Release

Denver-based Gasco Energy Inc., a junior independent that has struggled to stay afloat, Thursday said it will release its only rig later this month and pay an early termination fee to the rig contractor. It also halved its capital expenditure (capex) plan for 2009.

Denver-based Gasco Energy Inc., a junior independent that has struggled to stay afloat, Thursday said it will release its only rig later this month and pay an early termination fee to the rig contractor. It also halved its capital expenditure (capex) plan for 2009.

Two weeks after its release, an Oregon Department of Energy report that discounted the need for future supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the state and Pacific Northwest was blasted by one proponent of an LNG terminal along the Columbia River near Astoria, OR.

Two weeks after its release, an Oregon Department of Energy report that discounted the need for future supplies of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the state and Pacific Northwest was blasted by one proponent of an LNG terminal along the Columbia River near Astoria, OR.

Despite the release of a storage withdrawal that was inline with expectations, April natural gas futures bounded higher Thursday, seemingly on continued strength in the petroleum complex. April natural gas rose 21.9 cents to $10.230, and the May contract rose 22.8 cents to finish at $10.306. April crude oil rose 41 cents to $110.33 after trading as high as $111.00, another record.

Royal Dutch Shell plc will not include oil and natural gas reserves estimates in its 2007 annual results Thursday, waiting instead to release the numbers in its Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) 20-F annual report, the company said.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Wednesday published a “concept release” requesting comments on the public’s interest in revising the commission’s current oil and natural gas reserves disclosure requirements.

During a conference call with analysts following the release of disappointing third quarter results last week, Nabors Industries Ltd. CEO Gene Isenberg said the outlook for the North American drilling rig market isn’t particularly attractive for next year either, but if there is further decline in 2008, it likely won’t be as bad as the 2006-2007 period.

During a conference call with analysts following the release of disappointing third quarter results Tuesday, Nabors Industries Ltd. CEO Gene Isenberg said the outlook for the North American drilling rig market isn’t particularly attractive for next year either, but if there is further decline in 2008, it likely won’t be as bad as the 2006-2007 period.