MCN Energy followed through as planned on the previously announcedsales of its Midcontinent/Gulf Coast exploration and production(E&P) properties and subsidiaries. Undisclosed privately heldcompanies paid about $105 million for the assets, which are primarilylocated in Texas and Oklahoma. Proceeds from the sales will helpstrengthen MCN’s balance sheet by reducing its debt. At year-end 1998,these Midcontinent/Gulf Coast assets represented 144 Bcfe of reserves,or 12% of the 1.2 Tcfe of proved reserves on MCN’s books. About 80% ofthe reserves sold were gas. MCN announced earlier in August that,consistent with its new regional, operating strategy, the company willretain its natural gas producing properties in Michigan (see Daily GPIAug. 3). Negotiations continue on theremaining Appalachian E&P package.
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Prices Down for Weekend; Rebound Seen This Week
The weekend cash market followed the script written for it byfalling between between a nickel and just over a dime at nearly allpoints Friday. It was a “typical” low-demand period phenomena,according to one marketer; another, phrasing it slightlydifferently, called it “just the usual weekend blowout.”
Futures Tug-of-War Favors Bulls Again
The futures market continued higher Friday, but it was notwithout a struggle when morning short-covering was followed by abrief, but spirited, long liquidation early in the afternoon.However, that dip in prices paved the way for another round of”bargain buying” as some fresh longs were seen entering the fray.And just as the case has been almost the entire week, it was bullsthat ended up on top Friday, with April finishing at $1.854, up 1.9cents for the day and 15.5 cents for the week.
Analysts See Spring Price Plunge Followed by Major Winter Spikes
With weather forecasts producing bearish news at every turn andnational storage reserves looming ever larger, Raymond James &Associates recently published a report projecting spot wellhead gasprices will drop below the $1.50/Mcf level before the beginning ofsummer. The study, however, also warns of a gas “price shock” inearly 2000, when gas shortages run rampant and production is unableto keep up because of sharp declines in exploration and productionspending. It seems the industry is in store for a spot marketroller coaster ride.
Studies See Super-Low Prices, Followed by Spikes
With weather forecasts producing bearish news at every turn andthe national storage reserves looming ever larger, Raymond James& Associates recently published a report projecting spotwellhead gas prices to drop below the $1.50/Mcf level before thebeginning of summer. The study gives the correlation between gasprices and storage levels, the onslaught of gas production, and theeffects of a third warm winter as reasons for its forecast. Thestudy also warns of a gas “price shock” in early 2000, when gasshortages run rampant and production is unable to keep up.
Futures Slip Amid Cash Market Weakness
The futures market followed an early example set by the cashmarket on Tuesday, as early selling fueled by losses in Monday’sAccess trading pushed the market lower for the second day in row.That enabled the November contract to not only gap lower at theopen, but also to gap below key support at $2.35 on its way to alow of $2.295. However, the buyers saw good value at those levelsand bid up the contract to its settle at $2.346, a 4.7 cent lossfor the day.
Sempra Buys CNG’s Wholesale Gas Portfolio for $48M
Consolidated Natural Gas Co. followed through on its plan toexit wholesale energy marketing yesterday by selling its gasmarketing operations, including supply, sales, storage andtransportation agreements, to Sempra Energy for $48 million.
Streamline for Power Goes Live
A week after rival QuickTrade launched its new electronic powertrading system, Altra Energy Technologies followed suit withStreamlineT for Power, a real-time trading system for wholesaleelectricity. The two systems arrived on the market during atumultuous period, in which skyrocketing power prices forcedseveral marketers to default and many others to suffer bigfinancial losses. Altra said its system should provide users acertain amount of protection in the unpredictable and oftenvolatile power market.
Columbia Files to Negotiate Service Terms and Conditions
Columbia Gas Transmission and Columbia Gulf Transmissionyesterday followed through on a long-standing promise to provideFERC with some new regulatory ideas in the area of negotiated termsand conditions of service. The transmission subsidiaries ofColumbia Energy filed a proposal to establish a new regulatorymodel called Standard/Customized services. Columbia said it’s the”next logical step in the evolution of pipeline regulation andnatural gas markets.”
Ohio PUC Staff Moves to Complete Unbundling
An additional 1.6 million customers in 41 Ohio counties could bechoosing alternative gas suppliers this winter, followed by morethan 2.8 million customers in 57 of Ohio’s 88 counties in November1999, if the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) accepts itsstaff’s recommendations. Based on good results in pilot programslast winter in metropolitan Toledo (Columbia Gas), Canton andMarietta (East Ohio Gas) and in greater Cincinnati (Cincinnati Gas& Electric), staff told the full commission the three pilotprograms should be expanded as soon as possible.
