NYMEX

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from energy use in the United States last year reached their lowest levels in two decades, in part from a combination of more natural gas use for electric generation, as well as recent mild winters and reduced transportation demand, according to reports published this week by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Wednesday announced an anticipated publication schedule for reports that were delayed by the recent federal government shutdown.

Wunderlich Securities is holding steady on its forecast for U.S. natural gas prices, but other analysts aren’t quite as optimistic about what’s ahead through the end of this year and into 2014.

Seneca Resources Corp. credited the Marcellus Shale for “tremendous growth” during the fiscal fourth quarter, with production and reserves posting big gains — reserves to a record high — and a successful drilling program in Pennsylvania allowing it to raise production guidance for 2014.

Wednesday physical natural gas trading for Thursday delivery saw widespread weakness of a few pennies at most spots around the country offset by significant strength in California and New England, where colder temperatures were beginning to set in.

After several months of decline, rail transport of crude oil is likely to pick up during the rest of the year, according to North Dakota Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad, who said the widening spread in global Brent and U.S. WTI oil prices will drive more shipments back to rail.

Despite the fact that they may not be needed anytime soon, Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced Tuesday it is crafting new rules for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to reflect the concerns of residents and environmentalists.DEQ regulators have hosted or attended more than 200 public meetings around the state during the past two years. “We have heard loud and clear that there is a growing concern about fracturing,” said DEQ Director Dan Wyant.DEQ’s proposed fracking changes focus on four key areas:

Encana Corp. now has four natural gas wells producing to sales at the Deep Panuke platform offshore Nova Scotia, the producer said Wednesday.

Denver-based Bill Barrett Corp. continued to increase its emphasis on oil over natural gas with an agreement to sell its West Tavaputs gas property in the Uinta Basin in Utah.