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October 11, 2011

Energy Data Highlights

Crude oil futures price

10/6/2011: $82.59/bbl up$0.45 from week earlier up$0.36 from year earlier
Natural gas futures price

10/6/2011: $3.598/mmBtu down$0.149 from week earlier down$0.272 from year earlier
Weekly coal production

10/1/2011: 21.911 million tons up0.718 million tons from week earlier up0.481 million tons from year earlier
Natural gas inventories

9/30/2011: 3,409 Bcf up97 Bcf from week earlier down78 Bcf from year earlier
Crude oil inventories

9/30/2011: 336.3 mmbbl down4.7 mmbbl from week earlier down24.7 mmbbl from year earlier
http://www.eia.gov/

Natural Gas/ Power News

EIA Storage Release 10/6/11 (Actual): +97 Bcf Previous Week: +111 Bcf -2.2% Change from 1 Year Ago +0.8% Change 5-year Average Shale Gas & the Re-Shaping of European Power Politics Russia clearly holds now the balance of power when it comes to European energy security. However, the current Eurozone economic crisis and the development of massive European shale gas reserves are set to combine to re-shape entirely the landscape of European power politics no matter what the politicking of Brussels or Moscow. Of the rich band of shale gas across much of northern and Eastern

Europe, and large deposits are thought to be beneath Ukraine, Poland, Germany, France, the UK, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. In early September 2011, the Ukraine, once again clashing with its Russian gas providers over prices and outstanding payments, and committed to cutting Russian gas imports from 34 billion to 12 cubic metres within five years, has just signed a deal by which Shell expect to invest up to $800 million in a bid to speed up the Ukraines domestic natural gas production. The countrys reserves could well prove to be the biggest in Europe. http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/10/07/shale-gas-the-re-shaping-of-european-powerpolitics/

Putin Courts China to Bridge Divide on Gas Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia is nearing an agreement with China to supply natural gas to the worlds biggest energy consumer. Those who sell always want to sell at a higher price, while those who buy want to buy at a lower price, Putin said today at the start of a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Beijing. We need to reach a compromise that will satisfy both sides. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-10/putin-courts-china-as-russia-seeksto-bridge-differences-on-gas.html Houston firm Complete to merge with Superior New Orleans-based Superior Energy Services is buying Houstons Complete Production Services for about $2.7 billion in a cash-and-stock deal that will combine the two mid-size energy service firms. http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/10/10/houston-oil-field-services-firm-complete-tomerge-with-superior/

Crude Oil News

OPEC Daily Basket Price 10/10/2011- $104.67 (10/7/2011- $103.22)

Recent Rig Counts Change from Prior Count 22 Date of Prior Count 30 Sept 11 Change Date of from Last Last Year's Year Count +341 8 Oct 10

Area U.S.

Last Count

Cou nt

7 Oct 11 2012

Canada

7 Oct 11 522

12 -9

30 Sept 11 August 2011

+119 +54

8 Oct 10 September 2010

Internatio Septemb 1174 nal er 2011

http://investor.shareholder.com/bhi/rig_counts/rc_index.cfm

Crude Oil Drops From Two-Week High in New York Before Vote on Europe Debt Oil fell from its highest in more than two weeks in New York before a government vote in Slovakia on the euro areas bailout fund that may endanger a recovery in the regions economy. Futures slipped as much as 1.3 percent and European equities fell after European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said the regions debt crisis has reached a systemic dimension. Crude climbed 2.9 percent yesterday after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicholas Sarkozy said they will deliver a plan to recapitalize the regions banks by Nov. 3. An Energy Department report Oct. 13 may show U.S. crude supplies rose last week. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-10/oil-trades-near-two-week-high-oneuropean-debt-pledge-u-s-growth-outlook.html Brent slips below $108 on euro bank woes, dollar Brent crude oil fell more than $1 to below $108 per barrel on Tuesday on concerns over the health of the euro zone economy and as Kuwaiti oil exports resumed after a strike by the country's customs union. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/11/us-markets-oilidUSTRE7922QH20111011 Oil slips below $85 as markets await European has plan to contain debt crisis Oil prices slipped below $85 a barrel Tuesday, as doubts surfaced about expanding a bailout plan in Europe and OPEC cut its estimate for world oil demand. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for November delivery was down 63 cents at $84.78 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $2.43 to settle at $85.41 in New York on Monday http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/markets/oil-rises-to-near-84-in-asiaamid-encouraging-us-jobs-data-possible-europe-debt-crisisplan/2011/10/10/gIQAFFnBZL_story.html Big Prize Awaits Energy Patch Samson Investment Co., one of the country's largest privately held oil and gas explorers, is considering strategic options including whether to sell itself in a deal that could fetch as much as $10 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. The Tulsa, Okla.-based company, little known outside the oil patch, has been seeking a financial adviser to assess a range of options from setting up a joint venture to a full sale, the people said. Hiring an investment bank would be a

first step, although the company could still decide not to proceed further, they cautioned. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297020445080457662345331094976 0.html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollection Coast Guard: Sunken rig is not the source of the Gulf sheen The U.S. Coast Guard does not believe the sunken drilling rig Deepwater Horizon is the source of oil sheens spotted near the site several times this past summer. No discharge or leaking from the riser or the wreckage was observed, the Coast Guard statement said. The cause of the sheens remains under investigation. http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/10/10/coast-guard-sunken-rig-is-not-the-source-ofthe-gulf-sheen/

Thai bourse to start oil futures trade on Oct. 17 The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is to start trading in oil futures on Monday, Oct. 17, to offer an alternative investment for local investors and help business operators manage energy-related costs better. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/11/thailand-oil-futuresidUSL3E7LB10G20111011

In Uncertain Times, a Need for Stability Whether we consider economic or political factors, reading the new energy map of 2011 is difficult. Political instability in the oil exporting countries of the Middle East and North Africa has led to changes in governments, new political actors and, in some cases, a temporary suspension of oil producing and exporting activities. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/business/energy-environment/in-uncertaintimes-a-need-for-stability.html?_r=1

Weather

Tropical Depression IRWIN http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/#IRWIN 6 to 10 Day Outlooks Temperature

Precipitation

8 to 14 Day Outlooks Temperature

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