Economically

The tightness of supply and demand has set the stage for “sustainable” $3.50-$4.00/Mcf natural gas prices throughout 2003, but a lack of economically drillable prospects may lead to more mergers as producers look for production and reserve growth, according to a 2003 oil and gas industry forecast.

The tightness of supply and demand has set the stage for “sustainable” $3.50-$4.00/Mcf natural gas prices throughout 2003, but a lack of economically drillable prospects may lead to more mergers as producers look for production and reserve growth, according to a 2003 oil and gas industry forecast.

With the company’s NRG Energy independent power producer unit leading the way, Xcel Energy Inc. is raising its earnings estimates for this year to $2.30 per share, up from previous estimates of $2.20 per share. Meanwhile, executives at the company Tuesday sought to allay any possible concerns about Xcel’s supply position heading into the summer months.

Got gas? In Coos Bay, OR, the answer is no. Citizens pushingbusiness development for the economically depressed area want tobuild a pipeline to change that.

U.S. Generating Co. filed last week at the FERC touting its Caloosa Generating Project as more economically and environmentally friendly than Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) Fort Myers project, at the same time lending support to the recently announced Gulfstream Natural Gas System.

A 30 Tcf market is “widely anticipated and economicallypossible” by 2010, but it will not be achieved easily as allsegments of the natural gas industry will face considerablefinancial and infrastructure challenges to help supply and servethat demand, said a study issued by the INGAA Foundation Inc. onMonday.