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Widely expected, potentially drastic shrinkage of Canadian supplies as a factor in the international natural gas market is still only a forecast on paper instead of the reality in the pipelines, according to records of Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB).

Bellevue, WA-based Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has signed a deal with Portland, OR-based Iberdrola Renewables for winter-only electricity supplies from the independent power provider’s Klamath generating facility in Southern Oregon. PSE signed up for 100 MW to be delivered starting Jan. 1 next year.

Widely expected, potentially drastic shrinkage of Canadian supplies as a factor in the international natural gas market is still only a forecast on paper instead of the reality in the pipelines, according to records of Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB).

Breakeven shale play economics in a low-gas price environment have driven a migration to liquids-rich and oil plays. “Being in liquids is not only cool; it’s profitable,” an investment banker said in Houston last week. “You can produce gas even if you don’t make money on the gas because the liquids are worth so much more.” But maybe now is the time to be a contrarian, she suggested.

Breakeven shale play economics in a low-gas price environment have driven a migration to liquids-rich and oil plays. “Being in liquids is not only cool; it’s profitable,” an investment banker said in Houston Tuesday. “You can produce gas even if you don’t make money on the gas because the liquids are worth so much more.” But maybe now is the time to be a contrarian, she suggested.

Growing production from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas has prompted Plains All American Pipeline LP (PAA) to agree to build a new 130-mile crude oil and condensate pipeline, a marine terminal facility and 1.5 million bbl of storage capacity, the Houston-based partnership said Tuesday.

Southern California Gas ended a high-linepack OFO after it had been in effect for Saturday only.

It was no surprise when cash market weakness increased greatly Friday. Not only was there the previous day’s futures drop of 31.6 cents as a depressant, but generally moderate weather forecasts in most areas and the weekend factor of declining industrial load played a part.

Natural gas futures bulls received the spark they were looking for Thursday after the Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that only 31 Bcf was injected into underground storage for the week ending April 22. Because most industry estimates heading into the report were for an injection of about 40 Bcf, traders responded by pushing June natural gas futures to a close of $4.571, up 16.3 cents from Wednesday’s regular session close.