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Mitchell Energy announced increased production for the secondtime in two weeks yesterday, as the Woodlands, TX-based companysaid new drilling technology has lowered drilling costs and allowedthe company to double, and possibly even triple, production fromits Barnett Shale gas play. As a result of this acceleratedproduction, Mitchell has added 213 Bcf of reserves, whichrepresents a 25% increase in its total reserve base.

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) wasted little time inpicking successors to fill positions that were left vacant by thesudden departures of two staff members.

The Kansas City Board of Trade (KCBT) had an estimated volumefor the first time this month yesterday, but the Board’s managementis not concerned about the overall lack of trading. The KCBT hasrecognized the problem and is in discussions with its customers onhow it can bring its trading floor more to life, a spokespersonsaid, but others openly wonder if there will be a gas pit at theKCBT much longer.

Amoco Production and Amoco Energy Trading have wasted no time inpetitioning the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to review FERC’srecent decision upholding Dynegy Marketing and Trade’s 1.3 Bcf/dcontract with El Paso Natural Gas.

The Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA) wasted little time inpicking successors to fill positions that were left vacant by thesudden departures of two staff members.

Wednesday marked the first time in a week that double-digitmoves were nowhere to be found in the cash market. Most pointsregistered small gains of 2 to 5 cents, feeding off a strongfutures screen and a bullish American Gas Association (AGA) storagereport of a 26 Bcf injection.

For the first time in July Pacific Gas & Electric entered aweekend without having a high-inventory OFO in place. One that hadbeen declared for Friday (see Daily GPI, July 23) was not extended.However, Southern California Gas did implement an OFO-likeOvernominations Day for Saturday.

For the fourth straight trading session, natural gas futuresraced off to a fast start Wednesday as locals and speculators triedagain to push the market through key resistance and above therecent trading range. But unlike the failure and subsequent sellingthat plagued the market on the prior three occasions, yesterday’smarket was able to hold on and add to gains late in the day. TheAugust contract finished at $2.253, up 5.5 cents.

Western Canadian gas is poised to play a larger role in the U.S.supply picture at a time when gas-directed drilling activity hasfar surpassed oil activity in the region, according to the CanadianEnergy Research Institute (CERI).