Steadily

According to a survey completed last month, most exploration andproduction companies expect steadily rising U.S. oil and gas demandand continued strong prices will lead to increased capital spendingnext year. That’s one finding of Arthur Andersen’s 12th annual U.S.Oil & Gas Industry Outlook Survey.

Most exploration and production companies expect steadily risingU.S. oil and gas demand and continued strong prices will lead toincreased capital spending next year, according to ArthurAndersen’s 12th annual U.S. Oil & Gas Industry Outlook Survey.Survey results were released Tuesday at Andersen’s 20th annualEnergy Symposium in Houston. The survey polled executives of 89companies.

Many industry analysts have been steadily raising their gasprice forecasts because of the year-long drilling slump and itspotential impact on gas deliverability, but St. Petersburg,FL-based Raymond James &amp Associates went out on a limb last weekpredicting sharp price spikes above $10/Mcf at the Henry Hub nextwinter and an average of $3/Mcf at the hub next year.

Many industry analysts have been steadily raising their gasprice forecasts because of the year-long drilling slump and itspotential impact on gas deliverability next winter, but St.Petersburg, FL-based Raymond James & Associates went out on alimb this week predicting sharp price spikes above $10/Mcf at theHenry Hub this winter and an average of $3/Mcf at the hub nextyear.

FERC is sending out mixed signals about its position onauctions. The Commission staff, on the one hand, has been workingsteadily since July towards developing an “efficient andcost-effective” auction structure for the market, yet last week ittold critics that the auction concept might not be the best routeto go. In fact, staff threw down the gauntlet challenging the gasindustry to come up with a better way to sell pipeline capacity inthe short-term market.