Dampened

ConocoPhillips on Thursday reported that lower natural gas and oil prices dampened 3Q2012 results, but U.S. production helped lift the independent above analyst expectations.

In the current mix of global economic doldrums, low wholesale natural gas prices and dampened demand, Sempra Energy CEO Don Felsinger sees just the right alchemy that can turn into higher prices and demand. Those were some of the asides Felsinger offered to financial analysts last Thursday during a Sempra-hosted meeting in New York City.

Higher oil and natural gas prices have resulted in robust revenue for exploration and production (E&P) companies, but the accompanying surge in service costs has dampened the financial windfall — and an $8/Mcf gas price may be required to deliver a market return on capital going forward, according to energy analysts.

Higher oil and natural gas prices have resulted in robust revenue for exploration and production (E&P) companies, but the accompanying surge in service costs has dampened the financial windfall — and an $8/Mcf gas price may be required to deliver a market return on capital going forward, according to energy analysts.

With predictions for another warmer-than-normal winter in the United States, energy demand may be dampened, but there will still be enough cold snaps to provide for periods of natural gas price spikes, Sempra Energy Trading’s meteorologist told an industry conference for marketers and buyers in Los Angeles Tuesday.

With predictions for another warmer-than-normal winter in the United States, energy demand may be dampened, but there will still be enough cold snaps to provide for periods of natural gas price spikes, Sempra Energy Trading’s meteorologist told an industry conference for marketers and buyers in Los Angeles Tuesday.

Citing dampened utility results mostly from a planned nuclear plant refueling, Rosemead, CA-based Edison International Wednesday reported first-quarter results that were down 34% compared with the same period last year (17 cents/share, compared with 26 cents/share for the first quarter, 2002). The utility holding company for Southern California Edison Co. said the results might have been worse without improved performance in its merchant energy sector.