Slower

Even with ExxonMobil Corp.’s record profit in the third quarter, slower earnings growth continues to be the theme for most of the largest oil and natural gas producers. Slammed by lower natural gas prices and soaring costs, integrated producers are taking some of the biggest hits to their bottom lines, while the smaller domestic producers, able to pivot more quickly because of their size, are overcoming the obstacles and posting solid production and income.

The recent boom in baseload, intermediate and peaking power generation additions in the United States is now over and capacity additions will be made at a much slower rate over the next decade, according to the latest Fuelcast Long-Term Outlook by Arlington, VA-based Energy Ventures Analysis. A renewed interest in coal-fired generation because of recent gas price increases also is expected to put coal back in a dominant position when it comes to new generation capacity additions.

The recent boom in baseload, intermediate and peaking power generation additions in the United States is now over and capacity additions will be made at a much slower rate over the next decade, according to the latest Fuelcast Long-Term Outlook by Arlington, VA-based Energy Ventures Analysis. A renewed interest in coal-fired generation because of recent gas price increases also is expected to put coal back in a dominant position when it comes to new generation capacity additions.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Tuesday it foresees slower growth for imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the U.S., gradually declining wellhead gas prices, lower than expected consumption and production, and the long-awaited construction and in-service date of a long-line gas transportation system from Alaska’s North Slope over the next two decades.

Getting genuine weather support and an additional boost from the previous day’s 30 cents-plus screen rise, prices rose again Tuesday at most points, but in considerably reduced amounts from Monday gains in most cases. As a result of the West’s modest moderating trend from last week’s cold, many of the smaller increases were recorded in that region and a few were flat to lower.

Getting genuine weather support and an additional boost from the previous day’s 30 cents-plus screen rise, prices rose again Tuesday at most points, but in considerably reduced amounts from Monday gains in most cases. As a result of the West’s modest moderating trend from last week’s cold, many of the smaller increases were recorded in that region and a few were flat to lower.

Cash quotes continued to fall Tuesday, but the declines were notably smaller than on the day before. The slide was remarkably consistent across all geographic areas with nearly every point down between a nickel and about a dime; only a few in the Gulf Coast and Midcontinent/Midwest fell by as much as 13-19 cents.

Prices continued to drift lower at nearly all points Thursday, but the rate of decline slowed. Whereas double-digit drops had ruled the market Wednesday, most of Thursday’s softening was by less than a dime. Minuscule losses of only 2-3 cents were scattered through several market areas, and Northwest’s domestic and Sumas points managed to stay flat and eke out a small gain respectively.

Entering a period of milder weather and spurred by the previous day’s screen loss of nearly 22 cents, prices kept falling across the board Wednesday. However, the decline pace slowed considerably. Wednesday’s drops ranged as high as about 30 cents in the Northeast, but were in single digits at a slight majority of points.