Loss

Hess Corp. officials said that although production fell in 2011 and the company suffered a net loss in the final quarter, they are confident 2012 will be a better year as they move forward with promising development in North America’s onshore and the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM).

Hess Corp.’s total crude oil and natural gas production fell in 2011 and it suffered a net loss in the fourth quarter, but company officials said Wednesday they are confident this year will be better as the company commits to developing its growing North American unconventional portfolio.

February natural gas was tackled for a loss Tuesday as traders recited the same causative factors of unsupportive weather and a storage surplus that refuses to stop growing. At the close February had given up 18.2 cents to $2.488, which is the lowest front-month settlement since March 5, 2002.

January natural gas futures posted a double-digit loss Monday as traders acknowledged a low volatility price environment and little incentive for end-users to step up to the plate and lock in prices. At the close January was down 12.3 cents to $3.461 and February also had shed 12.3 cents to $3.490.

Expiring December natural gas futures posted a double-digit loss as traders elected to focus on an incoherent weather outlook and adjust positions as the deadline for December trading approached. At the close December had fallen 17.8 cents to $3.364 and January had skidded 14.0 cents to $3.525. January crude oil gained a stout $1.44 to $98.21/bbl.

December natural gas nearly notched a double-digit loss Wednesday as traders prepared for a government inventory report likely to show an inventory addition well above last year’s and the five-year average. At the close December had fallen 9.3 cents to $3.652 and January had skidded 9.4 cents to $3.749. December crude oil fell $1.06 to $95.74/bbl.

Natural gas production is continuing to take a back seat to crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) production from the Eagle Ford Shale at Houston-based EOG Resources Inc.

December natural gas suffered a bruising double-digit loss Tuesday in what observers noted was at least a temporary joining of hands with free-falling petroleum and Greece-centric equity markets. At the close December had fallen 15.3 cents to $3.781 and January had retreated 13.6 cents to $3.920. December crude oil dropped $1.00 to $92.19/bbl; the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 297 points to 11,658, and the Standard and Poor’s 500 Index shed a whopping 35 points to 1,218.

November natural gas posted a double-digit loss Tuesday as traders cited the relentless increase in production and lack of demand growth as continuing to thwart any price advance. At the end of the day November had fallen 13.5 cents to $3.553 and December had shed 11.5 cents to $3.788. November crude oil rose $1.96 to $88.34/bbl.