natural gas prices

Sempra LNG, a unit of Sempra Energy, and Woodside Petroleum Ltd. have a nonbinding agreement to explore developing Sempra LNG’s proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Port Arthur, TX. The project would be at a site previously permitted for an LNG regasification terminal and designed to include two liquefaction trains with a total export capability of about 10 million tonnes per annum, or 1.4 Bcf/d, as well as LNG storage tanks and marine facilities for ship berthing and loading. In March Sempra LNG affiliate Port Arthur LNG LLC began the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pre-filing review for the facility and filed its permit application with the U.S. Department of Energy for authorization to export LNG to all current and future free trade agreement countries (see Daily GPI,March 23).

Chevron Corp. noted that the Big Foot tension-leg platform in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico was rescheduled to start up late this year and not in 2Q2015 (see Daily GPI,June 2). The platform is being moved to sheltered waters after some of the subsea tendons were damaged during installation. Guidance on a revised timeline is to be provided during a quarterly conference call in July/August, a spokesman told NGI. “In terms of the tendons, we’re still assessing the damage at this time and will be undertaking an investigation to determine the exact cause.”

Eclipse Resources Corp. has finished completion operations at its three-well Sawyer pad in Monroe County, OH, where for the first time it plans to test 730-foot downspacing that could increase its Utica Shale drilling locations by up to 20%.

In a June 1 article titled “NatGas Imports From Canada Lowest Since 1995; Exports to Mexico Up” (see Daily GPI,June 1),NGI reported that Canadian natural gas exports to the United States shrank in 2014 to their smallest volume since 1995 as rival U.S. shale supplies grew, according to trade records kept by the U.S. Department of Energy. In fact, Canadian natural gas exports to the United States shrank in 2014 to their smallest volume since 1994. NGI regrets the error.

Venture Global Calcasieu Pass LLC is securing an additional 432 acres for its proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Cameron Parish, LA, parent company Venture Global LNG Inc. said. The project now has 938 acres available to it. “By nearly doubling the size of its land footprint, the Calcasieu Pass terminal and ancillary facilities have more flexibility in terms of access, buffer zone and construction laydown,” said William Wicker, CEO of Venture Global LNG. “This expansion also accesses excellent ship berthing, parking and office facilities, as well as land for other activities that will support project development.” The terminal could enter service as early as late 2019 (see Daily GPI,Dec. 10, 2014;Oct. 22, 2013).

The Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee has voted unanimously for Gov. Tom Wolf’s nominee, John Quigley, to lead the state’s Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the oil and gas industry (see Shale Daily,Jan. 14). The committee questioned Quigley for about two hours before handing the nomination to the full Senate, which must confirm Quigley. Chief among the committee’s concerns was Quigley’s ties to environmental advocacy group PennFuture, which has been critical of the oil and gas industry. Quigley dismissed those ties and said he stopped working as an adviser to the organization more than a decade ago.

Natural gas for Wednesday delivery slid by a few pennies in Tuesday’s trading as mild temperatures forecast for eastern metropolitan areas along with weak next-day power prices gave buyers little incentive to purchase incremental volumes.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which oversees the state’s oil and gas industry, said Friday it would tweak its rulemaking process with improvements for public participation through a new online engagement system.

Bidweek sellers for June enjoyed hefty gains of a quarter or more as a broad rally encompassed all sections of the country with all but a handful of points enjoying stout double-digit gains. The NGI June Bidweek National Average surged 26 cents to $2.55, and no actively traded points suffered declines.