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Coal took something of a beating from natural gas in the power generation arena this year, but coal’s displacement by gas wasn’t strictly due to exceptionally low gas prices, according to analysts at Barclays Capital. Coal producers can curse cheap gas if they want, but other factors were at play, too.

The natural gas liquids (NGL) market is apparently something like the weather. Don’t like it? Wait and it will change.

The natural gas liquids (NGL) market is apparently something like the weather. Don’t like it? Wait and it will change.

In times of economic health and strong commodity prices, the returns of regulated assets can be something of a bore. These days, though, they’re at least one thing to smile about. Such is the case at National Fuel Gas Co. where a charge for a ceiling test writedown on producing properties slashed profits, but utility and pipeline results improved during the first quarter of the company’s fiscal 2009.

Southwestern Energy Co. isn’t going to let something like tight capital markets keep it down in 2009. Unlike a growing number of its peers, the Houston-based natural gas producer stepped up its planned capital expenditures (capex) in 2009 by half a billion dollars, with most of the money directed toward the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas. The producer also expects to drill 10 more wells than it had scheduled for 2008.

The global financial tsunami is something the energy industry will steer itself through, El Paso Corp. CEO Doug Foshee said Thursday, noting that the current crisis summons memories of the one precipitated in the energy industry by Enron Corp.’s 2001 bankruptcy.

The global financial tsunami is something the energy industry will steer itself through, El Paso Corp. CEO Doug Foshee said Thursday, noting that the current crisis summons memories of the one precipitated in the energy industry by Enron Corp.’s 2001 bankruptcy.

July natural gas futures showed some signs of weakness Tuesday, which had at least some traders wondering whether the 19.2-cent drop to $13.011 was something more than a small pullback in the larger bull move.

County officials ran out of time last Monday to hear from all the citizens who wanted to say something about NorthernStar Natural Gas’ proposed Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal along the Columbia River in Oregon, so the public hearing will be continued on Nov. 19. Clatsop County Commissioners are weighing whether to grant NorthernStar zoning changes for the project.