Soaring

Overall cash market prices surged nearly 14 cents on average Monday, nearly outpacing a soaring futures market. Much of the strength was derived from the screen, but weather forecasts in key eastern markets also provided some short term support. Northeast and eastern markets were particularly strong and California markets posted weather-derived gains. Gulf points were also firm. At the close of futures trading November had jumped 16.0 cents to $3.480 and December had added 13.7 cents to $3.752. November crude oil gained 29 cents to $92.48/bbl.

Permits and production are soaring in the Niobrara Shale where Chesapeake Energy is indicating it has unlocked some important finds as it eyes the play as a significant contributor to its strategy for expanding its production of natural gas liquids (NGL).

The cost of crude oil and gasoline may be soaring, but natural gas prices continue to lag, with Henry Hub spot prices forecast to average $3.17/MMBtu this year, an 83-cent decline from last year’s average spot price, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook for March. The 2012 price forecast is 11 cents lower than last month’s outlook (see NGI, Feb. 13).

The cost of crude oil and gasoline may be soaring, but natural gas prices continue to lag, with Henry Hub spot prices forecast to average $3.17/MMBtu this year, an 83-cent decline from last year’s average spot price, according to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Short-Term Energy Outlook for March. The 2012 price forecast is 11 cents lower than last month’s outlook (see Daily GPI, Feb. 8).

Looking much like the previous day’s market, prices fell at a large majority of points Friday while soaring at several Northeast citygates. The main difference was that all of Thursday’s Northeast gains were less than a dollar, but on Friday several were in triple digits.

February natural gas closed modestly higher Tuesday as prices generally ignored soaring oil and equity markets and posted an ominous new low during the session. Traders suggested that further price declines were likely. At the close February had risen 0.4 cent to $2.993 and March had inched higher 0.6 cent to $3.022. February crude oil bounded higher by $4.13 to $102.96/bbl.

For the second year in a row the volume of natural gas pipeline capacity traded by the top 20 U.S. companies increased, with volumes soaring 143% from a year ago to top 12 Bcf/d, according to a report by Boston-based Capacity Center.

For the second year in a row the volume of natural gas pipeline capacity traded by the top 20 U.S. companies increased, with volumes soaring 143% from a year ago to top 12 Bcf/d, according to a report by Boston-based Capacity Center.

Barring “macro economic risks, which are not inconsiderable at this time, it’s back to my theme of stronger for longer,” said CEO Andrew Gould.