“EIA expects U.S. net imports to be slightly higher in 2010 as a projected decline in pipeline imports is offset by lower exports and higher imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). While cold weather across the northern hemisphere has helped absorb some of the new LNG supply that has recently come on-stream, U.S. LNG imports are forecast to increase by nearly 0.8 Bcf/d over last year in the first quarter 2010. For 2010 as a whole, U.S. LNG imports are forecast to increase by about 45 percent (or 0.56 Bcf/d). As global LNG demand and import capacity expand next year, EIA expects U.S. LNG imports to show little year-over-year growth in 2011. ” Quoted from the EIA Short-Term Energy Outlook.

Does the US have an unlimited supply of inexpensive natural gas from shale that will be quickly produced or will the resource be produced more slowly and sold for higher prices? An essay in the Financial Times explores this question.

Range Resources reports a third quarter net loss of nearly $30 million even though their natural gas production levels broke a company record. The problem: low gas prices.

Much of the energy potential of the Arctic is based upon natural gas and natural gas liquids. As the shale plays in the United States and other parts of the world are developed they reduce the incentive for energy companies to tackle the challenging environment of the Arctic. From an EIA report on Arctic Ocean oil and gas potential.

The success of the shale gas plays has produced an enormous supply of natural gas in many parts of the world. Which companies will benefit from this and which will not? Jim Jubak explains that the answer depends upon the types of service they provide and their geographic location.

Jim Jubak, financial columnist at MSN Money wrote an article titled… “Has Natural Gas Hit Bottom? Not Yet!“… He believes that there is a huge oversupply and that gas companies are producing at high levels to pay debt and maintain earnings.

Natural gas producers have developed such a large production capacity and a deep resource base that the market now has an enormous overhang of natural gas that could take years to work off. More in an article at Bloomberg.com.

An article in the online edition of Barrons discusses the current build up in natural gas production capacity and how it is putting downward pressures on natural gas prices. As production from shales increases there is less opportunity for hurricanes to influence natural gas prices.

A blog post on the Wall Street Journal website explains how an excess of production over current consumption might lead to the widespread shutting in of natural gas wells until the winter heating season begins.

The 11th annual Unconventional Gas Conference will be begin on Wednesday November 18th at the Telus Convention Center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. More details from the Canadian Society for Unconventional Gas.

Exxon Mobil has a lot of cash held in reserve and some energy analysts believe that that money will be used for an acquisition while the stock prices of many oil and natural gas companies are down.  An article at CNN Money speculates that Chesapeake Energy might be a target.

Chesapeake Energy has suffered from the downturn in natural gas prices and the tight credit market. In a recent conference call for analysts, CEO Aubrey McClendon, says that the company is resilient, growing and making money. Details on the call at Forbes.com.

Chesapeake Energy recently announced that it would raise cash by selling additional shares of common stock. The market responded with a sharply lower share price. More at Forbes.com

Here is a very interesting read, the transcript from a recent business update call by Chesapeake Energy.  In it Chairman Aubrey McClendon comments on the stock price, natural gas prices, the value of the company and what he sees in the future.

A video on the Barron’s website discusses the potential of mergers and acquisitions in the US Energy patch related to the shale gas plays that are occurring in many parts of the country. Dimitria DeFotis says that the assets of some of these companies are not reflected in their stock price even with the recent declines in gas prices factored in. A Barrons article on this topic.