Infant

A two-year investigation has identified the prime suspect behind environmental horror stories that threaten to stunt the growth of infant coalbed methane production in Canada — and the culprit is not the industry. The report squashes a major source of public opposition to developing the province’s estimated 500 Tcf endowment of coalbed methane, in seams the right thickness and depth to be considered candidates for development.

Barely three years after a handful of producers began booking small reserves additions, the infant Canadian coalbed methane sector has earned respect in a new report on the national gas endowment by industry elders. The Canadian Gas Potential Committee, a powerhouse composed of veterans from agencies such as the Geological Survey of Canada and the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, recognized 26 Tcf of CBM as “marketable,” up from zero in the group’s last report in 2001.

“Explosive” growth by the infant of the Canadian natural gas industry, coalbed methane, will raise total production this year — and again in 2006 and ’07 — by more than making up for declines in conventional supplies, the National Energy Board predicted Monday. The limiting factors are the size of the drilling fleet and experienced people to operate the rigs.

The news was just too good to keep to themselves. UtiliCorp United bragged last Thursday that its infant spin-off, Aquila Inc. would show second quarter results up 300%, and since the proud parent holds 80% of Aquila, UtiliCorp’s earnings are expected to be up 300% as well.

Infant online trading system Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) continues to rack up impressive results, posting over 95 Bcf of physical gas trading, along with almost 970 Bcf of financial gas trading and 40 million MWh of power dealing in its first six and a half weeks of commercial operation.

Infant online trading system Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)continues to rack up impressive results, posting over 95 Bcf ofphysical gas trading, along with almost 970 Bcf of financial gastrading and 40 million MWh of power dealing in its first six and ahalf weeks of commercial operation.

Enron Corp.’s wholesale marketing division led the company witha 60% earnings increase at the same time its infant retailoperations continued to show a loss.