U.S. Natural Gas Net Imports at Lowest Levels Since 1992

The preliminary estimate of U.S. natural gas average daily net imports—imports minus exports—was just over 5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcfd) in 2011, which was the lowest level since 1992 (see chart above). Net import declines are due to both lower imports and higher exports; U.S. net imports of natural gas peaked in August 2007 at 10 Bcfd, and have fallen markedly since.



Imports
The United States imports natural gas via pipelines from Canada and Mexico, and from tanker deliveries to liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals. Some key points include:

• The vast majority of U.S. natural gas imports arrive via pipeline from Canada (see chart below). Significant increases in U.S. natural gas production have led to decreased U.S. demand for Canadian natural gas. Imports from Canada for 2011 were significantly below the previous five-year range, and have been lower for much of 2012 so far (some of this decline, however, can be attributed to warmer-than-usual weather across much of the United States).
• LNG is the other main source of imported natural gas, however average daily deliveries from U.S. LNG terminals from January 1, 2012 through March 15, 2012 averaged 0.6 Bcf/d, down about 44% from a comparable period in 2011. Higher natural gas prices in competing markets abroad are attracting "spot" LNG cargoes that can be delivered under flexible pricing terms. LNG imports through U.S. terminals peaked in 2007 at over 2.1 Bcfd.
• U.S. natural gas imports from Mexico are negligible, totaling just 2.7 Bcf, or about 7.3 million cubic feet per day in 2011. Imports from Mexico enter primarily through southern Texas and southeastern California.

Exports
U.S. exports of natural gas are up over the past decade. Some key factors underpinning the growth in exports are:

• Domestic natural gas production is growing, primarily from shale gas formations. Some of this production is being shipped on pipelines into Canada and Mexico (see chart below).
• Much of the growth in natural gas exports to Canada is due to increased deliveries on U.S. pipelines to natural gas storage facilities in Ontario.
• Exports to Mexico reached a high in 2011, averaging almost 1.4 Bcfd for the year, exceeding the previous high of 1.1 Bcfd in 2004.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Natural Gas Monthly, Table 4 - U.S. Natural Gas Imports and Exports.

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Rumor of Strategic Oil Reserves Being Released Push Market Lower

As we have stated before the 104 area is an area of support for the April contract. Today’s non announcement rumor of strategic oil reserves being released by Britain and the US push this market down to the 104 support level. We still believe that this market is going to move higher.

We continue to like the chart formation which we believe will eventually push this market higher until early April. We are looking for crude oil to make its highs probably somewhere in the April May period.

With a trading score of -70 we believe this market is regrouping to move higher later in the month. With our monthly trade triangles in a positive mode, we expect to see further gains in crude oil. Long term traders should be long this market with appropriate money management stops.

Crude oil [April contract] closed lower on Thursday as it extends the trading range of the past two weeks. The mid range close sets the stage for a steady opening on Friday. Stochastics and the RSI remain bearish hinting that a short term top might be in or is near.

Closes below last Wednesday's crossing at 104.35 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. If April renews this winter's rally, the 2011 high crossing at 114.09 is the next upside target.

First resistance is this month's high crossing at 110.55. Second resistance is the 2011 high crossing at 114.09. First support is today's low crossing at 103.78. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 97.73.

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Five States Accounted for About 56% of Total U.S. Crude Oil Production in 2011

Combined oil production (crude oil and lease condensate) from the top five U.S. oil-producing states increased during 2011 (see chart above). The biggest gains were in North Dakota and Texas, due in large part to increased horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing activity. Texas, Alaska, California, North Dakota, and Oklahoma accounted for about 56% of U.S. oil production last year, according to EIA's February Petroleum Supply Monthly report.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly.
Note: Production data includes crude oil and lease condensate.

 Highlights from the top oil producing states in 2011 included:

• Texas. The Eagle Ford shale formation in south Texas contributed to gains in the state's oil production, which averaged 1,425 thousand barrels per day (bbl/d), the highest level since 1997.
• Alaska. Oil production fell for the ninth year in row, averaging 563 thousand bbl/d.
• California. Oil production averaged 535 thousand bbl/d, the lowest level in at least three decades.
• North Dakota. Preliminary data indicate increasing oil production from the Bakken formation pushed North Dakota ahead of California in December as the third biggest oil-producing state. North Dakota's oil production averaged 535 thousand bbl/d in December 2011 and 419 thousand bbl/d for the year.
• Oklahoma. Oil production averaged 204 thousand bbl/d during 2011, topping 200 thousand bbl/d for the first time since 1998.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly.

Note: Production data includes crude oil and lease condensate. 

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Crude Oil, Natural Gas and Gold market Commentary For Tuesday March 13th

Crude oil [April contract] posted an inside day with a higher close on Tuesday as it extends the trading range of the past two weeks. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI remain neutral to bearish hinting that a short term top might be in or is near. Closes below last Wednesday's crossing at 104.35 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. If April renews this winter's rally, the 2011 high crossing at 114.09 is the next upside target. First resistance is this month's high crossing at 110.55. Second resistance is the 2011 high crossing at 114.09. First support is last Wednesday's low crossing at 104.35. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 97.73.

Natural gas [April contract] posted a key reversal up due to short covering on Tuesday as it consolidated some of the decline off February's high. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold and are turning neutral to bullish hinting that a short term low might be in or is near. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 2.537 would confirm that a short term low has been posted. If April extends the multi year decline, monthly support crossing at 1.960 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 10 day moving average crossing at 2.376. Second resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 2.537. First support is today's low crossing at 2.204. Second support is monthly support crossing at 1.960.

Gold [April contract] closed sharply lower due to strength in the financial markets on Tuesday. The low range close sets the stage for a steady to lower opening on Wednesday. Stochastics and the RSI are oversold and are turning neutral to bullish hinting that a low is in or near. Closes above the 20 day moving average crossing at 1726.90 would temper the near term bearish outlook. If April renews the decline off February's high, the reaction low crossing at 1652.20 is the next downside target. First resistance is the 20 day moving average crossing at 1726.90. Second resistance is February's high crossing at 1792.70. First support is last Tuesday's low crossing at 1663.40. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 1652.20.

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The Dead Cat (SP500) Did Bounce Just As We Expected!

Stocks are pushing deep into a resistance level with very light volume… not a bullish sign. This is why we took profits yesterday with our SSO trade once we reached our dead cat bounce target of 2.5%. With it being Friday volume should only get lighter as the say progresses. I am starting to look at buying SDS as risk is low in my opinion but I’m going to let the morning play out first and re analyze in the afternoon.

Pre-Dead Cat Bounce Warning:

The rising market has sent the volatility index tumbling lower and this just goes to show why you must manage position and use protective stops. I know many of you were angry that I said to take partial profits and that we got stopped out yesterday on the VXX trade for a net gain of 2.9% in three days. Maybe one day emotional traders will see that you must trade with the market and adjust your trade outlook while in the trade. The market does not stop and wait for you to see the light, rather it will just steam roll you and never look back.

So with that being said I am starting to really like the VXX again for another buy signal. With any luck it could keep dropping for most of the session and we could go long this afternoon.

Crude oil is moving nicely in our favor today up another 2% on our 2x leveraged ETF’s. I am keeping my stop at breakeven for now as but that may change by the end of the day if we break the $109 level which is unlikely. Where to put your stops for any trade is always a tough call. It varies on the time frame, overall market condition and the size of your position so don’t think it’s just as simple s using the previous pivot high or low. That being said, those are good places for them if you have the timing correct or if the market co-operates with you…

*One key thing to point out today, the dollar bounced off support which is what I warned about last night and again this morning in pre-market. The strong bounce in the dollar has not caused any selling in oil or stocks this morning. I think that is based on the strong jobs report this morning. More jobs means businesses should be getting stronger and the more gas/oil will be consumed. But if the dollar keeps on moving higher and breaks above this key resistance level in the next few trading sessions then it will likely cause selling in stocks. Oil may hold up because demand will still be there.

Let’s see how this week unfolds!

Chris Vermeulen – Get our free Trade Ideas at Technical Traders.Com

Phil Flynn: Excessive Risk Assumption!

In the battle over speculation, I truly believe that many do not understand what is going on. Perhaps it is the word “speculation” that is causing some of the confusion. When the word “speculator” is used it conjures up the images of Wall Street Fat Cats in a sushi filled room hatching evil, deceptive plans to corner a market and doom us all. The truth is that the only reason the economy exist is because we have people who are willing speculate because it carries considerable financial risk with the hopes of making a profit.

Farmers speculate that when they plant a crop that it will grow and they will have someone who will want to buy it from them. Airlines speculate everyday hoping that people will want to travel and they can charge enough for their plane tickets to cover food costs. Even the guy who delivers your pizza speculates that you will tip him enough to cover the cost of his gas. Some speculations carry little risk and some carry considerably more and the potential for profit and the size of profit are all tied back to the amount of risk the speculator assumes by his actions.

Now sometimes these speculative thoughts may not pan out especially if the guy who delivers the pizza gets a cheapskate and thus no tip. Or the farmer that either can’t grow the crop due to drought or perhaps he chose to grow what ended up being the wrong crop a particular year where demand was not what he tonight it might be. Or an airline that fails to get as many passengers as wanted because of stiff competition or surging fuel costs. Every one of these speculators is taking a risk because if this event happens or that event doesn't happen, they could go out of business. Read Phil's entire article.......

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Peter Beutel, Energy Analyst and Editor at Daily Energy Hedger Dies at 56

Peter Beutel, an analyst and editor of the Daily Energy Hedger newsletter, who often appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg Television and Fox News, has died. He was 56.

Beutel died yesterday of a heart attack at his home in New Canaan, Connecticut, his mother, Gail Beutel, said. His father, Bill Beutel, was the anchorman for New York’s WABC-TV for more than 30 years and died in 2006.

Peter Beutel, founder and president of Cameronhanover.com, an energy advisory company, died in New Canaan, Connecticut. He was 56.

He was president of Cameron Hanover, an energy research and risk management company he founded in 1994. Based in New Canaan, it provides fundamental and technical analysis of crude oil, natural gas and other energy markets, and published the Daily Energy Hedger.

In his 2005 book, “Surviving Energy Prices,” Beutel recounts the history of oil trading since about 1850, when people relied on coal for heat and whale oil for light. Crude “was an alternative source of energy, like wind power and solar energy are today,” he wrote.

“In the last 20 years, rampant price fluctuations have forced everyone buying, selling or using oil to reconsider the way they do business,” Beutel wrote. “The world keeps changing, and there’s nothing new in that.”

Peter C. Beutel was born on July 22, 1955. His father, in addition to anchoring news at WABC, was the first host of “AM America,” which eventually became ABC’s nationally televised “Good Morning America” program.

From E.F. Hutton......
The younger Beutel graduated from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1977, 24 years after his father had done so.

Peter Beutel began working on Wall Street at E.F. Hutton in 1979, according to Cameron Hanover’s website. His career took him to Gill & Duffus, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and Merrill Lynch & Co., where he worked prior to starting Cameron Hanover.

“Peter was a great friend and business partner,” said Vince Lanci, managing partner and a partner with Beutel at FMX Connect LLC, a Stamford, Connecticut based commodity information provider. “He was an oil analyst for more than 30 years, going back to the days of E.F. Hutton. He will be sorely missed.”

Posted courtesy of Bloomberg News

ONG: Crude Oil Weekly Technical Outlook For Saturday March 10th

Crude oil dipped to 104.35 last week but drew support form 38.2% retracement of 95.44 to 110.55 at 104.78 and recovered. However, the recovery was weak so far and looks corrective. The development suggest that another decline would be seen as correction from 110.55 extends. Below 104.35 will target 61.8% retracement at 101.21. On the upside, break of 110.55 will confirm rally resumption for 114.83 key resistance. But before that, more consolidative trading would be seen first.

In the bigger picture, the medium term up trend from 33.2 shouldn't be completed yet. Rise from 74.95 is indeed tentatively treated as resumption of such rally. Sustained break of 114.83 will target 61.8% projection of 33.2 to 114.83 from 74.95 at 125.40. On the downside, though, break of 95.44 support will indicate that correction pattern from 114.83 is going to extend further with another falling leg to 74.95 and below before completion.

In the long term picture, crude oil is in a long term consolidation pattern from 147.27, with first wave completed at 33.2. The corrective structure of the rise from 33.2 indicates that it's second wave of the consolidation pattern. While it could make another high above 114.83, we'd anticipate strong resistance ahead of 147.24 to bring reversal for the third leg of the consolidation pattern.

Nymex Crude Oil Continuous Contract 4 Hour, Daily, Weekly and Monthly Charts


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Crude Oil Bulls Struggle to Show They Have The Advantage

Crude oil closed higher due to short covering on Thursday as it consolidated some of Tuesday's decline. The high range close sets the stage for a steady to higher opening on Friday.

Stochastics and the RSI remain bearish signaling that a short term top might be in or is near. Closes below Wednesday's crossing at 104.35 are needed to confirm that a short term top has been posted. If April renews this winter's rally, the 2011 high crossing at 114.09 is the next upside target.

First resistance is last Thursday's high crossing at 110.55. Second resistance is the 2011 high crossing at 114.09. First support is Wednesday's low crossing at 104.35. Second support is the reaction low crossing at 97.73.

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U.S. Petroleum Product Exports Exceeded Imports in 2011 For First Time in Over Six Decades

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly.
Notes: Net exports equal gross exports minus gross imports. Negative net export values indicate net imports.

The United States in 2011 exported more petroleum products, on an annual basis, than it imported for the first time since 1949, but American refiners still imported large, although declining, amounts of crude oil, according to full-year trade data from EIA's Petroleum Supply Monthly February report. The increase in foreign purchases of distillate fuel contributed the most to the United States becoming a net exporter of petroleum products.

U.S. petroleum product net exports (exports minus imports) averaged 0.44 million barrels per day (bbl/d) in 2011, with imports at a nine-year low of close to 2.4 million bbl/d and exports at a record high of nearly 2.9 million bbl/d. The gap between exports and imports widened the most during the second half of the year from August through December (see charts below), with total monthly exports topping 3 million bbl/d for the first time.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly.

Strong global demand helped propel distillate exports, as distillate fuel, which includes diesel, had a higher profit margin for U.S. refiners than gasoline. Refiners also had access to increased supplies of crude oil imports from Canada, which in 2011 topped 2 million bbl/d for the first time, and from North Dakota's Bakken formation to process into petroleum products.

The United States remained a net importer of crude oil, some of which was refined into petroleum products that were then exported. Petroleum products were ranked second in value of all U.S. exports during 2011 at $111.1 billion, up 60% from 2010, according to U.S. Department of Commerce trade data. Vehicles were the number one U.S. export last year at $132.5 billion. Crude oil was the biggest U.S. import, valued at $331.6 billion, up 32% from 2010. Rising crude oil prices, rather than higher crude oil import volumes, were the key driver of the increased value of crude oil imports.

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