What You Will Learn:

Day One:

• A detailed understanding of all parts of the natural gas value chain, infrastructure components and how the natural gas industry operates across the value chain spectrum.
• What natural gas is, how it is created, the different “types” of natural gas based on various factors and sources, terminology, measurements and conversions.
• The essential of understanding how gas is used, by whom and what are demand drivers and related issues.
• The basics of natural gas production, drilling techniques and economic and market issues around production operations in different types of production basins that impact supply availability.
• Why the natural gas industry is at a critical supply and demand juncture.
• The issues and dilemmas the industry faces in obtaining supply from traditional and frontier basins as well as unconventional supply sources.
• The basics of gas gathering operations, market and regulatory issues.
• What gas processing is, how is operates, NGL extraction flows, the importance of the “frac-spread” and related economic issues in today’s market.
• The importance of gas quality issues and the economic, operational and regulatory concerns about gas quality and the different concerns along the value chain about gas quality and interchangeability.
• The keys parts of natural gas pipelines, how pipelines operate, who the pipeline players are and the significant issues pipeline face in a changing market.
• The importance of storage, the different types, operations and why storage development is a “hot” issue.
• How LNG storage and import terminals work and environmental concerns.
• Significant LDC physical plant-related operations, how they work and LDC economic and rate worries in today’s market.
• Who regulates what, where, how and why and how FERC policy, major Orders and regulations have evolved into today’s “open access” environment.
• How natural gas delivery and storage is regulated across the value chain and how it evolved to today's "open access" environment.
• Significant FERC regulatory initiatives, policies and Orders that have transformed the industry and currently “hot” policy and regulatory issues that may significantly change how the industry operates.
• The impacts of FERC’s policies on new pipelines, expansions and capacity.
• Evolving State regulatory concerns, issues and the changing role of state regulators.
• Overview of regulated rate components and rate design.
• The fundamentals of Certificate and Rate Proceedings and how to understand capacity matters and pipeline tariffs, transportation services, agreements and rates.
• The fundamentals of gas transportation operations on the wholesale and retail levels.
• How to assess transportation services and options and understand the wide range of transportation services and agreements.

Day Two:

• Who the key commercial value chain participants are and how they manage their respective segments.
• How the natural gas business is handled along each segment of the delivery value chain.
• What the secondary release capacity market is and how it operates.
• The essentials of “locational” basis differentials and the changing dynamics of transportation capacity markets.
• The essentials of wholesale natural gas commodity pricing, factors impacting price volatility and retail commodity price components.
• How wholesale gas trading is done at physical market centers versus electronic exchanges and their inter-dependencies.
• What LNG is and where does LNG come from, key countries and companies and other players in the LNG global marketplace.
• The details of the LNG Supply and Value Chain, and how value chain linkages interface and interact in competitive commercial LNG markets.
• How is LNG liquefied, transported, stored re-gasified and LNG safety and security issues.
• Market area and Supply area terminals, how they operate and the significant economic issues in development of these assets.
• Key factors impacting LNG the gas quality debate.
• How pipeline operations and market patterns could change with the markets growth plans for more LNG import terminals, the impacts on pipeline capacity, pipeline access and “locational” basis differential issues.
• The new “Internationalization” dynamics of natural gas and LNG markets.
• Evolving LNG Contracting issues versus traditional Contracting Issues.
• Trends in LNG pricing and issues impacting “global” and regional “locational“ basis differentials.
• Changing Market Liquidity for LNG products: U.S. Versus Global Trade issues.
• The Looming Pacific Basin versus Atlantic Basin Supply and Price Wars.
• How various market forces, governmental policies and regulations may affect the prospects for growth of an LNG spot market, domestic commodity prices and pipeline transportation capacity costs.

Seminar Agenda

Day One:

I.  Demand and Consumption Issues (1.0 hours)

• Natural Gas Physical Properties
• Key Consumption Sectors and Gas Uses
• Critical Gas Supply and Demand Issues
• Units of Measurement and Accounting
• Gas Conversions and Energy Comparisons

II. Upstream & Midstream Supply Infrastructures (1.0 hours)

• Domestic U.S. Gas Reserves and  Exploration
• Impacts on Supply Policy and Infrastructures
• Traditional versus Frontier Basins Issues
• LNG and International Supply Issues
• Production and Gathering Systems
• Gas and Liquids Processing
• Gas Quality and Interchangeability

III. Downstream Supply and Delivery Infrastructures (1.5 hours)

• Pipeline (Transmission) Infrastructures
• Pipeline Operations
• Natural Gas Storage and Operations
• LNG Import Facilities and Operations
• Distribution Infrastructures
• Distribution Operations

IV. Regulation and Market Development (1.5 hours)

• Evolution of Regulation and Restructuring
• Who Regulates What, Where, Why and How
• Regulatory Processes and Players
• Current FERC and State Regulatory Issues
• Major FERC Orders and Initiatives
• Open Access and Market Opportunities
• Primer on Economics, Costs, and Rates

V.  Fundamentals of Gas Transportation and Pipeline Capacity (2.0 hours)

• Transportation, Delivery Services and Transactions
• Pros and Cons of Different Types of Transportation Services
• Understanding, Nominations, Confirmations and Scheduling
• Understanding Locational Basis and Transportation Pricing     

Day Two:

I. Market Participants and Market Value Chains (2.5 hours)

• How Market Participants Interact Along Value Chain
• Key Participant Segments - Suppliers through End-users
• Wholesale Gas Trading and E-commerce Exchanges
• Physical Market Hubs, Electronic Exchanges and Market Centers
• Understanding Market Pricing and Drivers

II. Fundamentals of LNG Operations (2.5 hours)

• Physical Properties and Sourcing Issues
• Infrastructures and Value Chain Economics
• Transportation, Storage, Safety and Security
• Market Area and Supply Area Terminals
• Key factors Impacting LNG the Gas Quality Debate.
• Impacts on Pipeline Capacity for new LNG terminal projects.

III. Fundamentals of LNG Markets and Pricing (2.0 hours)

• New “Internationalization” Dynamics of LNG Markets.
• Global Infrastructure and Economic Issues
• Global Market and Trading Changes
• LNG Contracting and Pricing: Global versus U.S.
• Pacific Basin versus Atlantic Basin Supply and Price Wars
• Federal, State and Local Policy and Siting Issues

Your Instructor:

Greg Peters has over 20 years of energy industry consulting and management experience and is an expert in energy products and services marketing, and supply planning, procurement and energy management. Mr. Peters' consulting experience includes several years as Manager of Price Waterhouse's National Public Utilities Consulting Services and currently as President, Envision Energy Solutions Company. Envision provides gas, electric and fuel management consulting services to a wide range of industrial, commercial and municipal end-users. Previously, Mr. Peters has had fuel procurement, fuel management and planning responsibilities for Columbia Energy Services Corporation, Equitable Gas Company, and The Peoples Natural Gas Company.

Who Should Attend this Seminar?

Professionals from natural gas and electric utilities, energy producers, pipelines, municipals, energy marketers, banks, government regulators and industrial companies; energy and electric power executives; new hires; attorneys; government regulators; traders & trading support staff; marketing, sales, purchasing & risk management personnel; accountants & auditors; plant operators, engineers, corporate planners and anyone needing a strong foundation in the U. S. and Canadian natural gas business.

Prerequisites

This fundamental level group live seminar has no prerequisites. No advance preparation is required before the seminar.

Why Choose PGS?

PGS seminars are known for their clear explanations and in-depth content. Register for a PGS program today, and team up with the leader in electric power and energy education. Join over 5,000 energy and financial professionals who have already attended one or more of PGS's proven courses. View Past Seminar Attendees

Hotel & Seminar Information

This two-day seminar will be held at the hotels listed below or can be conducted on-site at your facilities. The seminar will start promptly at 9:00 AM and will finish at 4:00 PM on the first day. On the second day, the seminar will resume at 9:00 AM and will finish at 4:00 PM. The program includes continental breakfast, lunch, and coffee/cookie breaks for each day. Attendees also receive a professionally produced seminar manual that can serve as a valuable office reference. Dress is casual for all seminars.

NYC Torch Club (NYU Campus)
18 Waverly Place
New York, NY 10003
Telephone 1-212-998-6724
View Venue Website

PGS Energy Training will conduct this seminar at the Torch Club on the campus of New York University. Because of the diversity of hotels found in the area, PGS Energy Training will not be holding a block of sleeping rooms with one particular hotel. Should you need a list of local hotels in the area, please contact us at 412-521-4737 and we can help you with your accommodations.

Crowne Plaza Philadelphia City Center
1800 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Telephone 1-215-561-7500
View Hotel Website

PGS Energy Training has secured a limited number of Crowne Plaza hotel rooms at a special discounted rate. Please dial 1-215-561-7500 and mention the PGS Energy Training event for your discounted rate. Please sign up early to receive your special room rate. This hotel frequently sells out.

Doubletree Houston by the Galleria
5353 Westheimer Road
Houston, Texas 77056-5474
Telephone 1-713-961-9000
View Hotel Website

PGS Energy Training has secured a limited number of Doubletree hotel rooms at a special discounted rate. Please dial 1-713-961-9000 and mention the PGS Energy Training event for your discounted rate. Please sign up early to receive your special room rate. This Doubletree frequently sells out.

Registration Fee & Discounts

Register Now and invest in your future. The price for this two-day seminar is $1,495 (USD).

• Additional attendees and government employees receive a 10% discount.
   
• Sign up for 4 or more classroom seats during the same month and all attendees will receive a 20% total discount. ( If you plan to register 4 or more classroom seats, but want attendees to pay by separate credit cards, register one party now and mention this fact in the "Comments" section of the registration form. We will manually subtract the 20% discount from the first registrant's seminar fee. Tell other parties in your group to mention your name when they register, and we will give them the 20% discount as well.) Please call 412-521-4737 for more information.
  

Payment & Cancellations

Payment is due prior to the start of the seminar by Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners Club, or corporate check. Seminar fees will be charged to your credit card at the time of registration unless other arrangements have been made. Please make checks payable to "PGS Energy Training" 43 Fawnvue Drive, Suite 700 • Mckees Rocks, PA 15136. Cancellations can be made up to three (3) business days prior to the start of the seminar for a full refund. No refunds will be made thereafter, but credit will be given toward future workshops. Substitutions may be made at any time. For more information on PGS policies regarding administrative matters and complaint resolution, please contact our offices at 412-521-4737.

CPE Credits

This group live seminar is eligible for 13.0 CPE credits. Be aware that state boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. As of January 1, 2002, sponsored learning activities are measured by program length, with one 50-minute period equal to one CPE credit. One-half CPE credit increments (equal to 25 minutes) are permitted after the first credit has been earned in a given learning activity. You may want to verify that the state board from which your participants will be receiving credit accept one-half credits.

PGS  Energy Training is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)  as a sponsor of continuing professional education  on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on  the acceptance of individual courses for CPE  credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors  may be addressed to the National Registry of  CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Web site: www.nasba.org. CPAs interested in attending any seminars  should contact our offices for details on CPE credits granted and any prerequisite requirements.