However

Most Points Rise Again, But Hints of Softness Appear

Prices continued to rise at most points Tuesday on the support of widespread cooling load and the previous day’s 15.5-cent advance by August futures. However, there were signs that this week’s overall bullishness so far in the cash market could be starting to fade as many of Tuesday’s gains were about a dime or less and there was a sharp increase of sizeable losses, especially in the Southwest basins, California and Midcontinent.

July 2, 2008

Transportation Notes

Florida Gas Transmission ended Saturday an Overage Alert Day (OAD) for market-area customers that had been in effect for the previous two days. However, the pipeline declared a new OAD Monday and set the tolerance for negative daily imbalances at 10%.

July 1, 2008

Ziff Finds Cost Challenges in GOM, Alberta, Shale Plays

Operators in emerging shale gas plays can expect to experience high costs as the plays are developed because drilling and completion is akin to research and development. However, costs fall as operators build their land positions in a particular play and develop drilling programs with the right type of rigs and completion services, according to Houston-based Ziff Energy Group.

April 21, 2008

Ziff Finds Upward Cost Pressure in GOM, Alberta

Operators in emerging shale gas plays can expect to experience high costs as the plays are developed because drilling and completion is akin to research and development. However, costs fall as operators build their land positions in a particular play and develop drilling programs with the right type of rigs and completion services, according to Houston-based Ziff Energy Group.

April 15, 2008

Marathon Blames High Expenses, Unscheduled Downtime for Drop in Profit

Marathon Oil Corp. blamed higher-than-expected exploration expenses and unscheduled downtime for a 38% decline in quarterly profit from a year ago; however, the producer is stepping up its exploration spending this year — with most of the money directed at U.S. assets.

February 4, 2008

Marathon Blames High Expenses, Unscheduled Downtime for Drop in Profit

Marathon Oil Corp. blamed higher-than-expected exploration expenses and unscheduled downtime for a 38% decline in quarterly profit from a year ago; however, the producer is stepping up its exploration spending this year — with most of the money directed at U.S. assets.

February 1, 2008

Lease on Alabama Reservoirs is Last Hurdle for MoBay Storage Project

Falcon Gas Storage Co. is hoping to get its MoBay Storage Hub project on-line in time for the 2009 hurricane season. However, for that to happen the State of Alabama will have to pick up the pace in granting a lease for three depleted gas reservoirs in state waters north of Dauphin Island.

October 8, 2007

Lease on Alabama Reservoirs is Last Hurdle for MoBay Storage Project

Falcon Gas Storage Co. is hoping to get its MoBay Storage Hub project on-line in time for the 2009 hurricane season. However, for that to happen the State of Alabama will have to pick up the pace in granting a lease for three depleted gas reservoirs in state waters north of Dauphin Island.

October 8, 2007

Marathon Says Oil Sands Growth Part of Integrated Strategy

Marathon Oil Corp. is building its downstream business in an agreement to buy Canada’s Western Oil Sands Inc. for about $6.2 billion (C$6.5 billion); however, company executives said last Tuesday the additional refinery business will not dampen its zeal for exploration.

August 6, 2007

Marathon Says Oil Sands Growth Part of Integrated Strategy

Marathon Oil Corp. is building its downstream business in an agreement to buy Canada’s Western Oil Sands Inc. for about $6.2 billion (C$6.5 billion); however, company executives said Tuesday the additional refinery business will not dampen its zeal for exploration.

August 1, 2007