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Physical natural gas prices across the country retreated on average by about 7 cents Monday, but Northeast locations had to endure double-digit losses, and in southern California prices were flat to a couple of cents higher. At the close of futures trading the April contract was down by 5.5 cents to $2.269 and May futures had fallen 5.2 cents to $2.373. April crude oil dropped $1.06 to $106.34/bbl.

On balance the cash market averaged out to the loss side of the trading ledger Monday, but double-digit strength was noted at northeastern points, and deliveries into southern California points also registered gains. Futures markets headed south as revised weather forecasts called for an extended period of warmth throughout the eastern two-thirds of the country. At the end of futures trading April had fallen 12.9 cents to $2.355 and May had slid 12.8 cents to $2.472. April crude oil added two cents to $106.72/bbl.

Futures and the cash market parted ways Wednesday with the cash market holding on to gains of a few cents at most points and the futures stumbling to a double-digit loss as traders attempt to factor in what looks like another surplus-building inventory report Thursday and a revised weather outlook. At the close March had fallen 10.7 cents to $2.425 and April retreated 8.4 cents to $2.616. March crude oil added $1.06 to $101.80/bbl.

Natural gas cash averages for the most part Thursday gained or lost a few pennies, but Northeast points saw double-digit gains as temperatures in New England were expected to drop and pipelines issued curtailments.

Physical and futures prices both registered double-digit losses on the final day of bidweek Tuesday as cash prices caught up with the late-session futures slide on Monday, and futures just kept trekking lower Tuesday as the market couldn’t shake the ongoing dynamics of ever-increasing storage surpluses and forecasts of mild weather expected to prolong the pounding market bulls have been taking.

Cash prices around much of the country on Monday rose about a dime, excluding double-digit losses posted at a number of eastern points. Traders ascribed the gains primarily to an early surge in March futures. However, the late session futures decline should result in lower cash quotes Tuesday.

The global market for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) services continues to grow at a double-digit pace but not nearly as much as in 2011 since natural gas prices have begun to discourage exploration, according to a survey by Spears & Associates Inc.

Exploration and production (E&P) companies are in the early stages of a “multi-year, double-digit growth spending upcycle” around the globe that is characterized by increased drilling in complex geologies on land, as well as deepwater development, according to a new survey by Barclays Capital analysts.

Exploration and production (E&P) companies are in the early stages of a “multi-year, double-digit growth spending upcycle” around the globe that is characterized by increased drilling in complex geologies on land, as well as deepwater development, according to a new survey by Barclays Capital analysts.