Predicting

Fitch Ratings on Friday joined a growing list of energy pundits in predicting no letup in North American natural gas production in 2012, low prices or not.

While predicting a prolonged period of stable natural gas prices, Xcel Energy’s Colorado utility has filed with state regulators for a $27.5 million general rate increase for its gas utility operations, effective in August next year. The Minneapolis-based utility holding company said it is seeking to recover various investments and increased operations/maintenance costs.

TransCanada Corp. is predicting that a plan for reversing the upward spiral in long-distance tolls on its natural gas mainline will emerge by the end of the year.

TransCanada Corp. is predicting that a plan for reversing the upward spiral in long-distance tolls on its natural gas mainline will emerge by the end of the year.

As the 3Q2010 earnings season begins, BMO Capital Markets analysts are predicting that the biggest North American independents will report “slightly higher” cash flow from the year-ago period and double-digit production growth.

After four years of severe deterioration, gas-field contractors say the bottom of the slump is behind them and are predicting that Canadian drilling will increase this year.

The 2010 Atlantic hurricane season will be more active than last year’s, according to Andover, MA-based WSI Corp., which is predicting that 13 named storms, including seven hurricanes, with three of them intense (Category Three or greater) will form this year.

After four years of severe deterioration, gas-field contractors say the bottom of the slump is behind them and are predicting that Canadian drilling will increase this year.

After four years of severe deterioration, gas-field contractors say the bottom of the slump is behind them and are predicting that Canadian drilling will increase this year.