Western Gas Market Review - May 2010

Western Natural Gas Prices

Canadian Gas at Kingsgate, ID

The April 2010 average daily price of Canadian gas at Kingsgate, ID was $3.96/mmBtu.  This was 33 percent higher than the $2.97/mmBtu April 2009 average and 59 percent lower than the $9.65/mmBtu April 2008 average.

Rocky Mountain Gas at Opal, WY

The April 2010 average daily price of Rocky Mountain gas at Opal, WY was $3.69/mmBtu.  This was 51 percent higher than the $2.45/mmBtu April 2009 average and 58 percent lower than the $8.80/mmBtu April 2008 average.

Southwestern Gas at the Southern California Border

The April 2010 average daily price of Southwestern gas at the Southern California Border was $4.00/mmBtu.  This was 34 percent higher than the $2.98/mmBtu April 2009 average and 59 percent lower than the $9.76/mmBtu April 2008 average.

Intercontinental Exchange

Working Gas in Western Underground Storage

Net gas injections for April 2010 totaled 41 Bcf, increasing Western underground storage levels to 330 Bcf.  This volume is 4.1 percent higher than the April 2009 storage level of 317 Bcf and 30 percent above the five year average April storage level of 253 Bcf.

U.S. Energy Information Administration

Western Natural Gas Production

Natural gas production in the Western U.S. for the 12 months ending in April 2010 averaged 12.6 Bcf/day.  This was 1.2 percent lower than production for the comparable 2009 period and 9.1 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 April 30, 2010 was 209, an increase of 54 rigs or 35 percent from the year-ago count.  It is a decrease of 29 percent from the five year average April rig count of 294.

Baker Hughes

Western Imports

Imports of Canadian natural gas into the Western U.S. for the 12 months ending in April 2010 averaged 2.7 Bcf/day. This was 8.5 percent higher than imports for the comparable 2009 period and 3.5 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 April 2010 averaged 11.0 Bcf/day. This was 2.5 percent lower than demand for the comparable 2009 period and 3.2 percent lower than demand for the comparable 2008 period.

Bentek Energy, LLC

Return to May 2010 Western Energy News

To sponsor Western Energy News, please contact WEI at 503 231-1994.