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Given a little boost from the modestly firmer expiration of October futures and an almost imperceptible return of higher temperatures in the South, the September daily market ended Wednesday with a near-repeat of Tuesday’s trading — prices nearly all within a narrow range around unchanged.

The November natural gas futures contract started its reign much like the October contract finished its own on Tuesday — quietly, but with a small uptick. The newly minted prompt-month contract traded between $3.903 and $3.980 before closing out the regular session Wednesday at $3.962, up 1.1 cents from Tuesday’s close.

Pennsylvania’s Democratic-controlled House has approved legislation (SB 1155) that would impose a 39 cents/Mcf (about 10%) severance tax on natural gas drilling in the state, despite assurances from members of the Republican-controlled Senate that they will not pass the bill.

The majority of energy trading representatives surveyed believe that regulatory audit and enforcement actions against energy traders will increase in the future, but only a small percentage rank the industry’s readiness to comply with new financial regulatory reforms as “good” or “excellent,” according to a study released Tuesday.

Robert Dudley, who takes the helm at BP plc later this week, on Wednesday ousted the long-time exploration and production (E&P) chief and launched a global safety division as part of a sweeping restructuring of the company’s safety and risk management practices.

Midcontinent Express Pipeline’s (MEP) access to high-growth gas shale basins, such as the Barnett, Bossier, Woodford and Haynesville, plus long-term, fixed-fee capacity reservation contracts give the 505-mile pipeline a “stable outlook,” according to Fitch Ratings.

EQT Corp. on Wednesday reported double-digit initial production (IP) results for two of its newest natural gas wells in the Pennsylvania portion of the Marcellus Shale.

The 20-member board of directors of the national Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC) on Wednesday unanimously called for a complete disclosure of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) process, which is used to develop most of the shale gas wells in the country.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Tuesday cautioned the federal government against retracting its promise not to designate the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) as wilderness.