Sharper

With a sharper focus on its North American operations, Devon Energy Corp. exceeded Wall Street forecasts, increasing its natural gas-directed production by 16% and upping its profits by 5.2% from a year ago.

With a sharper focus on its North American operations, Devon Energy Corp. exceeded Wall Street forecasts Wednesday, increasing its natural gas-directed production by 16% and upping its profits by 5.2% from a year ago.

The future of The Houston Exploration Co. (Houston Ex) had been uncertain for much of last year. But last week the outlook for the domestic onshore independent came into sharper focus when Denver-based Forest Oil Corp. agreed to acquire the company for $1.5 billion in stock and cash and assumption of $100 million in debt.

While many North American gas producers will see ever sharper production decline rates in the coming years, EnCana Corp. said its “resource play” strategy has enabled it to grow both production and reserves and project flatter declines each subsequent year.

While many North American gas producers will see ever sharper production decline rates in the coming years, EnCana Corp. said its “resource play” strategy has enabled it to grow both production and reserves and project flatter declines each subsequent year.

Only sharply higher-than-expected production performance or a sharper-than-anticipated downturn in industrial activity this year will prevent continued pressure on natural gas spot prices in the $4-$5 range, according to the Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook for April 2001.

Only sharply higher-than-expected production performance or a sharper-than-anticipated downturn in industrial activity this year will prevent continued pressure on natural gas spot prices in the $4-$5 range, according to the Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy Outlook for April 2001.

Dynegy last week drew a sharper bead on energy convergence,jettisoning all of its U.S. crude oil operations.