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Several factors point to natural gas prices of around $11-12/MMBtu or more through the summer, but if there are no large hurricane production losses, the surge in onshore gas production in the storage surplus “could be visible for all to see” by late September, said an energy analyst.

With liquefaction — not regasification — recognized as the choke point in the supply chain for liquefied natural gas (LNG) a number of companies are looking at developing offshore liquefaction. Benefits of offshore versus onshore liquefaction are lower costs and quicker construction, according to a research note from Citigroup Global Markets.

With liquefaction — not regasification — recognized as the choke point in the supply chain for liquefied natural gas (LNG), a number of companies are looking at developing offshore liquefaction. Benefits of offshore versus onshore liquefaction are lower costs and quicker construction, according to a research note from Citigroup Global Markets.

Flat performances at the Southern California border and the Kern Delivery point in Arizona/Nevada were the only exceptions to cash prices continuing to rise across the board Tuesday. Forecasts of Wednesday lows in the 20s and 30s (and occasionally in the teens) from the Northeast through the Midwest and Upper Plains into the Rockies kept heating load at a relatively strong level for late March, and the cash market had extra support from the previous day’s 26.4-cent increase by April futures.

April natural gas futures tumbled as traders rushed to cash in on recent gains amid perceptions of market instability Friday. Futures prices at one point had the trajectory of a Saturday morning cartoon character falling off a cliff and traders noted that much of the selling took place late in the session as traders holding gains “bolted for the door.”

Cash traders on Wednesday watched most delivery point averages across the country slip by a few pennies to nearly 40 cents, but afternoon news of a pipeline-impacting explosion in the Gulf of Mexico could rattle some cages on Thursday.

After being a point of focus on the Capitol Hill agenda for most of 2007, climate change legislation looks like it will continue to be a top priority in both the U.S. House and Senate during 2008, according to speakers at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) annual Winter Committee Meetings in Washington, DC, last Tuesday.

After being a point of focus on the Capitol Hill agenda for most of 2007, climate change legislation looks like it will continue to be a top priority in both the U.S. House and Senate during 2008, according to speakers at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ (NARUC) annual Winter Committee Meetings in Washington, DC, on Tuesday.

Fundamentals point to lower natural gas prices in 2008, but for the near-term, gas prices will continue to be supported by high oil prices, Fitch Ratings analysts said in a report. Longer term, however, prices may fall dramatically.