Using

With gas prices tumbling fast and fundamentals decidedly bearish, producers have scrambled to lock in the highest wholesale rates available. Among others, Fort Worth-based independent XTO Energy Inc. said last week it has hedged 90% of its production through March 2002 at $4.30/MMBtu and has hedged 200 MMcf/d at $3.72 for the last three quarters of 2002. XTO is one among many independents who have touted their foresight in locking long-term rates when prices were considerably higher.

With gas prices tumbling fast and fundamentals decidedly bearish, producers have scrambled to lock in the highest wholesale rates available. Fort Worth-based XTO Energy Inc. said Monday it has hedged 90% of its production through March 2002 at $4.30/MMBtu and has hedged 200 MMcf/d at $3.72 for the last three quarters of 2002. XTO is one among many independents who have touted their foresight in locking long-term rates when prices were considerably higher.

To assess the impact of future gas supply interruptions, the Energy Information Administration is considering the use of mandatory surveys after using emergency surveys in the past that followed volatile swings in supplies and prices. EIA surveyed gas and distillate energy markets last winter in an emergency survey to gauge the impact on prices during fuel switching.

Using the baseball movie Field of Dreams as a metaphor for the energy industry, Ocean Energy Inc.’s CFO William Transier told producers they have to “go the distance” if they believe the North American natural gas market will grow to 30 Tcf within 20 years. By overcoming the challenges, producers can build a “supply of dreams.” But, he warned, it won’t be a shutout.

Using the baseball movie Field of Dreams as a metaphor for the energy industry, Ocean Energy Inc.’s CFO William Transier told producers they have to “go the distance” if they believe the North American natural gas market will grow to 30 Tcf within 20 years. By overcoming the challenges, producers can build a “supply of dreams.” But, he warned, it won’t be a shutout.

Compression upgrades on parts of the Southern California Gas Co. pipeline infrastructure along with using cushion gas from several storage fields, including SoCal’s idle Montebello field, may be the last and best hope of avoiding a meltdown in California’s natural gas transmission pipeline infrastructure this summer under the weight of heavy demand from electric generators, a state energy expert told California legislators last Wednesday.

Temporary compression upgrades on parts of the SouthernCalifornia Gas Co. pipeline infrastructure along with using cushiongas from its idle Montebello underground storage field may be thelast and best hope of avoiding a meltdown in California’s naturalgas transmission pipeline infrastructure this summer under theweight of heavy demand from electric generators, a state energyexpert told California legislators Wednesday.

FERC yesterday approved a contested settlement in whichTennessee Gas Pipeline agreed to offer a discounted transportationto its shippers using the Perryville, LA, hub. This action isintended to further the development of Perryville as a marketcenter.

Using a combination of fixed-price swaps and costless collars,Oklahoma City-based Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas Corp. has put priceprotections on 200,000 MMBtu/d of natural gas production from Marchthrough October 2001.