Strengthening

While low volatility and volumes marked the North American natural gas futures market in the first quarter, IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has noted a strengthening in volume trends in both March and April, driven by increasing natural gas prices. Convinced of the globalization of the natural gas market, ICE is looking to establish a European marker.

While low volatility and volumes marked the North American natural gas futures market in the first quarter, IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) has noted a strengthening in volume trends in both March and April, driven by increasing natural gas prices. Convinced of the globalization of the natural gas market, ICE is looking to establish a European marker.

Capping off a string of regulatory actions that have been favorable to the oil and natural gas industry — and somewhat embarrassing to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — the regulator has said it will delay the release of final air pollution standards for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for two weeks.

September natural gas ground lower as traders saw no additional risk premium resulting from a strengthening Hurricane Irene and predicted that the market would continue to trade in a narrow range. At the close September futures had fallen 5.1 cents to $3.889 and October had retreated 7.2 cents to $3.869. September crude oil rose $1.86 to $84.12/bbl.

It has been conventional wisdom that with gas rig counts beginning a slow decline recently, production is still rising overall because it is mostly rigs being deactivated in conventional plays rather than those involved in the more prolific shale gas search. However, some market watchers are not buying that argument.

Energy executives are strengthening their workforces to prepare for the economic recovery, and to prepare for more unconventional natural gas and oil resource development, according to a survey.

Natural gas prices will get support from cold temperatures in the first quarter, and strengthening coal markets will lift the gas-coal switching price floor in Q2 and Q3, but demand will fail to revive gas prices this year, according to analysts at Barclays Capital.

Natural gas prices will get support from cold temperatures in the first quarter, and strengthening coal markets will lift the gas-coal switching price floor in Q2 and Q3, but demand will fail to revive gas prices this year, according to analysts at Barclays Capital.

Natural gas prices will get support from cold temperatures in the first quarter, and strengthening coal markets will lift the gas-coal switching price floor in Q2 and Q3, but demand will fail to revive gas prices this year, according to analysts at Barclays Capital.