Based on expectations of higher demand, U.S. natural gas prices have been on an upward trend since March when they bottomed out at US$1.99 per million British thermal units, or MMBtus, an industry standard. Natural gas futures prices (December contract) are in the US$3.32 range. In Canada, prices on the Natural Gas Exchange in Alberta are at $2.55, also up from the summer months. (Alberta’s gas prices are based on NYMEX contract prices and have been discounted to reflect transportation costs, the province’s supply basin, foreign-exchange rates, and the conversion from MMBtu to gigajoules.) Natural gas production – a quick...