Intensify

The 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, which has so far been relatively mild, may be about to intensify, according to Weather Services International (WSI), which increased its forecast to 14 named storms, including seven hurricanes, three of them major (Category 3 or higher).

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin told legislators in his State of the State Address on Wednesday that he would intensify efforts to attract an ethane cracker to the state.

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in his State of the State address last Wednesday that he would intensify efforts to attract an ethane cracker to the state.

Cost pressures, which in some areas already have begun to intensify, should help U.S. natural gas prices recover over the next few years to between $6.50/MMBtu and $7/MMBtu, an energy analyst said Wednesday.

With production from some of the more mature domestic natural gas basins declining, competition likely will intensify for gathering and processing (G&P) services to transport shale gas, according to industry players.

With production from some of the more mature domestic natural gas basins declining, competition likely will intensify for gathering and processing (G&P) services to transport shale gas, according to industry players.

After a one-day breather Friday, the natural gas futures market continued its blistering pace of advance Monday as fund short-covering was augmented by private forecasts suggesting the final 10 days of the month will see another blast of Arctic air. An increase in Nymex margin requirements was also seen as a contributing factor, intensifying the urgency for shorts to cover their positions.