Squeezed

The North American drilling services market is tight and getting tighter, squeezed by increased activity in liquids-heavy and emerging shale oil plays, Baker Hughes Inc. CEO Chad Deaton said Tuesday.

CenterPoint Energy Inc. first quarter earnings were squeezed by one-time charges and reduced power deliveries in its utility unit. However, the company benefited from “solid performance” in its natural gas businesses. Increased conservation by consumers is being felt in the gas and power businesses, executives said.

CenterPoint Energy Inc. first quarter earnings were squeezed by one-time charges and reduced power deliveries in its utility unit. However, the company benefited from “solid performance” in its natural gas businesses. Increased conservation by consumers is being felt in the gas and power businesses, executives said.

March natural gas futures squeezed out a 2.8-cent gain Friday to close at $7.755 as traders prepared for the contract’s expiration Monday while trying to decipher what impact the weather picture for March will bring. Friday’s close was 25.2 cents higher than the previous week’s finish.

Squeezed by lower natural gas prices and escalating capital costs, U.S.-based exploration and production (E&P) companies likely will maintain their current level of spending or slightly pull back in 2007, energy analysts said last week.

Squeezed by lower natural gas prices and escalating capital costs, U.S.-based exploration and production (E&P) companies likely will maintain their current level of spending or slightly pull back in 2007, said energy analysts Monday.

Canadian exporters squeezed some growth out of the natural gas trade with the United States last year, keeping well ahead of LNG deliveries to the U.S., which declined slightly in 2005.

Approximately 40,000 MW of additional electricity can be squeezed from existing coal-fired power plants nationwide through the installation of standard improvements and clean coal technologies, according to a new study by the National Coal Council (NCC). The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, also recommends that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency return to its prior interpretation of a key section included in the federal Clean Air Act so as to foster efficiency improvements at power plants.

Approximately 40,000 MW of additional electricity can be squeezed from existing coal-fired power plants nationwide through the installation of standard improvements and clean coal technologies, according to a new study by the National Coal Council (NCC). The study, commissioned by the U.S. Department of Energy, also recommends that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency return to its prior interpretation of a key section included in the federal Clean Air Act so as to foster efficiency improvements at power plants.