Nearly

The Canadian Gas Association’s 1998 demand forecast showsoverall domestic gas consumption increasing nearly 30% over thenext 12 years to 100.7 billion cubic meters in 2010. The industrialsector is expected to enjoy the strongest growth (up 38% over theforecast period), largely driven by increases in power generation.In 2010, the industrial sector will represent 63% of total end-usegas demand in Canada, with consumption pegged at 63 billion cubicmeters. This compares to 45.7 billion cubic meters in 1998.

The Canadian Gas Association’s 1998 demand forecast showsoverall domestic gas consumption increasing nearly 30% over thenext 12 years to 100.7 billion cubic meters in 2010. The industrialsector is expected to enjoy the strongest growth (up 38% over theforecast period), largely driven by increases in power generation.In 2010, the industrial sector will represent 63% of total end-usegas demand in Canada, with consumption pegged at 63 billion cubicmeters. This compares to 45.7 billion cubic meters in 1998.

Warm winter weather normally means trouble for the gas industry,but for Northern Border Pipeline, which is attempting to completeconstruction of a major expansion/extension project, it has been ablessing. After a month and a half delay because summer rains setback construction, the pipeline company is expecting to have itsproject in service some time between Thursday, Dec. 17, and Sunday,Dec. 20, with the entire 700 MMcf/d capacity being fully utilized”almost immediately,” said Robert Hill, vice president of marketingand business development for the pipeline company.

As many traders predicted, the futures market continued lowerThursday morning amid a swirl of bearish fundamental factors, whichwere freshly updated Wednesday evening. But the dip wasshort-lived, and afternoon buying bid the spot January contractback up to test resistance, before settling at $1.84, off 0.7 centsfor the day.

Diversity of supply sources, a transportation network thatblankets nearly the entire state of Florida and strong customerties will give Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) the edge over newprojects – such as Williams-Transco’s proposed Buccaneer Pipeline- that plan to enter its territory to cash in on the growinggeneration market, says FGT President Rockford G. Meyer.

Diversity of supply sources, a pipeline infrastructure thatblankets nearly the entire state of Florida and strong customerties will give Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) the edge overcompeting pipelines-such as Williams-Transco’s proposed BuccaneerPipeline-that are planning projects into the state in an attempt tocapture a portion of the growing power generation market there,says FGT President Rockford G. Meyer.

January futures gapped lower on the daily charts for the secondday in a row Tuesday by opening 11 cents less than Monday’s low.But in contrast to Monday’s downward price movement, yesterdayfeatured an upward price trend for the session. At the closingbell, the prompt month had climbed its way back up to $1.958-only1.8 cents off Monday’s settle.

Trading at Nymex yesterday continued in the choppy, range-boundmanor that has plagued the market for most of November. Againtraders lamented the lack of a clear direction or price trend inthe futures pit. The December contract was held to a tight, 6-centtrading range and settled at $2.394 after never fully recoveringfrom a lower opening.

Union Pacific Resources Group Canadian subsidiary Union PacificResources Inc. (UPRI) has nearly completed its 1998 propertydivestiture program. The company expects to close on the finalproperty in the original offering later this year and projects its1998 non-core property sales program will top $143 million.