We will continue to focus on our $24 billion near-term capital program which is expected to generate growth in earnings and cash flow to support an expected annual dividend growth rate at the upper end of an eight to 10 per cent range through 2020.

API - “The increased use of natural gas in electric power generation has not only enhanced the reliability of the overall system, but it has also provided significant environmental and consumer benefits. The abundance, affordability, low-emissions profile and flexibility of natural gas and natural gas-fired generating units make natural gas a fuel of choice. There is no question, however, that the bulk power system will continue to rely on multiple fuels, including natural gas, nuclear, coal, hydro, wind and solar, as projected by the Energy Information Administration.

U.S. Rig Count is up 418 rigs from last year's count of 522, with oil rigs up 325, gas rigs up 93, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. Canada Rig Count is up 51 rigs from last year's count of 162, with oil rigs up 29 and gas rigs up 22.

As noted by Alexey Miller, "since early 2017, China's gas demand has grown significantly; according to the latest data, in January-July alone gas consumption in China added 16 per cent compared to the same period of last year."

RasGas Company Limited sealed a landmark 15-yr LNG Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla). The agreement was signed in Doha by Mr. Hamad Mubarak Al-Muhannadi, CEO of RasGas, and Mr. Abdul Mansur Md Faizullah, Petrobangla Chairman.

So the $9.1bn stumped up by CEFC China Energy this month for a 14.16 per cent stake in Russian oil producer Rosneft was a welcome surprise for those keen for China to become a big investor in Russia.

U.S. Rig Count is up 424 rigs from last year's count of 511, with oil rigs up 326, gas rigs up 98, and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 1. Canada Rig Count is up 82 rigs from last year's count of 138, with oil rigs up 45 and gas rigs up 37.

Instead, with the planned referendum just days away, Russian state oil giant Rosneft announced its latest investment last week, to help Iraqi Kurdistan develop its natural gas industry, for domestic supplies and eventual export.

Iran exported over 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-August 22), Dispatching director of National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) announced.

The NYMEX October natural gas futures contract jumped 12.2 cents Monday to settle at $3.146/MMBtu, with warmer-than-average weather expected to persist through the end of September across major demand areas.