Erode

Next-day gas prices continued to erode Thursday except for in the Northeast, where a handful of points picked up between 10 to 20 cents. Weakness was widespread but was most pronounced at Wyoming points and locations eastward into the Midcontinent. Increases in the Northeast were only partially able to offset the general decline. Futures bears were pleased with the 10:30 a.m. EST storage report, which showed a withdrawal somewhat less than expectations.

Unconventional shale gas in the United States has proved to be a boon to the domestic economy, but if it’s only a “bridge” to a low carbon future, efforts have to be stepped up to “prepare a landing at the other end” — and that won’t be easy, energy economists said in a new report.

October natural gas continued to erode Thursday as traders digested a government report of an above-average injection of 89 Bcf. The decline was less than some expected, and analysts noted the relative resilience of natural gas to an otherwise deteriorating oil and equity market environment. October slipped 2.5 cents to $3.705 and November retreated 3.8 cents to $3.782. November crude oil imploded $5.41 to $80.51/bbl.

Natural gas is clean and price-competitive with other fuels, and it’s abundance in the United States will alter geopolitics and can erode the influence of oil cartels. Additionally gas-fired power generation and gas-powered vehicles can complement renewable energy and clear the air. That’s the story the industry needs to tell to lawmakers and consumers, according to Brad Boister, Anadarko Energy Services Corp. vice president of gas marketing.

Natural gas is clean and price-competitive with other fuels, and it’s abundance in the United States will alter geopolitics and can erode the influence of oil cartels. Additionally gas-fired power generation and gas-powered vehicles can complement renewable energy and clear the air. That’s the story the industry needs to tell to lawmakers and consumers, according to Brad Boister, Anadarko Energy Services Corp. vice president of gas marketing.

All points joined Monday in rebounding from weekend softness, but except for sizable transportation constraint-linked gains of 30 cents or so at the Southern California border, San Juan Basin and the Rockies, other advances were more moderate at about 15 cents or less.

Swing prices continued to erode moderately Wednesday as a mild short-term weather outlook and expectations of a reduction in the storage deficit weighed on the market. A largely static natural gas screen had little influence, although crude oil and heating oil futures were realizing gains.

May aftermarket pricing continued to erode Tuesday nearly across the board. Most declines were between about a nickel and a little more than 20 cents, with a majority of them toward the upper end of that range. The non-Malin California points plunged more than a dollar.