Speculation

Canadian natural gas exports to the United States are slipping, in a trend large and long enough to start speculation that a long-forecast reduction has begun in Alberta’s role as an international supplier, due to rising domestic industrial consumption.

Canadian natural gas exports to the United States are slipping, in a trend large and long enough to start speculation that a long-forecast reduction has begun in Alberta’s role as an international supplier, due to rising domestic industrial consumption.

Speculation was rampant Wednesday and bets were on a potential bankruptcy filing under Calpine Corp.’s eventual new top management, following the displacement of the debt-ridden company’s CEO/founder Peter Cartwright. In the aftermath, the head of the California Independent Energy Producers (IEP) Association called the latest setback for the once-highly regarded merchant power plant company both “expected and tragic.”

After much speculation as to the impact to natural gas storage from the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) revised reporting methodology, the small weekly storage injection of 37 Bcf for the week ended July 29 completely overshadowed it Thursday morning. The net effect of the revisions was a 2 Bcf increase in working gas storage levels as of July 22.

After much anticipation and speculation about the results of the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) revised storage reporting methodology, the small weekly storage injection of 37 Bcf ended up overshadowing the minor changes made to prior numbers Thursday. The net effect of the revisions was a 2 Bcf increase in working gas storage levels as of July 22.

Speculation was growing Friday that the China Offshore Oil Co. (CNOOC) was only waiting for Congress to recess before either dropping its attempt to purchase Unocal Corp. or raise the stakes and announce a U.S. partner to take over its U.S. assets.

Speculation was growing Friday that China Offshore Oil Co. Ltd. (CNOOC) was only waiting for Congress to recess before boosting its bid for Unocal and announcing a U.S. partner to take over its U.S. assets.

While there has been a lot of speculation about the impact of hedge fund trading on natural gas futures prices and market volatility, Peter Fusaro chairman at New York City-based consulting firm Global Change Associates, said he also believes the hedge funds themselves that enter the energy space face serious risks despite the promise of attractive returns.

While there has been a lot of speculation about the impact of hedge fund trading on natural gas futures prices and market volatility, Peter Fusaro chairman at New York City-based consulting firm Global Change Associates, said he also believes the hedge funds themselves that enter the energy space face serious risks despite the promise of attractive returns.