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Natural gas and oil production companies are sitting rather comfortably as natural gas prices are poised to end 2002 near $5.00/MMBtu and oil prices are clinging to $26/bbl, according to a new report issued by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P). The rating agency also said it will increase its 2003 Nymex natural gas pricing estimate from $2.75/MMBtu to $3.00/MMBtu.

Rather than make the lower just and reasonable standard the default measuring stick used in reviews of wholesale power contracts, FERC should instead adopt an approach touted by FERC Commissioners Nora Brownell and Linda Breathitt that would apply the more stringent public interest standard by default to such situations, a number of industry participants recently told the Commission.

Second quarter physical gas sales volumes showed large cracks beginning to form in the foundation of the energy merchant business. The credit and liquidity crisis was growing rapidly during the quarter and the effects of the regulatory investigation into round-trip trading had taken hold. While there still were large volume increases compared to the previous year’s second quarter (a 38 Bcf/d increase for the top 20), an estimated 10.7 Bcf/d decline in volumes appeared compared to the first quarter of this year. All signs currently point to much greater declines as the year progresses.

Rather than extending FERC’s standards of conduct to cover mostly all energy affiliates of power/natural gas transmission providers, a Dominion Resources official proposed last week that the Commission focus on identifying the specific functions of energy transmission providers and their affiliates that could lead to sharing of competitive market information, and place restrictions in those areas.

Until yesterday the February aftermarket was rather dull and stodgy, with small price movements up or down (mostly up) characterizing each trading day. But the pattern got broken Tuesday with upticks consistently in the range of 15-20 cents reported for both eastern and western points. Larger gains of 30-50 cents were recorded in the Northeast, with a few citygate points seeing WACOGs above $3. (Intra-Alberta and Westcoast Station 2 were also above $3 in Canadian dollars.)

With the exception of plunging Northeast citygates, softness was rather mild Thursday in other regions. Nearly all non-Northeast points ranged from essentially flat to down less than a dime. But several sources saw signs of much greater price weakness to come in today’s trading for the weekend.

In an effort to reach higher post merger goals, ChevronTexaco now estimates it will reduce its work force by 4,500 rather than the 4,000 announced last month. The move is part of a program designed to produce savings of $1.8 billion by March 2003 ($1.2 billion of it in six to nine months) and a 2-3% increase in return on capital employed in 2003-2004. The company also said it is expecting long-term production growth of 2.5-3% over the next five years.

In an effort to reach higher post merger goals, ChevronTexaco now estimates it will reduce its work force by 4,500 rather than 4,000 announced last month. The move is part of a program designed to produce savings of $1.8 billion by March 2003 ($1.2 billion of it in six to nine months) and a 2-3% increase in return on capital employed in 2003-2004. The company also said it is expecting long-term production growth of 2.5-3% over the next five years.

Strong cash price advances continued Tuesday, but there were signs that this week’s bull market may have just about run its course. The futures screen stayed positive for a while in the morning, but then later settled for a 12.6-cent loss that took it back to exactly where it had ended regular trading Friday. And unlike the previous couple of trading days where late quotes had moved sharply higher, cash prices were coming back off again near deadline Tuesday.