Experts

Some industry experts were wondering whether they were experiencing deja vu earlier this week as the energy futures complex once again spiked following a bullish research report produced by global investment bank Goldman Sachs. While there were those who believed the 34-page report by the market leader was largely responsible for the price spike on Tuesday, others weren’t so sure, with some noting that people are free to trade off of anything they want to.

Now that winter is over, most experts would have trouble ruling out the possibility of a test of market lows. But that clearly wasn’t happening in the cash market on Monday. Despite mild weather, high line pack on many pipes and weaker crude oil fundamentals, most points were up a nickle to as much as 15 cents.

FERC’s Stephen Harvey, along with the publishers of natural gas price indexes and other industry experts will participate on a panel discussing gas index pricing at a workshop session prior to the Minerals Management Services’ Industry Awards Program on April 26 in Houston, TX. The panelists will explore whether published gas price indexes in the U.S. have sufficient liquidity, transparency and accuracy to represent the value of gas commodities in the current marketplace. The program, which will begin at 8:30 a.m., will be held at the Houston InterContinental Hotel at 2222 West Loop South in Houston. There will be no cost to attend the panel discussion. Reservations for the awards luncheon can be made at www.mms.gov

Several experts who spoke at GasMart in New Orleans last week agreed with the conclusion of a recent study by the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex) that found that hedge funds have been unfairly blamed for being the cause of recent gas price spikes.

A lot has been made — most of it negative — of the growing role of speculative fund trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but without the funds in the market currently, gas futures prices probably would go up even more, according to Tom Saal of Miami-based Commercial Brokerage.

A lot has been made — most of it negative — of the growing role of speculative fund trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange, but without the funds in the market currently, gas futures prices probably would go up even more, according to Tom Saal of Miami-based Commercial Brokerage.

The blaze at Duke Energy’s Moss Bluff underground salt cavern storage facility in Liberty County, TX, was continuing into its sixth day Tuesday, but the size and intensity of the fire has decreased significantly, according to company officials.

North America most likely will not only be relying on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the long haul, but also eventually will compete with Asia for LNG supplies, a group of energy executives said last week on the opening day of the North American Natural Gas Summit in Houston.

North America most likely will not only be relying on liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the long haul, but also eventually will compete with Asia for LNG supplies, a group of energy executives said Wednesday on the opening day of the North American Natural Gas Summit in Houston..