Lead

Despite snow in Calgary and modest disruptions of Gulf of Mexicosupplies by Tropical Storm Helene, nearly all points softened a bitThursday, with most of the declines less than a dime. Californianumbers took the biggest hits of more than 20 cents, while tradersof Canadian gas at Aeco, Sumas and Stanfield saw flat to slightlyhigher pricing.

The Powder River Basin, which is known widely for its coal-bedmethane (CBM) gas production, is without a doubt the “most active”onshore basin in the Lower 48, and will likely hold thisdistinction for a long time to come, according to a majorgatherer-processor in the basin.

Following the lead of both the over-the-counter and cashmarkets, natural gas futures erupted higher yesterday morning astraders covered shorts on the outside possibility that a tropicalstorm might develop in the Gulf of Mexico. The September contractwas the biggest mover, posting an impressive 21.3-cent gain tofinish at $3.987.

The meltdown in weekend prices Friday made at least one traderthink of Chernobyl. A few points fell only a little more than 15cents, but a majority of the declines exceeded 20 cents, andOFO-infested California numbers were down about half a dollar atthe border.

Scorching summer heat, high oil prices and a weak hydropowersupply should lead to a significant increase in gas demand thisyear, according to a report issued last week by Friedman, Billings,Ramsey & Co., Inc. (FBR), a Virginia-based financialinstitution. Prices will probably increase throughout the summer,the firm predicted.

Relieving technically overbought conditions and following thelead of weaker mid-morning cash prices, traders ushered natural gasfutures off its morning highs yesterday to notch its first down daysince Wednesday, Feb. 23. The April contract lost 3.2 cents at$2.783.

It may be time for all the critics of the proposed Independence,MarketLink and Millennium expansions to pipe down. Transportationto the Northeast market from the Gulf of Mexico rocketed to$16.50/MMBtu yesterday. Gas prices at the New York City Gate onTranscontinental Gas Pipe Line jumped as high as $19/MMBtu whileHenry Hub spot prices languished in the $2.50s. Deliverabilityclearly is not as rosy as many industry experts once thought.

A PHB Hagler Bailley annual survey found that many topexecutives in the gas and electric industry expect to become moreinvolved in e-commerce and telecommunications over the next fiveyears. The results of the survey, called PHB Hagler Bailley EnergyIndustry Outlook 2000, were released last week at the NationalPress Club in Washington, D.C.

A PHB Hagler Bailley annual survey found that many topexecutives in the gas and electric industry expect to become moreinvolved in e-commerce and telecommunications over the next fiveyears. The results of the survey, called PHB Hagler Bailley EnergyIndustry Outlook 2000, were released yesterday at the NationalPress Club in Washington, D.C.