Landscape

The horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques used to tap natural gas production from shales is beginning to “transform” the oil industry, according to a market analysis issued on Monday by Bentek Energy LLC.

In a two-part deal involving North American natural gas and electricity assets as one part, along with its little-talked-about retail energy services unit, Sempra Energy should exit its joint venture energy trading business by the end of the third quarter, according to senior company officials.

Transactions for unconventional reserves dominated the U.S. deal-making landscape in 2Q2010 with 32 deals totaling $12.9 billion, or 59% of U.S. total value, according to a report by Houston-based PLS Inc. and Derrick Petroleum Services.

Transactions for unconventional natural gas and oil properties dominated the U.S. deal-making landscape in 2Q2010 with 32 deals totaling $12.9 billion, or 59% of U.S. total value, according to a report issued Wednesday by Houston-based PLS Inc. and Derrick Petroleum Services.

FERC staff said late last week that the natural gas price landscape heading into winter is looking more favorable for consumers than it has for a number of years due to full storage, plentiful supply and new gas transmission infrastructure. However, the staff, in its “Winter 2009/2010 Energy Market Assessment,” informed the Commission that winter temperatures — as always — remain the “wild card.”

FERC staff said Thursday that the natural gas price landscape heading into winter is looking more favorable for consumers than it has for a number of years due to full storage, plentiful supply and new gas transmission infrastructure. However, the staff, in its “Winter 2009/2010 Energy Market Assessment,” informed the Commission that winter temperatures — as always — remain the “wild card.”

The surge in natural gas drilling that has transformed Colorado’s landscape and plumped its coffers appears headed for a plateau as producers cut back spending and reduce rig counts for a variety of reasons: lower gas prices, credit market turmoil, limited pipeline capacity and the possibility of more stringent state regulations.

The surge in natural gas drilling that has transformed Colorado’s landscape and plumped its coffers appears headed for a plateau as producers cut back spending and reduce rig counts for a variety of reasons: lower gas prices, credit market turmoil, limited pipeline capacity and the possibility of more stringent state regulations.

Although the global landscape is still unsettled for energy, and specifically liquefied natural gas (LNG), opportunities will continue to develop, and Sempra Energy has the right mix of trading, infrastructure development, operating and risk management skills to take advantage of whatever opportunities arise, said Sempra COO Neal Schmale, speaking at a company-hosted financial analysts meeting Thursday in San Diego. Sempra raised its 2007 earnings-per-share guidance to $3.75-3.95.