Influx

An influx of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will reveal the true value of natural gas storage is about three years away, according to the CEO of Spectra Energy Corp., but nearer on the horizon is consolidation of numerous master limited partnerships (MLP).

Citing recent forecasts of “a large influx of arctic air over the Pacific Northwest later this week,” Northwest said Monday it is expanding the entitlements implemented last week (see Daily GPI, Jan. 8) to include a Stage II (8%) Overrun Entitlement for Receiving Parties on the Grants Pass and Spokane Laterals starting Wednesday. The Grants Pass entitlement will apply only to points south of the Oregon City Compressor Station. All the entitlements will remain in effect until further notice, Northwest said.

Due to evolving trading practices and the recent influx of funds into the futures and options market arena, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said last week that it will begin publishing an additional Commitments of Traders (COT) report in January that will show aggregate futures and options positions of noncommercial, commercial and index traders in 12 selected agricultural commodities. The new report, which is to be published on a two year, pilot-program basis, could be expanded to other commodities such as energy if deemed successful.

Due to evolving trading practices and the recent influx of funds into the futures and options market arena, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said Tuesday that it will begin publishing an additional Commitments of Traders (COT) report in January that will show aggregate futures and options positions of noncommercial, commercial and index traders in 12 selected agricultural commodities. The new report, which is to be published on a two year, pilot-program basis, could be expanded to other commodities such as energy if deemed successful.

Even though the 85 Bcf injection for the week ended May 5 was only slightly above the industry consensus, the build, plus an influx of selling at $7.00, were just enough to take the legs out of Wednesday’s natural gas futures rally. June natural gas traded within a range from $6.580 to $7.000 before settling at $6.649, down 25.1 cents on the day.

The growing influx of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into the Gulf Coast will be a boon for interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines, but it could take a toll on gas processors in the region, according to a report issued by investment banker Harris Nesbitt.

Acknowledging the expanding role for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the U.S. gas supply mix, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week gave a major boost to three LNG projects — Southern LNG Inc.’s expansion of its Elba Island facilities in Georgia, AES Ocean Express LLC’s Bahamian import terminal and Tractebel’s Bahamian terminal — and expressed its support for the gas industry’s continued thrust in this direction.

Acknowledging the expanding role for liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the U.S. gas supply mix, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Wednesday gave a major boost to three LNG projects — Southern LNG Inc.’s expansion of its Elba Island facilities in Georgia, AES Ocean Express LLC’s Bahamian import terminal and Tractebel’s Bahamian terminal — and expressed its support for the gas industry’s continued thrust in this direction.

CMS Energy and Westcoast Energy filed an application with FERClast week for the U.S portion of their TriState Pipeline project, a650 MMcf/d gas pipeline that would extend to the Dawn Hub inOntario from Joliet, IL, near Chicago.