Recent Projects

Gas Balances

• UK consumer response to high wholesale gas prices; a study for the UK Department of Trade and Industry
• Appointed as advisors to Norsk Shell (on behalf of all the partners) on the Ormen Lange gas field project appraisal; provided an assessment of delivered cost for the gas versus alternative supplies (including LNG) for Spain and other large energy economies
• Produced a study for an incumbent European gas supplier evaluating entry into the French and Spanish gas markets: analysis was split by company and by region
• Advised the European Commission on the changes that had occurred as a result of the gas market’s opening in August 2000; project included a survey of 200 industry members; results found that new entrants with strong gas portfolios were having the most success, and that while there was evidence of a small decline in prices, there were still large problems with TPA
• Worked for the U.S. power developers Entergy and El Paso, providing 15-year gas-price forecasts for gas into Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom as part of profitability assessments for new CCGT power plants in those counties; also assessed capacity of the gas-transmission system in those countries

Gas-Contract Review and Gas Storage

• Assessed the value of gas-storage assets and projects in Spain
• Produced a study for a Norwegian E&P company analyzing past trends in gas buying, the future outlook for long-term contracts, and strategic responses producers could make
• Appointed to advise the European Commission on the question of whether gas-market liberalization will reduce the availability of long-term contracts and in turn discourage financing of the infrastructure projects required to deliver gas into the EU; also assessed alternative finance mechanisms, and provided recommendations that would alleviate concerns about security of supply
• Produced a study for a global energy producer and supplier evaluating market entry into the European gas storage industry, which included asset-specific valuation
• Provided a review of the Italian energy market to establish whether the value of gas had changed significantly during the agreement of the original contract and impending first deliveries; carried out a detailed comparison of supply, demand, and price conditions in the market (with special emphasis on the power sector) between the two dates, and established a series of criteria against which provisions of the contract could be tested: This evidence was used in establishing whether there had been significant structural changes in the market
• In support of a German gas contract review, provided data and analysis for the last 10 years of German border prices on a quarterly basis in relation to oil product prices, with particular emphasis on the Rheinschiene; also provided implications for the future.
• Assessed competing LNG supply sources and terminal capacity for a gas producer considering entry into the U.S. Eastern Seaboard
• Through a European and U.S. gas market entry study, reported on the market and regulatory environment for an oil and gas producer considering developing North African gas reserves
• Acted as a gas-contract consultant to a large gas producer supplying into Spain, providing detailed Spanish-market pricing and consumption information to assist in a gas-contract pricing review; included detailed analysis of the power-generation sector and development of gas-to-gas competition

Power Balances

• Provided a major coal producer with an assessment of the impact of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on power and coal prices in Europe
• Produced a study for a European gas supplier on the competitive position of European power-market participants

Energy Policy Review and Advice

• Acted for a government agency in Qatar, advising them on pricing tariff options for gas sales; evaluated the impact of different pricing regimes for the domestic and external sectors (LNG projects to the United States and Europe); and assessed pricing regimes’ impact on revenues and economic development
• Conducted European Commission project to produce the 2003 and 2004 annual energy and transport review; surveyed large energy buyers, providing detailed analysis and profiling of 20 large European energy buyers' operations, locations, and energy-buying policies