Release

Thursday’s price driver was the release of government inventory figures that came in only slightly bearish but were sufficient to send February futures nearly a dime lower.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) plans to release a technical guidance this week explaining the details of wastewater regulations revised last year.

FERC Thursday approved Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s and Dominion Transmission Inc.’s proposed system expansions to deliver gas from the Marcellus Shale/Appalachian Basin to existing markets in New England and to the Niagara Falls area of New York.

September natural gas futures fell hard Thursday following the release of bearish inventory figures and unsuccessful attempts to fend off aggressive selling in equity and oil markets. At the close September natural gas had fallen 14.9 cents to $3.941 and October had dropped 14.7 cents to $3.955. September crude oil imploded by $5.30 to settle at $86.63/bbl.

August natural gas declined slightly Wednesday as algorithmic traders showed little interest in purchases at current prices and the market awaits the release of government inventory figures. August had fallen 3.3 cents to $4.500 and September had skidded 4.2 cents to $4.469. August crude oil gained 64 cents to $98.14/bbl.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a proponent of drilling off the Alaska coast, Friday embraced the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to release draft air quality permits for Shell Oil to drill exploratory wells in Alaska’s Arctic waters.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), a proponent of drilling off the Alaska coast, on Friday embraced the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to release draft air quality permits for Shell Oil to drill exploratory wells in Alaska’s Arctic waters.

June natural gas futures gained ground as traders covered short positions prior to both the June contract expiration and the release of government inventory figures. At the closing bell June natural gas had risen 3.4 cents to $4.379 and July had gained 3.2 cents to $4.423. July crude oil jumped $1.73 to $101.32/bbl.

Maryland intends to sue Chesapeake Energy Corp. over an April 19 Marcellus Shale well blowout and the release of thousands of gallons of hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) fluid into a tributary of the Susquehanna River, according to the state’s attorney general, Douglas F. Gansler.