2012 Northeast Agenda

How a Wishy-Washy Natural Gas Market Provoked an Investment Resurgence… And More Reasons Why the Natural Gas Market Won’t Spiral Forever

• The natural gas futures market spent the first decade of its existence as a mute market before supply concerns triggered an investment renaissance (sort of)…and then the rollercoaster ride began.


• Generated by supply concerns the market responded to a supply/demand equilibrium shift that shaped volatile prices previously unseen in the market prior to the new century. Price volatility and supply availability were the watchwords paramount to manage risk.


• The shale gas revolution has moved end-user focus away from concerns about supply and lowered the mean price of natural gas away from decade highs and closer to historic low prices. These low prices may have an intense impact on future drilling, which could impact available supplies.


• Is a return to natural gas price volatility inevitable?


• How do producers see the current market and what might their response look like from an available supply perspective?


• One model we might research is that of manufacturers of the past. The problem that all manufacturers have had over the years…at what price do we achieve equilibrium, which is defined as producers being willing to invest and receive an acceptable return on investment? And at what level do end users find acceptable costs?


• It’s a given that we will have high storage at the end of the current injection season. Recent rig count reports have the pursuit of natural gas seemingly weakening. Prices will have to rise enough to encourage producers to drill. Seeking a return to equilibrium may traverse the price volatility path, again…or will current associated gas production be more than enough to meet current and future demand?

This session offers a fast paced review of what we know and what we expect to impact the natural gas industry, markets and prices in the Northeast. How will government / environmental regulations affect the price and usage of natural gas for the future? There are still many questions that remain regarding Dodd / Frank, EPA regulations and from FERC for the NE region. What is the role that natural gas will play in meeting the interrelated goals of environmental sustainability, economic growth and energy security? Will new rules on Hydraulic Fracturing and Green Completions change the pace of U.S. gas development?

With expansion of emerging economies and their thirst for energy, the world continues to rapidly change and so do the risks within the Natural Gas Industry...new challenges, new opportunities and new rewards await! Our panel will discuss the Fresh Realities of the “day” and the prospects for the Northeast Region.

“The Role of Natural Gas: Fueling America’s Economic Growth”

• Natural gas is an abundant resource that will continue to provide economic benefits for communities across the United States.


• New technologies are making it possible to safely and economically produce more cleaner-burning natural gas than ever before.

Pipelines, Transportation, Storage, LNG Import/Export, NGLs and More ~ Hear about the many projects in the region that are affecting the natural gas industry in the region and around the country ~ Marcellus Shale Play is the Real Deal! From gas-to-liquids pipeline conversions to LNG exports, the projects are numerous throughout the Northeast and this is THE PLACE to learn how these could “make or break” your strategy in 2013.