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Alberta, source of four-fifths of Canadian natural gas production, has reached its natural upper limit as a supplier and its industry will have to scramble to maintain current output, the National Energy Board says.

Atlantic LNG, the largest source of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to the United States, shut down its three liquefaction trains on Monday because of striking construction and tugboat workers. There was no word on when the strike would be lifted or when shipments would resume.

News reports from Algeria, supplemented by comments from that nation’s Washington, DC-based ambassador, cite the possibility that a liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline leak may have been the cause of the explosion and fire that killed 27 people Jan. 19 at the Skikda liquefaction plant that processes natural gas for oceanic transport as a liquid.

Pipeline constraints and balancing requirements/penalties had something to do with the record high gas prices this winter in the Northeast, but energy consultant Ben Schlesinger also believes inadequate gas market information, particularly regarding peak shaving liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity, was part of the cause.

Pipeline constraints and balancing requirements/penalties had something to do with the record high gas prices this winter in the Northeast, but energy consultant Ben Schlesinger also believes inadequate gas market information, particularly regarding peak shaving liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity, was part of the cause.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s New Source Review (NSR) routine maintenance rule, which was issued last month, may remove some of the emission requirement burdens from utilities, but it could play havoc with natural gas markets and send prices “much lower than currently expected,” according to a new study by Strategic Energy and Economic Research Inc. (SEER).

Gastar Exploration, Ltd., in conjunction with First Source Texas Inc. (FST), has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed private industry participant to acquire a 75% interest in approximately 9,100 gross acres (6,500 net acres) that lie immediately adjacent to and nearby Gastar’s existing East Texas Deep Bossier acreage. Assuming that Gastar’s and FST’s existing partners in the Deep Bossier play exercise their rights to a proportionate share of these leases, Gastar is expected to hold a 45% working interest position in these additional leases. With the addition of these leases, Gastar, FST and their minority partners will control a total of approximately 22,200 gross seismically controlled acres in the East Texas Deep Bossier play. The terms of the agreement called for Gastar, FST and their partners to make an initial payment of $800,000 and a subsequent final payment of $800,000 on or before Aug. 15, 2004. “The addition of this acreage, which Gastar believes significantly enhances our position in the Deep Bossier play, is another direct consequence of the positive results achieved from Gastar’s initial Deep Bossier well, the Belin Trust A-1 well,” said J. Russell Porter, Gastar’s COO.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s New Source Review (NSR) routine maintenance rule, which was issued last month, may remove some of the emission requirement burdens from utilities, but it could play havoc with natural gas markets and send prices “much lower than currently expected,” according to a new study by Strategic Energy and Economic Research Inc. (SEER).

Gastar Exploration, Ltd., in conjunction with First Source Texas Inc. (FST), has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed private industry participant to acquire a 75% interest in approximately 9,100 gross acres (6,500 net acres) that lie immediately adjacent to and nearby Gastar’s existing East Texas Deep Bossier acreage. Assuming that Gastar’s and FST’s existing partners in the Deep Bossier play exercise their rights to a proportionate share of these leases, Gastar is expected to hold a 45% working interest position in these additional leases. With the addition of these leases, Gastar, FST and their minority partners will control a total of approximately 22,200 gross seismically controlled acres in the East Texas Deep Bossier play. The terms of the agreement called for Gastar, FST and their partners to make an initial payment of $800,000 and a subsequent final payment of $800,000 on or before Aug. 15, 2004. “The addition of this acreage, which Gastar believes significantly enhances our position in the Deep Bossier play, is another direct consequence of the positive results achieved from Gastar’s initial Deep Bossier well, the Belin Trust A-1 well,” said J. Russell Porter, Gastar’s COO.