Falls

Lehman Brothers analyst Jeffrey W. Robertson is pessimistic about Stone Energy being able to meet its 2003 and 2004 gas production targets and has lowered his share price projections on the company.

While total U.S. dry natural gas production fell 3.2% last year to about 19.1 Tcf, according to the Energy Information Administration, gas production from onshore marginal wells producing 60 Mcf/d or less actually rose by about 65 MMcf/d, according to a preview of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) annual survey.

Gas pipeline companies reported no significant impact on gas transportation operations from the blackouts in the Northeast, Great Lakes and eastern Canada. However, some did note that there were sharp and sudden demand reductions because many gas-fired power plants, chemical companies and industrial manufacturing plants were shut down. As a result, even more gas was expected to be headed into storage.

Gas pipeline companies reported no significant impact on gas transportation operations from what was believed to be the largest power blackout ever last week (see related story). However, some pipelines did report sharp and sudden demand reductions because many gas-fired power plants, chemical companies and industrial manufacturing plants were shut down. As a result, gas prices plummeted and even more gas was expected to be headed into storage.

CenterPoint Energy Inc. saw its net income for the second quarter of 2003 reach only $63 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $236 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, for the same period of 2002. The large gap was mainly attributable to the company recording income from discontinued operations in 2Q2002 of $150 million primarily related to Reliant Resources Inc.’s (RRI) results.

CenterPoint Energy Inc. saw its net income for the second quarter of 2003 reach only $63 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $236 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, for the same period of 2002. The large gap was mainly attributable to the company recording income from discontinued operations in 2Q2002 of $150 million primarily related to Reliant Resources Inc.’s (RRI) results.

As natural gas production falls and prices remain high, U.S. chemical producers will be “crowded out” by price-insensitive customers that bid up the prices to a level that manufacturers cannot afford to pay, according to a comprehensive analysis unveiled Thursday by two Lehman Brothers analysts.

As natural gas production falls and prices remain high, U.S. chemical producers may be “crowded out” by price-insensitive customers that bid up the prices to a level that manufacturers cannot afford to pay, according to a comprehensive analysis unveiled Friday by two Lehman Brothers analysts.

Reaping the benefits of its C$2.3 billion purchase of Rio Alto Exploration Ltd. in May, Canadian Natural Resources, Canada’s second largest producer, reported a 54% increase in natural gas production to 1.43 Bcf/d and a 44% increase in earnings in the third quarter to C$117 million or C86 cents/share.