Thought

The amount of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas resources in Alaska’s Cook Inlet region is “significantly more” than what was thought 16 years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said last week. However, increased production won’t be available in time to meet an upcoming supply shortfall predicted by a group of utilities in the region.

The amount of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas resources in Alaska’s Cook Inlet region is “significantly more” than what was thought 16 years ago, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Canada’s environment minister indicated that the federal government in Ottawa was keeping a close eye on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and was prepared to intervene if it thought either the provincial or territorial governments weren’t doing enough to safely regulate the procedure.

Water use in Marcellus Shale drilling “may not be as big an issue as we originally thought it was,” a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) official told a natural gas forum on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, last Wednesday.

Water use in Marcellus Shale drilling “may not be as big an issue as we originally thought it was,” a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) official told a natural gas forum on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, last Wednesday.

April futures were confined to a narrow range Friday but managed to eke out a modest gain. The massive earthquake in Japan found its way into crude oil and natural gas trading, and the unwinding of long crude oil and short natural gas positions prompted a firm tone to the market.

Ohio will devote time and effort to take part in the Marcellus Shale drilling boom, Gov.-elect John Kasich said last week.

Natural gas bulls thought they were in the driver’s seat as just prior to the opening of Monday’s floor trading January futures traded as high as $4.547, a stout 13 cent rise relative to Friday’s settlement.

With some support from the previous Friday’s futures advance, the cash market was finding enough increases in colder weather either already in place or imminent to realize gains at a sizeable majority of locations the board Monday.