Times

Call it a sure sign of changing times in Canadian production. A spring construction start has been set for a project that will convert Canada’s 51-year-old original natural gas export mainline to oilsands service.

Calling current times “very exciting but challenging” for the energy sector, FERC Commissioner Philip Moeller told an industry gathering in Seattle Monday that he thinks the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) long-anticipated Market Redesign Technology Update (MRTU) is going to come to fruition later this year, noting the usual qualifier that he was offering his personal opinion and not that of the federal commission. Moeller was a keynote speaker at the Law Seminars International conference, “Buying and Selling Electric Power in the West.”

As expected, Alaska lawmakers have approved a tax hike worth more than $1 billion on oil and gas producers as their special session ended Nov. 16. In times of high oil prices it is expected the new tax could bring the state an additional $1.5 billion per year.

The Arkoma Basin has become a “tale of two shales” — it’s not quite the best of times yet, but it’s certainly not the worst. By 2010, natural gas volumes from the Fayetteville and Woodford shales may approach 970 MMcfe/d, a significant jump from this year’s expectation of 469 MMcfe/d.

The Arkoma Basin has become a “tale of two shales” — it’s not quite the best of times yet, but it’s certainly not the worst. By 2010, natural gas volumes from the Fayetteville and Woodford shales may approach 970 MMcfe/d, a significant jump from this year’s expectation of 469 MMcfe/d.

The Conservative government of Canada’s energy province is promising to inaugurate a new era of efficient regulation — by going back to the approach taken in its formative times. After 12 years of a forced marriage, Alberta’s natural gas, oil and power watchdogs will regain their former stature as two separate agencies responsible for supply development and protecting consumers.

The Conservative government of Canada’s energy province is promising to inaugurate a new era of efficient regulation — by going back to the approach taken in its formative times. After 12 years of a forced marriage, Alberta’s natural gas, oil and power watchdogs will regain their former stature as two separate agencies responsible for supply development and protecting consumers.

For the longest time it seemed that natural gas prices hovered around $2-3 with a spike here and there. Now the range is $5-10. Oh, how times have changed. Speakers at GasMart 2007 in Chicago last week remembered the old days, briefly, while they advised attendees on how to deal with the new era of prices.

For the longest time it seemed that natural gas prices hovered around $2-3 with a spike here and there. Now the range is $5-10. Oh, how times have changed. Speakers at GasMart 2007 in Chicago Thursday remembered the old days, briefly, while they advised attendees on how to deal with the new era of prices.