Pipes

Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said the Obama administration is more concerned about the modernization of natural gas pipelines…

Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said the Obama administration is more concerned about the modernization of natural gas pipelines, rather than oil pipelines, but he said that overall the nation’s infrastructure is in good shape.

The Alberta government has stepped forward as a customer for the planned conversion to oil service of one large pipe of the six parallel pipes that comprise TransCanada Corp.’s natural gas Mainline, which has suffered severely declining gas transport volumes (see NGI, April 29).

The Alberta government has stepped forward as a customer for the planned conversion of one large pipe of the six parallel pipes that comprise TransCanada Corp.’s natural gas Mainline, which has suffered severely declining natural gas transport volumes, to oil service (see Daily GPI, April 29).

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant on Tuesday signed into law several energy bills that were passed by state lawmakers this spring, including one piece of legislation that should encourage more development in the emerging Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS), as well as other unconventional oil and natural gas formations.

The physical gas market overall on average Thursday was unchanged, but once the wide-swinging Northeast pipes that include Algonquin, Iroquois and portions of Tennessee are factored in, the picture changes to a loss of 21 cents. Most cash trades were completed before the 10:30 a.m EST release of storage data by the Energy Information Administration (EIA), but the 157 Bcf withdrawal was less than the market was expecting, and futures slumped. At the close March had dropped 14.3 cents to $3.163 and April was off 14.0 cents to $3.231. March crude oil fell 30 cents to $97.31/bbl.

Spot natural gas prices on average fell 37 cents Monday, but if volatile New England pipes such as Algonquin, Iroquois and portions of Tennessee are factored out, the decline was about 3 cents.

Cash natural gas prices fell by a nickel on average Tuesday as a handful of multi-dollar gains posted on Northeast pipes were unable to offset a broad retreat at Great Lakes, eastern and most other locations, as well as a weak screen. At the close of trading January futures had given up 5.2 cents to $3.539 and February had eased 5.3 cents to $3.562. January crude oil fell 59 cents to $88.50/bbl.

Physical gas prices on average Thursday were flat with weakness noted on Northeast pipes and firming prices in Southern California. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a storage build of 67 Bcf, about in line with expectations, and futures worked higher. At the close of futures trading October had risen 3.5 cents to $2.797 and November was up by 1.7 cents to $2.962. October crude oil fell 11 cents to $91.87/bbl.