2023 Northeast Agenda

In the last decade, Appalachia natural gas production rocketed up to more than 35 Bcf/d, often straining infrastructure and crushing local price basis. With Mountain Valley Pipeline’s prospects at risk and no new major Northeast takeaway pipeline additions likely, producers and marketers are adapting to a new normal. What will that mean for regional supply availability/response and prices?

As the decarbonization journey continues, much is being learned about the vital role that natural gas must play going forward. Decarbonization in isolation, without considering other critical energy elements (reliability and affordability), is a hollow goal. This panel will share insight around how we can realistically achieve a low-carbon energy future, by intelligently leveraging natural gas in the energy mix. Natural gas supply is plentiful, reliable and affordable. Natural gas infrastructure (existing and new) offers great opportunities for innovation in re-purposing such as Carbon Capture, H2 blending, Certified Gas delivery, to achieve low-carbon goals.

As natural gas markets evolve through energy transition, challenges are encountered that demand improvements in technology solutions to facilitate and streamline transactions across the value chain. Fortunately, leading technology providers are rising to this challenge with innovative solutions to anticipate the evolution. This panel will introduce several examples of solutions that are available now to optimize efficiency of transactions and coalesce a fragmented market. Examples will be presented from a practical, non-technical, commercially oriented perspective. Technologies underlying these innovations include Artificial Intelligence (AI; e.g. ChatGPT); predictive analytics, simulation software, blockchain, cloud-based access from anywhere, integration (e.g. EDI), customizable APIs, data digitization, encryption and cybersecurity, workflow optimization, etc.

Gas market outlook for 2023 / 2024

As the energy transition gains momentum, innovative operators are introducing a raft of new products marketed as Responsibly Sourced Gas (RSG), with a lower carbon intensity by means of a range of creative commercial transactions that mitigate carbon content. With the market aware of potential “greenwashing” a key element of these arrangements involves use of independent tracking, analysis and certification of actual carbon footprint of various fuel sources. This Panel is comprised of Executives from leading independent analytical, assessment and certification entities that are active in the market. Discussion will include explanation of processes, supporting technologies and commercial arrangements of solutions, leveraging examples based upon real-life case studies.

From a standstill in 2015, American exports of LNG briefly approached 15 billion cubic feet per day in April 2023. That trade volume is more than Australia’s total daily gas production and the equivalent of about 90% of Canada’s gas output. These reliable supplies from the world’s largest gas producing nation played a crucial role in helping Europe and Asia turn away from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. However, the exceptionally warm winter of 2022-23 substantially reduced demand for gas as a heating fuel while a global slump in manufacturing activity simultaneously curbed its use in industrial production. The resulting surge in inventory has sent cash prices reeling and is now forcing steep cuts to U.S. field production, even as the Russian war intensifies and a new winter is less than six months away. In this talk, Colin Fenton will explain why U.S. natural gas will remain an indispensable commodity for securing the world’s economic and geostrategic health for decades to come.

Policy, regulatory and NGO resistance to continued development of natural gas markets is building. This panel examines several innovative solutions being employed by leading stakeholders to overcome these headwinds. Examples include virtual pipeline, mobile energy solutions, RNG, project development and construction, as well as traditional pipeline transportation innovations.

Please join our hosts, the Corporate Sponsors, at a cocktail reception in your honor. Don’t make your dinner plans too early as hors d’oeuvres and an open bar will be the highlight of this extremely well attended session!

End users of natural gas include Gas Distribution Utilities (Commercial & Residential), Industrial (Petrochem, Process, Heat) and PowerGeneration. Gas Buyers representing these entities often have a different perspective than other stakeholders across the value chain when it comes to market conditions, developments, and issues. Whether regulated or unregulated, Gas Buyers exist at the end of the value chain, essentially faced with reacting to market developments that are generally out of their control. Creative negotiation of commercial purchasing terms are vital to these constituents ensuring flexibility, security of supply, and competitive prices. This panel will shed light on gas buyer perspectives on a number of topical issues.
•Utilities – natgas distribution utilities; combined gas/electric utilities (regulated).
•PowerGen – utilities using natgas to generate power (regulated).
•IPPs – independent power producers using natgas to generate power (merchant power, combined cycle, etc. (non-regulated).
•Industrials – manufacturers of products that rely on natgas for process or heat.
•Petrochemical – manufacturers of petrochemical products that rely on natgas for process or heat.
•Merchant Energy – independent operators purchasing natgas to convert into other energy sources (e.g. methanol, etc.).
•We will take the Panel through the following topic categories and ask for perspectives on the various categories and specific questions.
•Buyer’s are expected to have a variety of perspectives based upon each unique situation (e.g. regulated vs. non-regulated; criticality; etc.).
•Panel discussion of each topic/question is encouraged.
•Market Fundamentals (Supply, Demand, Pricing)
•Midstream
•Energy Transition
•Gas Supply Arrangements
•Regulatory / Policy
•Power Generation