Marcellus

Natural gas traders haven’t been able to figure out where prices consistently are headed, but one thing is becoming clearer: output has remained flat for close to a year. And coal generators have a lot of power in determining prices, according to an analysis by Stephen Smith Energy Associates.

The number of Marcellus Shale natural gas wells waiting on infrastructure provided by Access Midstream Partners LP has fallen by more than half since the end of 2012, CEO J. Mike Stice said Wednesday.

Demand between now and 2015 will prop up natural gas prices, even with a backlog of drilled wells awaiting connection, and from 2016 to 2018 a “dramatic structural increase” in demand could outpace supply additions and send gas prices to as high as $6.00/MMBtu, BNP Paribas’ Teri Viswanath, director of commodity strategy, said Friday.

 Halcon Resources Corp. said an exploratory well targeting the Utica Shale has been producing more than 2,000 boe/d. The company said it plans to spend "significant time" in the play, where it has the acreage to drill up to 500 gross wells.