Pervasive

An Encana Corp. official on Thursday once again urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw a year-old draft report of groundwater samples near natural gas drilling sites in Pavillion, WY, saying the report was “sloppy” and had led to a “misguided response.”

The cash market on average fell around a nickel Tuesday with pervasive weakness seen in all sections of the country. The Midwest was weak, but isolated gains were noted at Northeast points. East and Rockies locations fell. At the close of futures trading, December had risen 11.3 cents to $3.832 and January had gained 10.7 cents to $3.944. January crude oil tumbled $2.53 to $86.75/bbl on hints of a break in Middle East fighting.

December natural gas fell Monday as pervasive forecasts of near-term warming prompted traders to follow the course of funds and managed accounts and market bulls were kept on the defensive. At the close December had fallen 8.7 cents to $3.696 and January had dropped 8.9 cents to $3.803. December crude oil gained $1.26 to $95.52/bbl.

November natural gas continued its march lower Monday as traders pointed to a pervasive technical downtrend, and the weather outlook suggested more mild temperatures across the Midwest. Positive economic figures were not enough to halt the trend. At the close November had fallen 4.9 cents to $3.617 and December had given up 3.4 cents to $3.928. November crude oil dropped $1.59 to $77.61/bbl.

June natural gas prices worked lower amid a frenzy of selling in other petroleum markets. Natural gas traders see a pervasive interest by funds and managed accounts in pursuing the short side of the market, but they caution that any surprises could send prices sharply higher.

A modestly bullish Energy Information Administration (EIA) inventory report Thursday thwarted the pervasive downtrend in gas futures prices for the time being, but August natural gas futures managed only a modest 1.8 cent gain to settle at $5.943 in active trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

March natural gas futures plummeted 60.1 cents Monday to settle at $7.226 as traders continue to discount pervasive cold weather throughout the East and Midwest while focusing on seasonal and technical factors.

A recently issued Commission staff report finding pervasive manipulation of California’s energy markets in 2000-2001 shouldn’t be made a part of the evidence in an ongoing case at FERC involving PacifiCorp’s challenge to several power contracts the utility entered into with four power suppliers, a Reliant Energy Services Inc. attorney told FERC Commissioners on Thursday.