Plateau

A bipartisan group of Colorado lawmakers urged U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell this week to sign off on an agreement that would end a decade-long dispute over natural gas leasing on the Roan Plateau, a settlement worked out between the energy industry and conservation groups.

The surge in natural gas drilling that has transformed Colorado’s landscape and plumped its coffers appears headed for a plateau as producers cut back spending and reduce rig counts for a variety of reasons: lower gas prices, credit market turmoil, limited pipeline capacity and the possibility of more stringent state regulations.

The surge in natural gas drilling that has transformed Colorado’s landscape and plumped its coffers appears headed for a plateau as producers cut back spending and reduce rig counts for a variety of reasons: lower gas prices, credit market turmoil, limited pipeline capacity and the possibility of more stringent state regulations.

The Barnett Shale’s natural gas production should peak in 2009 at around 5 Bcf/d and plateau in 2010 and 2011, which will require exploration and production (E&P) companies to look for new North American resource plays, EOG Resources Inc. CEO Mark Papa said last week.

The Barnett Shale’s natural gas production should peak in 2009 at around 5 Bcf/d and plateau in 2010 and 2011, which will require exploration and production (E&P) companies to look for new North American resource plays, EOG Resources Inc. CEO Mark Papa said Wednesday.

The next Alberta oilsands mega-mine, the first to enter construction since energy prices have gone to a new plateau, aims to respond to the expensive new energy market realities by cutting about 40% off the industry average consumption of natural gas to produce synthetic crude oil.

The next Alberta oilsands mega-mine, the first to enter construction since energy prices have gone to a new plateau, aims to respond to the expensive new energy market realities by cutting about 40% off the industry average consumption of natural gas to produce synthetic crude oil.

Weekend cash prices hit a plateau Friday in theMidcontinent/Midwest, Gulf Coast and Appalachia, but softened inthe Northeast and at most western points.

The cash market, seeing essentially nothing in the way ofdirectional influence, went into a holding pattern Thursday withfew points straying any further than 2-3 cents on either side offlat. A screen drop of just under a penny was deemedinconsequential, and even though some market areas were seeingnear-freezing temperatures Thursday, forecasts of warmer weatherfor the weekend through the middle of next week tempered any buyingenthusiasm.