Wonder

Two new reports by top international research companies have come in on the high side of the great Marcellus resources debate, producing estimates that range between 267 Tcf and 698 Tcf of possible production.

Calgary-based EnCana Corp. last week completed its transaction to split into two distinct energy companies, but some wonder whether the pure-play natural gas producer now is a mouthwatering morsel for a thirsty oil major.

Calgary-based EnCana Corp. on Monday completed its transaction to split into two distinct energy companies, but some wonder whether the pure-play natural gas producer now is a mouthwatering morsel for a thirsty oil major.

The September natural gas futures contract turned in its second consecutive “do nothing” day on Wednesday, leaving some market watchers to wonder whether traders were saving their strength for a blitz of action on the contract’s expiration Thursday. The prompt-month contract ended up closing the regular session at $2.910, up 2.8 cents from Tuesday’s close.

After June natural gas futures fell 19.4 cents on Friday, traders were left to wonder whether the rally of the last few weeks had been snuffed out. Despite the contract’s 4.1-cent gain to close Monday’s regular session at $4.139, the question was still unanswered as some traders saw the gains as more indicative of a sympathy move with crude futures strength rather than a resurgence of the recent rally.

Some may be starting to wonder if it’s a smoke-and-mirrors magic act, but the cash market once again defied what would usually be considered bearish weather fundamentals in continuing to rise at all points Tuesday. It retained substantial prior-day support from June futures having jumped another 17.9 cents Monday, but such positive guidance will be lacking Wednesday after the Nymex contract retreated by 11 cents Tuesday (see related story).

Natural gas futures continued to probe lower values on Tuesday, but market experts wonder whether the downward move that began last summer might actually be coming to an end. For its part, the April contract put in a low of $3.761 before closing Tuesday’s regular session at $3.812, down 3.8 cents from Monday’s finish.

With domestic supplies growing, investors are starting to wonder how low natural gas prices may go, and the next fundamental support could occur when U.S. coal plants begin to scale back output and replace electricity with gas-fired generation, said Raymond James & Associates Inc. energy analysts.

With storm paths and storage report technical difficulties dominating trading pit conversations Thursday, it’s no wonder that the September natural gas futures contract was mostly rudderless on the day. Despite an inline with expectations 21 Bcf injection for the week ended Aug. 10, the prompt-month bounced between $6.590 and $6.950 before finishing out the day’s regular session at $6.875, up 1.1 cents from Wednesday’s close.