Ethane prices picked up this week as light NGLs showed greater strength, if not higher values, than their heavy counterparts for the second straight week at both Mont Belvieu and Conway.

NGL prices continued to fall for the eighth straight week at both Conway and Mont Belvieu as limited transportation and cracking capacity, increased processing capacity and falling crude oil prices are having negative effects on the market.

Natural gas liquids (NGL) and crude oil production has been the savior for shale play producers since the downturn in natural gas prices.

Natural gas liquid (NGL) prices remained relatively stable as the month of April came to a close.

Conway ethane margins dropped nearly 100% in the month of April as prices suffered from the delay in the start-up of transportation of E-P mix out of the hub to Nova Petrochemical’s plant in Sarnia, Canada.

The abundance of natural gas from U.S. shale plays is a tremendous resource, but low prices are frustrating gas producers.

Natural gas production and storage reached an all-time high in 2011, which combined to generate the lowest gas prices in 10 years, according to the FERC 2011 State of the Markets report released this week.

Ethane prices moved in opposite directions between Mont Belvieu and Conway as the Gulf Coast price rose 7% while the Mid-Continent price fell 22%, which pushed its frac spread into a negative zone.

“The good news is natural gas prices will stop going down at some point.”

“Is deliverance for natural gas here?” That question headlined a panel at the 19th Annual International Energy Conference held recently in Boulder, Colorado.

Natural gas liquid (NGL) prices improved at Mont Belvieu, but were down slightly at Conway as crude prices and demand remains flat.

ICF webinar weighs the future of gas production and consumption.

Ethane prices fell at both hubs this week due to several ethane crackers remaining down because of scheduled maintenance combined with weak propane prices.

Despite NGL prices remaining flat throughout the month, a sharp drop in natural gas prices helped support frac-spread margins in March at both Conway and Mont Belvieu.

Natural gas prices continued to drop to their lowest levels in a decade, thanks to a confluence of headwinds facing the industry.