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After four failed attempts at a broad energy bill, the head of Atmos Energy remains optimistic about the chances for comprehensive legislation to pass next year in the 109th Congress.

The head of the Energy Information Administration’s weekly storage report said last Wednesday that there would be a close examination of last week’s surprising announcement of a 49 Bcf net withdrawal of working gas from storage during the week ending Dec. 19. The withdrawal was much larger than anyone in the marketplace expected and exceeded the five-year average of storage withdrawals, triggering a massive $1.18 increase in the December futures contract on the day of expiration.

The chief executive of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) resigned last Monday following rumors of a possible scandal involving payouts for personal healthcare and housing loans without seeking approval from the state-controlled oil monopoly. Raul Munoz Leos, 65, will be replaced by Luis Ramirez Corzo, director general of exploration and production (E&P) since 2001.

The chief executive of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) resigned on Monday following rumors of a possible scandal involving payouts for personal healthcare and housing loans without seeking approval from the state-controlled oil monopoly. Raul Munoz Leos, 65, will be replaced by Luis Ramirez Corzo, director general of exploration and production (E&P) since 2001.

The chief executive of Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) resigned on Monday following rumors of a possible scandal involving payouts for personal healthcare and housing loans without seeking approval from the state-controlled oil monopoly. Raul Munoz Leos, 65, will be replaced by Luis Ramirez Corzo, director general of exploration and production (E&P) since 2001.

The head of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) called on Congress last Wednesday to do a study to determine “the extent to which pure speculation and market manipulation” were responsible for the run-up in natural gas prices over the past summer, while a representative of the consumer advocate group, Public Citizen, endorsed more government regulation and oversight to tame gas prices and the markets.

The head of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) called on Congress Wednesday to do a study to determine “the extent to which pure speculation and market manipulation” were responsible for the run-up in natural gas prices over the past summer, while a representative of the consumer advocate group, Public Citizen, endorsed more government regulation and oversight to tame gas prices and the markets.

Amid diminishing concerns about Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley, the natural gas futures market shuffled lower Wednesday, quickly rescinding nearly all of the gains notched over the previous two trading sessions. The September contract was the biggest loser, dropping 17.7 cents to close at $5.614. By comparison, the out-months fared much better, enabling the five-month winter strip (November-March) to sustain only a modest, 6-cent decline to $6.684.

Joseph Blount, chairman of the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), last Thursday downplayed concerns that growing imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the United States could lead to the formation of a “cartel” similar to that seen in the global oil sector.