Fast

With about 66% of its third quarter production survey completed, Lehman Brothers analysts said Friday that they believe North American natural gas production fell an estimated 2.3% sequentially from the second quarter and that full-year volumes are expected to fall nearly 2.5% in the United States and 3.2% in Canada over 2002.

Those advocating a fast track for approval of infrastructure projects should get their message through to energy bill conferees, FERC Chairman Pat Wood said last Tuesday, noting that energy legislation only “comes around one time in about 10 years.”

Those advocating a fast track for approval of infrastructure projects should get their message through to energy bill conferees, FERC Chairman Pat Wood said Tuesday, noting that energy legislation only “comes around one time in about 10 years.”

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee whipped through a fast-paced hearing last Tuesday on the nomination of New Mexico’s Suedeen Kelly for commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, with both the chairman and ranking minority member vowing to rush through Kelly’s confirmation, along with that of Joseph T. Kelliher, whose nomination has been stalled in the Senate.

One of California’s long-time natural gas market analysts sees Rocky Mountain supplies and the expanded Kern River Pipeline as adding to new competitive capacity entering California, although there may be some excess capacity to market on a short-term basis due to delayed construction of new electric generating plants.

California’s long-time natural gas market analyst sees Rocky Mountain supplies and the expanded Kern River Pipeline as adding to new competitive capacity entering California, although there may be some excess capacity to market on a short-term basis due to delayed construction of new electric generating plants.

A comeback by Canadian natural gas exporters shows signs of accelerating fast, sharply reversing a decline in 2002 that broke a 14-year winning streak of consecutive annual record sales to the United States.

A comeback by Canadian natural gas exporters shows signs of accelerating fast, sharply reversing a decline in 2002 that broke a 14-year winning streak of consecutive annual record sales to the United States.

After breaking to a new 23-month high Tuesday morning in concert with higher cash market prices, natural gas futures sifted lower in the afternoon as traders liquidated long positions when it became apparent that $6.00 was not in the cards. The March contract closed at $5.762, down 0.4 cents for the session and nearly a dozen cents below its $5.88 high. At 84,273, estimated volume was unremarkable considering the market put in a new two-year top.