Glass

The United States should be exporting more chemicals, glass, steel, aluminum and other products, but the country’s leaders should think long and hard before adding liquefied domestic natural gas to that list, a Dow Chemical executive said Wednesday. While end-user industries fear higher gas prices, producers are looking to all potential demand sources to lift gas prices and make their dry gas operations economic once again.

Is the glass half empty or half full? One energy consultant last week said the end-of-year natural gas price outlook improved “considerably” over the past month following several “hot” weeks, and the falling gas storage levels combined with high fuel oil prices will offer a higher “price umbrella” for gas. Another well-known gas price prognosticator said a weather-driven surge may raise prices toward year’s end but advised investors to stick with an oil-weighted strategy .

Unico Inc. of Stamford, CT, bought Silver Valley Energy Inc.,including its proven oil and gas reserves located in the GlassMountains of Pecos County, TX, for an undisclosed amount. Theproperty is valued at more than $40 million based upon a recentindependent analysis.