Scarce

Energy operators are increasingly aware of competition, not just for drilling knowledge, but also for scarce global water supplies, Shell Oil Co. President Marvin Odum said last week in Houston.

The United States has experienced a “transformational shift in the perceived role of natural gas,” as an energy source that 10 years ago was perceived by some as unreliable and scarce, to one that now is recognized as an “essential component of a clean and secure energy portfolio,” providing an opportunity to satisfy new demand at “affordable” prices into the future, the American Gas Association (AGA) said last week.

The United States has experienced a “transformational shift in the perceived role of natural gas,” as an energy source that 10 years ago was perceived by some as unreliable and scarce, to one that now is recognized as an “essential component of a clean and secure energy portfolio,” providing an opportunity to satisfy new demand at “affordable” prices into the future, the American Gas Association (AGA) said Wednesday.

A large majority of points softened Monday as significant heating load was generally scarce and winter term deals along with sparse use of storage were able to meet many buyers’ needs.

Temperatures mild to cool virtually everywhere, but heating load remains fairly scarce.

The House Agriculture Committee last Thursday approved by voice vote legislation that would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the authority to carry out criminal prosecution of fraud and manipulation of commodity futures markets, but only in cases where the Department of Justice decides not to take action. The CFTC’s existing authority is limited to investigation and prosecution of administrative and civil violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).

With global financial markets seized up and credit scarce, energy companies that have cash on hand may be able to take advantage of overlevered, distressed firms in the near future, Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts said in a report issued last week.

With global financial markets seized up and credit scarce, energy companies that have cash on hand may be able to take advantage of overlevered, distressed firms in the near future, Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts said in a report issued Monday.

Most of the cash market was moderately softer in post-Christmas trading Wednesday as forecasts of sub-freezing lows had become rather scarce outside the Rockies and some locations in the upper Northeast. Activity was predictably light as some traders remained out of the office on holiday vacations and Boxing Day was being observed in Canada.