Hope

While the current shale-rich North American natural gas market carries little hope in the short term for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminals, the proponents of the two surviving projects in Oregon remain optimistic that their day will come. Conventional wisdom, however, might suggest otherwise.

Natural gas explorers that hope to tap into Quebec’s emerging Utica Shale and St. Lawrence River lowlands face more scrutiny going forward, Environment Minister Pierre Arcand said last week.

Natural gas explorers that hope to tap into Quebec’s emerging Utica Shale and St. Lawrence River lowlands face more scrutiny going forward, Environment Minister Pierre Arcand said Monday.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) on Friday presented a list of industry “principles” for natural gas drillers to follow that coalition members hope will translate into positives for the Marcellus Shale.

The Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) on Friday presented a list of industry “principles” for natural gas drillers to follow that coalition members hope will translate into positives for the Marcellus Shale.

Following the weekend failure of the last best hope to collect oil spewing from a ruptured well a mile below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Monday brought talk of a “top hat” and “junk shots” — the latest ideas on how to collect leaking oil or seal the well — from BP plc CEO Tony Hayward.

While clinging to hope that a cold winter, economic recovery and drilling slumps will sop up the North American natural gas glut, Canadian suppliers remain braced for the long spell of lean prices to stretch well into 2010.

While clinging to hope that a cold winter, economic recovery and drilling slumps will sop up the North American natural gas glut, Canadian suppliers remain braced for the long spell of lean prices to stretch well into 2010.

The U.S. natural gas market shows signs of improving, but maybe not as fast as some would “expect, hope for or need,” a Houston energy investment banker said last week.