipeline group said Monday.

September natural gas meandered lower Tuesday as traders are being forced to recognize a cooler temperature environment, but technicians see the market holding critical support for the time being. September fell 9.2 cents to $3.932 and October slid 9.7 cents to $3.942. September crude oil dropped $1.23 to $86.65/bbl.

Responding to a Hearst Newspapers investigation that was highly critical of joint government-industry funding of pipeline safety research, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last Monday directed the federal agency responsible for ensuring pipeline safety to cease its practice of using industry funds to help finance pipeline research.

Responding to a Hearst Newspapers investigation that was highly critical of joint government-industry funding of pipeline safety research, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Monday directed the federal agency responsible for ensuring pipeline safety to cease its practice of using industry funds to help finance pipeline research.

Forced pooling is critical to ensuring that the Marcellus Shale is developed to its fullest, but crafting those laws will be difficult because of the unique nature of shale and the slim legal history of pooling in Appalachia, a natural resources legal expert told a Pittsburgh audience last Tuesday.

Forced pooling is critical to ensuring that the Marcellus Shale is developed to its fullest, but crafting those laws will be difficult because of the unique nature of shale and the slim legal history of pooling in Appalachia, a natural resources legal expert told a Pittsburgh audience Tuesday.

For the second time in a matter of weeks, President Obama Tuesday acknowledged that natural gas will play a critical role in the nation’s energy portfolio going forward.

For the second time in a matter of weeks, President Obama Tuesday acknowledged that natural gas will play a critical role in the nation’s energy portfolio going forward.