Makes

Spot prices rose sharply early Tuesday as expected following Nymex’s wild 76.7-cent rise on Monday, but cash points managed only 30- to 45-cent increases on average and weakened toward the end of trading.

What a difference a year makes. Over the last 12 months, the pure energy merchants have been dethroned as gas market leaders by the producers — big time. Third quarter gas sales volumes show that producers are responsible for 72% of gas sales from the top 10 gas sellers in North America. Not one pure energy merchant remains in the top 10, compared to last year’s third quarter when marketers represented nearly 40% of the gas sales of the top 10 and producers represented only 18%.

What a difference a year makes. Over the last 12 months, the pure energy merchants have been dethroned as gas market leaders by the producers — big time. Third quarter gas sales volumes show that producers are responsible for 72% of gas sales from the top 10 gas sellers in North America. Not one pure energy merchant remains in the top 10, compared to last year’s third quarter when marketers represented nearly 40% of the gas sales of the top 10 and producers represented only 18%.

Significant differences this year between the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) weekly gas storage estimates and the actual monthly data it received from all of the nation’s underground storage operators have prompted the agency to plan sweeping changes next Thursday to its weekly survey. EIA also has decided to revise 16 weeks of prior data from July 4 to Oct. 17.

Norwegian government-owned Statoil made its official debut in the U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) market last Tuesday, with the delivery of supplies to the just-restarted Dominion Cove Point LNG import terminal in Maryland.

Norwegian government-owned Statoil made its official debut in the U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) market Tuesday, with the delivery of supplies to the just-restarted Dominion Cove Point LNG import terminal in Maryland.

Calgary-based Viracocha Energy Inc. announced Thursday that it has entered into an agreement to acquire oil and natural gas assets located in Viracocha’s southern Alberta core area for a combined purchase price, including adjustments, of C$22 million.

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. said Friday that it finally got some of what it wanted in a long, hotly-contested rate case before the National Energy Board. On Thursday the NEB approved key components of TransCanada’s 2003 Mainline Tolls application, including an increase in IT floor prices and its depreciation rate, as well as a new Southwest Tolling Zone that will encompass the existing Southwest Delivery Area that is currently part of the Eastern Zone.

TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. said Friday that it finally got some of what it wanted in a long, hotly-contested rate case before the National Energy Board. On Thursday the NEB approved key components of TransCanada’s 2003 Mainline Tolls application, including an increase in interruptible transportation (IT) floor prices and the pipeline’s depreciation rate, as well as a new Southwest Tolling Zone that will encompass the existing Southwest Delivery Area that is currently part of the Eastern Zone.