Uncertain

After hundreds of years of being the dominant source for electrical power generation, commodity analysts said the coal industry faces an uncertain future as natural gas prices remain low and utilities build new power plants fueled by natural gas.

A combination of fit-for-purpose technology with solid execution in drilling horizontal wells using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is giving Halliburton Co. confidence that it can deliver on its “frack-of-the-future” strategic initiatives, a company executive said Monday.

The Pennsylvania Senate approved its version of an impact fee on natural gas by a narrow vote last Wednesday night, but it’s still uncertain whether Pennsylvanians will get a revenue boost or the proverbial lump of coal for Christmas.

The Pennsylvania Senate approved its version of an impact fee on natural gas by a narrow vote Wednesday night, but it’s still uncertain whether Pennsylvanians will get a revenue boost or the proverbial lump of coal for Christmas.

January natural gas crept higher Tuesday as medium-term weather outlooks called for an uncertain cold spell and analysts admitted difficulty discerning natural gas’ next move. At the close January had added 2.6 cents to $3.487 and February had gained 3.3 cents to $3.523. January crude oil rose 29 cents to $101.28/bbl.

In today’s uncertain economic and public policy environment, senior executives are leery of Wall Street’s ready appetite for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), according to a panel of three executives discussing growing rate base Tuesday at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Power and Gas Leaders Conference in New York City.

The current spread between U.S. and European/Asian natural gas prices supports export of liquefied domestic gas from the Lower 48, but it’s likely too uncertain to support the long-term, billion-dollar commitment needed to bring large-scale liquefaction to the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to an analysis by Pan EurAsian Enterprises Inc. released last week.

The current spread between U.S. and European/Asian natural gas prices supports export of liquefied domestic gas from the Lower 48, but it’s likely too uncertain to support the long-term, billion-dollar commitment needed to bring large-scale liquefaction to the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to an analysis by Pan EurAsian Enterprises Inc. released Monday.

The current spread between U.S. and European/Asian natural gas prices supports export of liquefied domestic gas from the Lower 48, but it’s likely too uncertain to support the long-term, billion-dollar commitment needed to bring large-scale liquefaction to the U.S. Gulf Coast, according to an analysis by Pan EurAsian Enterprises Inc. released Monday.