Pinpoint

While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause — wellhead freeze-offs or insufficient data — U.S. natural gas production has dropped dramatically, to post-Katrina levels, at a time when cold weather across the country has driven demand to a peak 40% above the average, Denver-based consulting firm Bentek Energy reported Friday.

While it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause — wellhead freeze-offs or insufficient data — U.S. natural gas production has dropped dramatically, to post-Katrina levels, at a time when cold weather across the country has driven demand to a peak 40% above the average, Denver-based consulting firm Bentek Energy reported Friday. The company — one of only a few firms that is collecting gas pipeline flow data nationwide — said data show a 5.3% decline in domestic production occurred over a one-week period between Jan. 10 and Jan. 17.

A Gulf Coast producer couldn’t pinpoint any single factor behind a major price rebound Tuesday that included spikes of a dollar or more at a few Northeast citygates, but said it more likely was related to a combination of several relatively minor things. However, a marketer in the Lower Midwest saw one overriding reason for the sharp increases: more power generation load.