Preceding

Judging from preliminary gas marketer ranking results for thefirst quarter, the big continue to get even bigger and the smallergas marketers are increasing their volumes as well. So far in NGI’smarketer survey, 13 of the top-20 increased their gas sales volumesby more than 1 Bcf/d from the same period in 1998. Only four of thetop-20 did less business in 1Q99 than 1Q98.

After rallying more than 15 cent from last weeks lows, naturalgas futures took a breather Wednesday, trading sideways within atight 4.5-cent range. The June contract settled unchanged for theday at $2.359.

The shorter response times imposed by FERC in its final rule toexpedite resolution of industry disputes will place an inordinateburden on interstate pipelines and other regulated companies thatare likely to be targets of customer complaints, pipelines andpower utilities contend. Even natural gas producers – the biggestproponents of a faster complaint process – expressed some concernabout the compressed deadlines.

Some of the “most pronounced” turnback activity for long-termfirm capacity can be expected this year and next, according to ananalysis of the pipeline transportation market issued by the EnergyInformation Administration (EIA) yesterday.

Major improvements in well productivity from new technology andhigher success rates in gas drilling will help producers meetanticipated robust growth in U.S. gas demand over the next twodecades, according to a Gas Research Institute study.

Access trading kept traders on their toes late last week. Aftera more than 7-cent rally in last Wednesday’s computer-only tradingsession, the June contract doubled back Thursday evening, slippingmore than 5 cents lower before Friday’s open. And the selling wouldnot stop there as bears continued their push toward lower pricesthroughout the trading session Friday. June finished down 8.6 centsfor the day at $2.253.

An attorney for the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA)revealed Friday that the civil investigation into the allegedembezzlement activities of the group’s ousted president, NicholasJ. Bush, has spread to Canada.

Regulations pertaining to the construction of new pipelineprojects took the spotlight at FERC last week, with the Commissionissuing a final rule aimed at updating and streamlining thecertificate process for new projects, while at the same timeproposing an initiative that would give landowners greaterparticipation in the process.

Sempra Energy is banking on a belief in the traditionalregulated pipes and wires business, but with a couple new twists.The holding company for San Diego Gas & Electric and SouthernCalifornia Gas is literally breaking new ground in North America,while buying into established utilities as far south as theSouthern Cone of South America.