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The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Thursday issued an alert to persons who are considering private securities offerings for oil and gas ventures as an investment opportunity, saying that such investments carry significant risks.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Thursday issued an alert to persons who are considering private securities offerings for oil and gas ventures as an investment opportunity, saying that such investments carry significant risks.

A Harris Interactive poll found that most registered voters in Ohio are opposed to higher severance taxes on oil and natural gas, believing such increases would destroy job creation and harm the economy.

Physical natural gas prices fell a couple of pennies on average Wednesday, but if constrained market points in the East on pipelines such as Algonquin, Iroquois, Transco, and Tennessee were held out of the mix, then the overall market loss would increase to about a nickel. Futures trading was light and traders suggest now might be a good time to sell irrespective of Thursday’s inventory report. At the close of futures trading April fell 5.9 cents to $3.470 and May dropped 5.6 cents to $3.519.

Physical gas prices overall on average for weekend and Monday delivery rose a stout 25 cents, but subtracting the price effects of such congested Northeast pipelines as Algonquin, Iroquois, portions of Tennessee and parts of Transco, a broad based decline averaging 8 cents appeared. No points outside of the East and Northeast experienced gains. At the close of futures trading March had shed 1.0 cents to $3.153 and April was down 1.3 cents to $3.218. March crude oil fell $1.45 to $95.86/bbl.

Physical natural gas prices on average plunged 77 cents Monday, but free-falling prices on Northeast pipelines such as Algonquin, Iroquois and portions of Tennessee and Transco skewed the results. If those points are taken out of the mix, the decline was 10 cents. At the close of futures trading March had fallen 0.7 cent to $3.279 and April was down 0.9 cent to $3.346. March crude oil added $1.31 to $97.03/bbl.

Spot natural gas prices on average fell 37 cents Monday, but if volatile New England pipes such as Algonquin, Iroquois and portions of Tennessee are factored out, the decline was about 3 cents.

The country is in the midst of an “unconventional revolution in oil and gas” whose implications reach well beyond the energy industry, IHS Vice Chairman Daniel Yergin, tells the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy and Power in pre-filed testimony to be given Tuesday.

Drilling in Eastern Tennessee’s dry gas Chattanooga Shale play has ceased due to low natural gas prices, so the focus has shifted to extracting oil from the state’s Fort Payne formation, which lies atop the Chattanooga. Miller Energy Resources, Inc. this week is shipping its first tanker truckload of oil produced from the Fort Payne’s only unconventional well, according to Gary Bible, vice president of geology for the Knoxville, TN-based firm.