Thirst

Liquefaction and export of domestic U.S. gas is no longer a pipe dream but an eventual certainty given the abundance of supplies from shales and thirst for gas in other parts of the world, particularly in Asian markets, said speakers at Deloitte’s annual Oil & Gas Conference in Houston Thursday. True, there are export naysayers; a recent Deloitte study commissioned by BG Group addresses at least some of their concerns.

The midstream sector continued to respond last week to producers’ thirst for natural gas liquids (NGL) profits with the announcement of two Gulf Coast projects to handle growing production and another that would increase transport of Rockies NGLs to the Gulf.

After siting several independent underground natural gas storage facilities during the past decade, California’s thirst for storage still has not been quenched, particularly in the northern half of the state. Thus, it is not surprising that a veteran associated with the earlier projects has a new one, but the proposed urban location is a bit eye-popping — in the middle of the state capital’s burgeoning population.

After siting several independent underground natural gas storage facilities during the past decade, California’s thirst for storage still has not been quenched, particularly in the northern half of the state. Thus, it is not surprising that a veteran associated with the earlier projects has a new one, but the proposed urban location is a bit eye-popping — in the middle of the state capital’s burgeoning population.

The gas supply outlook has shifted from a thirst for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports to reliance on maturing and emerging shale plays in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania; new pipelines and capacity expansions reconfigure continental gas flows; and increasing gas-fired power generation elevates summer demand peaks. Gas storage developers are in the midst of it all.

The gas supply outlook has shifted from a thirst for liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports to reliance on maturing and emerging shale plays in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Pennsylvania; new pipelines and capacity expansions reconfigure continental gas flows; and increasing gas-fired power generation elevates summer demand peaks. Gas storage developers are in the midst of it all.

Continuing to be driven by the thirst of more natural gas-fired electric generating plants, California natural gas supplies should remain sufficient, although prices will stay higher than they have been in the past in the $4-$6/MMBtu range, according to an updated forecast released last Wednesday by the state energy commission.

Continuing to be driven by the thirst of more natural gas-fired electric generating plants, California natural gas supplies should remain sufficient, although prices will stay higher than they have been in the past in the $4-$6/MMBtu range, according to an updated forecast released Wednesday by the state energy commission.

North America’s unquenchable thirst for natural gas could grow to 89 Bcf/d by 2015 (from about 59.4 Bcf/d last year), necessitating a push to expand existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and begin development of two northern natural gas pipelines, energy executives said in Houston last week.