Western Gas Market Review - March 2010

Western Natural Gas Prices

Canadian Gas at Kingsgate, ID

The February 2010 average daily price of Canadian gas at Kingsgate, ID was $5.19/mmBtu.  This was 30 percent higher than the $3.98/mmBtu February 2009 average and 35 percent lower than the $7.97/mmBtu February 2008 average.

Rocky Mountain Gas at Opal, WY

The February 2010 average daily price of Rocky Mountain gas at Opal, WY was $5.11/mmBtu.  This was 72 percent higher than the $2.96/mmBtu February 2009 average and 34 percent lower than the $7.70/mmBtu February 2008 average.

Southwestern Gas at the Southern California Border

The February 2010 average daily price of Southwestern gas at the Southern California Border was $5.38/mmBtu.  This was 45 percent higher than the $3.70/mmBtu February 2009 average and 34 percent lower than the $8.16/mmBtu February 2008 average.

Intercontinental Exchange

Working Gas in Western Underground Storage

Net gas withdrawals for February 2010 totaled 63 Bcf, decreasing Western underground storage levels to 296 Bcf.  This volume is 1.0 percent higher than the February 2009 storage level of 293 Bcf and 22 percent above the five year average February storage level of 242 Bcf.

U.S. Energy Information Administration

Western Natural Gas Production

Natural gas production in the Western U.S. for the 12 months ending in February 2010 averaged 12.6 Bcf/day.  This was 0.1 percent higher than production for the comparable 2009 period and 11 percent higher than production for the comparable 2008 period.

Bentek Energy, LLC

Western Rig Count

The Western states rotary rig count for the week ending February 26, 2010 was 205, a decrease of 5 rigs or 2.4 percent from the year-ago count.  It is a decrease of 30 percent from the five year average February rig count of 294.

Baker Hughes

Western Imports

Imports of Canadian natural gas into the Western U.S. for the 12 months ending in February 2010 averaged 2.6 Bcf/day. This was 3.3 percent higher than imports for the comparable 2009 period and 3.3 percent lower than imports for the comparable 2008 period.

Bentek Energy, LLC

Western Natural Gas Demand

Natural gas demand in the Western U.S. for the 12 months ending in February 2010 averaged 10.9 Bcf/day. This was 4.1 percent lower than demand for the comparable 2009 period and 0.1 percent lower than demand for the comparable 2008 period.

Bentek Energy, LLC

Return to March 2010 Western Energy News

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