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Calpine Corp., which is one of the nation’s largest independent electricity generators, has experienced major impacts on its mostly natural gas-fired generation plant fleet from continuing low gas prices, according to senior executives who reported more red ink during a conference call with financial analysts Friday.

Cash market quotes nationally were mostly unchanged, but prices declined sharply at New England points and made gains at Midwest locations. A smaller-than-expected inventory draw of 78 Bcf prompted initial futures declines, but traders reconsidered and prices staged a modest advance on the day. At the close March had risen 2.9 cents to $2.477 and April had improved 3.8 cents to $2.636. March crude oil rose $1.13 to $99.84/bbl.

Futures and cash prices worked lower Wednesday, but physical gas posted sharper losses as forecasts of milder weather prompted cash quotes mostly a dime to 15 cents lower with some spots in the Northeast declining between 20 to 30 cents. At the close of futures trading March had shed 2.4 cents to $2.448 and April had softened 3 cents to $2.598. March crude oil added 30 cents to $98.71/bbl.

Driven mostly by North America, the world market for oilfield specialty chemicals climbed to almost $16 billion in 2010, with the United States and Canada accounting for more than half (52%), according to a global market study by IHS Chemical.

San Diego, CA-based Royale Energy Inc., a publicly held exploration and production (E&P) independent with about 15 MMcf/d of gas production, mostly in Northern California, was the biggest bidder for Alaska North Slope shale oil plays offered last month in a state lease sale.

North American producers plan to target their 2012 capital expenditures mostly to oil and liquids-rich basins, with the Permian Basin and West Texas leading the list, according to a new spending survey by Barclays Capital.

After two days of mostly small upticks to begin the week, it was time Wednesday for a large majority of small gains to be the market’s main feature. Winter may have officially begun Tuesday, but the new season wasn’t readily evident, judging from the generally mild forecasts for its second day in most of the eastern third of the U.S.

At first glance Thursday’s market looked similar to the one a day earlier: mostly small gains outweighing minor losses. However, there were fewer and smaller double-digit increases Thursday, while at the same time there were more and larger declines. The trend hinted at the possibility of cash numbers ending the week the same way they started, with softness dominant.

Election Day in Pennsylvania turned out to be a mixed bag over the issue of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Marcellus and Utica shales, with voters soundly defeating referendums that would have banned the practice in Peters Township and the City of Warren, but overwhelmingly supporting a similar measure in the Borough of State College.