Classical gas: Hearty prices, robust demand combine to pump breezy optimism through 2005 forecasts

The outlook for natural gas in 2005 is said to be a watershed year, with a lengthy list of developments that could have significant effect on the industry for many years to come. In light of continuing high demand and static supply prospects, prices will have to continue to be high in order to ensure the necessary infrastructure investments to keep gas flowing from multiple sources to the consumer. It is predicted that against the backdrop of robust prices several supply initiatives will continue to advance rapidly in 2005, such as the $7 billion Mackenzie Gas Project on which public hearings are expected to start this summer, along with regulatory clarity about the $20 billion Alaska Highway Natural Gas Pipeline Project to move North Slope gas to southern markets. Drilling of new gas wells will continue to approach or even surpass 18,000 new wells, with an increasing number of these being coal-bed methane wells. Despite high level drilling activity, supply is expected to grow only about 400 MMcf per day. Greater supply increments are expected through continued LNG terminal development, although plans for new LNG terminal development have been met with stiff resistance from local residents both in Canada and the United States. Imports of liquefied natural gas into the United States slowed dramatically in 2004 under the severe short-term downward pressure on natural gas prices, nevertheless, these imports are expected to rebound to new record highs in 2005. Capacity is expected to climb from about 2.55 Bcf per day in 2004 to as much as 6.4 Bcf per day by late 2007. At least one Canadian import facility, Anadarko's one Bcf per day Bear Head terminal on Nova Scotia's Strait of Canso, is expected to become operational by late 2007 or early 2008. 6 photos