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Although the Northeast consumes a lower percentage of naturalgas than does the rest of the nation, gas ranks as the most popularenergy fuel in households, according to a new study by the EnergyInformation Agency (EIA).

Atmos Energy announced plans to buy the remaining 55% share ofWoodward Marketing that it does not already own. It plans to pay$33 million in stock for the Houston-based marketer.

As if crashing oil prices, fresh weather forecasts and the release of storage data were not enough Wednesday, the natural gas futures market was rocked again Thursday by a report of a pipeline rupture in the Gulf of Mexico (see related story this issue). Although the accident has since been dubbed a non-event, it produced a dramatic, if brief, spike in prices as commercial traders loaded up on contracts only to dump them just minutes later.

Despite constructive gains in both the cash market and crude oilfutures market and following a string of gains in seven of the lasteight trading sessions, natural gas futures gave back a nickelyesterday as traders weighed in on the extremely technicaloverbought condition that existed in the market. And althoughTuesday’s modest retreat did little to satisfy those overboughtconditions, analysts question how much further the market will fallbefore buyers step back in.

BP Amoco’s recently established Gas & Power division isbuying the remaining shares of ProGas Ltd. it does not already own.The acquisition will bring the volume of Canadian gas marketed byBP Amoco Gas & Power to 3 Bcf/d and increase its total NorthAmerican sales to 7 Bcf/d.

While a FERC filing does not a pipeline make, it’s still a step in the right direction. Williams’ Buccaneer Gas Pipeline last week became the first of three competing projects to serve Florida power generation demand to file with the FERC.

Columbia Gas extended the deadline 24 hours for a CNG decisionon its definitive merger offer yesterday. Columbia said if CNG doesnot respond by 5 p.m. today, the offer will be withdrawn.

Florida Gas Transmission reminded shippers that Zone 1 will becompletely shut in April 13-15 as it does several maintenanceprojects (see the HotTap bulletin board for details). Zone 1extends from the pipeline’s upstream terminus in South Texas toEunice, LA.

Columbia Energy Services and the Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi (MGAM) signed a 10-year gas supply contract that calls for MGAM to buy 10 billion Btu/d, or about 10 MMcf/d. “This acquisition provides firm economic supplies for our participating municipal gas systems and will assist them in meeting the needs of their customers,” said Neil Davis, MGAM general manager. ” MGAM, which represents 20 public agencies, provides gas supply and related services to municipalities that own and operate gas distribution systems in Mississippi.