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U.S. Natural Gas Production Trending Up; Industry Leaders Discuss Market Direction at GasMart 2006

Posted on: Friday, 10 March 2006, 15:00 CST

U.S. natural gas production actually would have increased significantly in 2005 if it were not for losses from the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a turnaround built on the higher prices of the last few years, and points to a new market equation to be explored at GasMart 2006 - the 20th annual gathering of the natural gas market in Denver, May 3-5, hosted by Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI).

With the high storage levels left over from the virtually non-existent winter in the East, it would likely take a repeat of last summer's 100-year record storms to push the market into supply tightness this summer.

But longer term the questions to be discussed at the GasMart 2006 conference and trade show, are whether a high production level is sustainable? What basins, old and new, will it come from? Who can afford it? Is the infrastructure adequate? and How much liquefied natural gas (LNG) will actually reach North American shores?

Producers and Pipeline executives from the Rockies, the MidContinent and the offshore will offer their insights at GasMart, while consumer representatives will discuss their price toleration levels and efforts to conserve energy, switch fuels or move offshore. Middle men marketers and risk management experts will offer ways both sides can moderate their risks and meet their budget goals.

A contingent bearing news on political and regulatory issues from the nation's capital will be led by Keynoter Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Analyst John Olson, Houston Energy Partners, sometimes described as "the energy analyst Enron couldn't buy," from his vantage point of many years watching the natural gas market, will offer his perspective on the wild ride to get to this point and what he sees ahead for U.S. companies.

From the West, GasMart featured speakers include: Chairman Keith Rattie, of Questar Corp., a large producer and pipeline operator, and President Scott Parker, of Kinder Morgan's Natural Gas Pipelines Group, who recently put together support - in record time - for the $4 billion Rockies Express pipeline to carry gas to the East.

Others who will offer assessments of Rockies development include Gary Charette, Vice President, El Paso Pipelines Group, Fred Barrett, new chairman of Bill Barrett Corp., Stuart Nance of Ultra Petroleum, and Porter Bennett, president of Bentek Energy, whose new software system monitors production going into and out of pipelines all across the U.S.

From another supply area, W. Reid Lea, Executive Vice President of W&T Offshore, Inc. will discuss Gulf of Mexico resources and Clay Harris, President & CEO of Suez LNG North American will tell GasMart attendees where and when increased LNG supplies will materialize. Jay P. Lukens, President, Lukens Energy Group, will assess storage and offer a market overview.

GasMart's marketing and risk management experts include John D'Agostino, Partner/COO of the MotherRock hedge fund, Jim Allison, Regional Risk Manager for ConocoPhillips, Tom Saal, Managing Director, of Commercial Brokerage Corp., who advises producers and industrial clients, Janelle Scheuer, Vice President of CalBear Energy LP, a new marketing combination of Calpine and Bear Stearns, and Griff Jones, CEO of Eagle Energy Partners, an energy management business chaired by former Dynegy Chairman Chuck Watson.

And from the consumer side, Alex Strawn, Senior Purchasing Manager of Procter & Gamble will join a panel with Ronald Lukas, Vice President, KeySpan Energy and Jon F. Sorenson, Partner, of Competitive Energy Services, exploring the demand prospects going forward.

Sponsors include the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and the Natural Gas Exchange (NGX). More than 30 companies will have their products in the Exhibit Hall.

Attendees who register for GasMart 2006 before the earlybird deadline April 3 can choose between joining a golf tournament in the afternoon or attending a Rockies baseball game in the evening of Wednesday, May 3. Or they can simply claim a pass for a spa session. These events are free before April 3, and there is limited space available for the golf and baseball. Go to gasmart.com for a complete program and registration information.

It is suggested those planning to attend make their reservations early at the brand new Hyatt Regency Denver in the heart of downtown while GasMart-discounted room rates are still available. All GasMart sessions and the Exhibit Hall will be in the hotel.

GasMart attendees also may register for one-day pre-conference sessions, May 2, with a program and rate especially designed for GasMart. These include:

-- "Hedging Natural Gas Prices; Adversity and Opportunity," presented by Alan Levine, Morgan Stanley IIG

-- "Sarbanes/Oxley & FAS133 and Natural Gas Derivative Hedging," presented by Elie Zabal with INSSINC

-- "LNG Fundamentals - Can Global Gas Keep Us Warm?" presented by Enerdynamics

-- "An Introduction to NGL Fundamentals," presented by Anne Keller with OPIS

This will be the 20th anniversary GasMart, which was initially conceived to bring together participants in the brand new competitive natural gas market. Over 25,000 people have attended the annual GasMart event since 1986.

The event is hosted by Intelligence Press, publisher of the Natural Gas Intelligence newsletters. Our newsletter website is intelligencepress.com. Intelligence Press Inc. has been publishing the weekly Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI) since 1981. We also publish the weekly NGI's Gas Price Index and daily and real-time NGI's Daily Gas Price Index and Power Market Today.

Source: Business Wire

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