Encouraging

July natural gas futures soared Monday as traders discarded less-than-encouraging weather forecasts, ample storage supplies and a declining rig count that has failed to make a dent in production for largely technical factors.

In a bit of encouraging news for Rocky Mountain oil and natural gas producers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) plans to remove the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse from the federal threatened species list in Wyoming. However, the mouse for now will remain listed as threatened in Colorado. The FWS said the mouse may be delisted in Wyoming because testing has confirmed that the habitat is no longer at risk from over development. Many of the mice found through testing were located on farmland and ranchland that is not considered at risk for development. However, in Colorado, the FWS noted that development continues to threaten the mouse habitat. “Much of Preble’s riparian habitat in Colorado has been severely altered or destroyed by human activities,” said Steve Guertin, director of the FWS Mountain-Prairie Region. “Continued rapid development is expected along Colorado’s Front Range as the population continues to grow. Without the protection of the federal Endangered Species Act, much of Preble’s habitat would be lost.” The nocturnal mammal, which has a tail twice the length of its three-inch body, mostly lives in streamside habitats near thick vegetation in the foothills of southeastern Wyoming and along the Front Range in Colorado, according to FWS. The mouse is able to jump up to three feet to escape predators. The mouse has been listed as a threatened species since 1998. In Colorado the FWS is expected to use a team made up of state and federal wildlife officials, agricultural and business interests to work on a recovery plan for the Preble’s mouse.

Having had some success in encouraging producers to sign on for firm long-term commitments for the Rockies Express (REX) Pipeline, the Wyoming Pipeline Authority (WPA) is working to convince the state legislature to incentivize shipper support for other pipeline projects to export gas out of the state, thereby contributing to state revenues.

Having had some success in encouraging producers to sign on for firm long-term commitments for the Rockies Express (REX) Pipeline, the Wyoming Pipeline Authority (WPA) is working to convince the state legislature to incentivize shipper support for other pipeline projects to export gas out of the state, thereby contributing to state revenues.

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) set a new record for power demand of 63,056 MW Thursday afternoon between 4 and 5 p.m. The agency was encouraging power conservation but did not have to institute rolling blackouts.

Westcoast, which had been encouraging drafting of excess linepack from its system with a daily imbalance tolerance range of zero pack and 20% draft, will revert to its normal 10%/10% range Friday.

Westcoast, which had been encouraging drafting of excess linepack from its system with a daily imbalance tolerance range of zero pack and 20% draft, will revert to its normal 10%/10% range Friday.

Devon Energy Corp.’s Canadian subsidiary is looking for partners to share the risk in a hunt for natural gas offshore the Mackenzie Delta, a company executive said Thursday. The Oklahoma City-based independent hasn’t explored in the Far North region in more than 15 years, but is ready to become a player there once again.

CMS Energy Corp. and Dynegy Corp. both received encouraging news from two of the credit ratings agencies that have clobbered their debt ratings in the past year. Moody’s Investors Service offered positive news to CMS; meanwhile, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) removed Dynegy from its CreditWatch listing.