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The main thing the Energy Information Administration (EIA) can do to improve its weekly storage survey, according to two veteran natural gas associations, is to improve its procedures for collecting and vetting the data it receives from companies, so that after-the-fact revisions will be unnecessary. The suggestions were filed Monday in response to EIA’s call for comments on changing its procedures for announcing revisions to the weekly storage number (see Daily GPI, Jan. 10).

The main thing that keeps Ralph Hill, Williams’ head of exploration and production, up at night is the slow pace of Powder River Basin drilling permits issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Although the pace has quickened, Hill told analysts Thursday that it’s still a far cry from the pace predicted by BLM, and Williams may have to compensate by speeding up drilling in other basins.

The main thing that keeps Ralph Hill, Williams’ head of exploration and production, up at night is the slow pace of Powder River Basin drilling permits issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Although the pace has quickened, Hill told analysts Thursday that it’s still a far cry from the pace predicted by BLM, and Williams may have to compensate by speeding up drilling in other basins.

Prices were surging again Wednesday in mostly double-digit advances. Traders mentioned late-season storage buying and substitution of gas-fired generation during nuclear plant outages as having minor roles in the bullishness, but for most, it was a case of “following the screen.”

A lack of cheap, easy drilling prospects, a succession of price shocks and industry consolidation are some of the main factors behind the downturn of natural gas production in North America, according to financial analyst Irene Haas.

A lack of cheap, easy drilling prospects, a succession of price shocks and industry consolidation are some of the main factors behind the downturn of natural gas production in North America, according to financial analyst Irene Haas.

CMS Energy Corp. will be using natural gas in storage as part of a collateral package to raise $200-$250 million in financing for its main subsidiary, Consumers Energy, to eliminate the need for Consumers Energy to go to the capital markets for the remainder of 2002. Consumers Energy currently has about 95 Bcf of working gas in its underground storage fields.

CMS Energy Corp. will be using natural gas in storage as part of a collateral package to raise $200-$250 million in financing for its main subsidiary, Consumers Energy, to eliminate the need for Consumers Energy to go to the capital markets for the remainder of 2002. Consumers Energy currently has about 95 Bcf of working gas in its underground storage fields.

Construction of Williams’ Canyon Station — a fixed-leg platform in 300 feet of water in East Main Pass Block 261 — has been completed and is ready to receive up to 500 MMcf/d from 10 subsea wells 55 miles out in the deepwater Camden Hills, Kings Peak and Aconcagua fields. The Gulf of Mexico platform was completed on a fast, 18-month track. Deliveries are expected to begin in late September when feeder lines are connected, reaching 300 MMcf/d by the end of October and full capacity by the end of the year.