Offset

Higher rig counts and new infrastructure contributed to record production from the Permian and Anadarko basin operations, Apache Corp. said Thursday.

The overall cash market added two cents on average Thursday as gains at eastern points and the Gulf Coast were able to offset softness in the Northeast and southern California. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a build of 51 Bcf, which was higher than market expectations, but prices slipped only for a moment. At the close November futures had gained a stout 11.7 cents to $3.587 and December had added 8.4 cents to $3.904. November crude oil eased 2 cents to $92.10/bbl.

Gas prices overall averaged a penny lower Monday with declines in the Midcontinent and Gulf partially offset by gains at California and eastern points. Futures prices took a hit as weather forecasters called for moderating conditions. At the close of trading November had tumbled 12.5 cents to $3.486 and December had retreated 10.3 cents to $3.774. November crude oil was down a penny to $91.85/bbl.

The overall market Tuesday was flat, but modest strength at Northeast and eastern points offset the more than a handful of Rockies locations which traded anywhere from a couple of pennies to close to a dime lower. A Connecticut nuclear outage was expected to ripple through the markets Wednesday. At the close of futures trading September had risen 10.5 cents to $2.834 and October was up 10.3 cents to $2.871. September crude oil gained 70 cents to $93.43/bbl.

The drilling boom in the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas has increased instances of illegal drilling waste hauling in the region, while some South Texas counties have seen highway fatalities skyrocket, blamed largely on increased commercial truck traffic.

Cash quotes overall inched higher by about a penny, but flat to lower quotes at a few spots in the Great Lakes and Northeast were offset by firm Rockies prices and restriction-derived gains of about a nickel in California. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a build of 30 Bcf, about what the market was looking for. Prices slumped initially but managed to climb back into the plus column before closing. At the end of the day June futures were 2.2 cents higher at $2.487 and July gained 1.9 cents to $2.569. June crude oil rose 27 cents to $97.08/bbl.

Even with the huge Marcellus Shale, the high cost of natural gas vehicles and a lack of infrastructure to fuel the vehicles may deter growth in the state, according to the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.

During the first quarter Pioneer Natural Resources Co. grew production by 10,000 boe/d to 147,000 boe/d, a 7% increase from the year-ago period, thanks to growth in its three core liquids-rich assets in Texas: the Spraberry field, the Eagle Ford Shale and the Barnett Shale Combo play.

Physical prices were off by a couple of cents Friday with weakness at some Northeast and California points being offset by strength in the Midcontinent and elsewhere. Futures settled higher as traders squared books ahead of the weekend, and at the close April had risen by 4.7 cents to $2.326 and May had had gained 1.6 cents to $2.436. April crude oil jumped $1.95 to $107.06/bbl.