Enkon’s 2026 Natural Gas Storage Forum
Enkon Energy Advisors is excited to host the inaugural 2026 Natural Gas Storage Forum, a unique and timely event bringing together various stakeholders and gas industry experts to offer their perspectives on natural gas storage trends, market drivers, development challenges, financing & investment opportunities and long-term fundamental outlook.
- Executive Forum: A unique platform focused on natural gas storage and natural gas markets
- One Day Event (30+ Speakers):
- 7 impactful panel discussions,
- 3 expert presentations
- Keynote Speaker
- Multiple networking opportunities.
Goal of the Forum
After more than a decade of lackluster performance, natural gas storage assets in the U.S. are back in vogue and thriving. Firm Storage Service lease rates for natural gas storage capacity continue to rise driven by increasing gas price volatility, growing operational need for high-cycle service, and scarcity premiums in the market. Super Cycle 2.0 is truly underway for Natural Gas Storage assets!
This resurgence has generated tremendous interest from gas storage customers, project developers, storage operators, lenders and investors. It is opportune to bring together these stakeholders for a day of insightful discussions and networking opportunities.
Why Attend?
Here are some compelling reasons why you should join us.
The unique format of the Enkon Forum is designed to provide attendees with a holistic perspective from all stakeholders on the future evolution of the natural gas storage sector.
- Curated & Impactful Expert Panel Discussions: Hear unique perspectives on challenges and opportunities from 5 different stakeholders
- Storage customer panel
- Developer panel
- Operator panel
- Investor panel
- Financing panel
- Regulatory panel
- Equipment Vendor panel
All stakeholders under one roof – you simply cannot get closer to the market.
- Networking: Ample opportunity for impactful networking with highly qualified attendees keen on participating in natural gas storage Super Cyle 2.0
- Expert Presentations: Provide attendees with a compressive understanding on current landscape, development pipeline, gas market dynamics, valuable commercial insights, and long-term investment outlook
- Keynote Address: from thought leader in the natural gas industry
Forum Audience
- Key decision makers & executives from across energy, midstream, and oil & gas companies
- Gas storage customers – Utilities, power generators, LNG exporters, gas pipelines
- Investors, funds, financial institutions and law firms active in midstream space.
- Natural gas marketers, traders and asset management firms
- Industry though leaders
Where
Norris Center, City Center, Houston, TX
When
Wednesday, 11 February, 2026
Agenda
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Registration and Networking Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:10 AM
Welcome Remarks
Speaker: Sue Neville, Project Manager – Enkon Energy Advisors
8:10 AM - 8:35 AM
Presentation: Natural Gas Storage Outlook and Investment Risk Assessment
After more than a decade of lackluster performance, natural gas storage assets are back in vogue and thriving. The Speaker will discuss key drivers for gas storage, gas market trends, FSS rate projections and investment outlook for gas storage in the U.S.
- What are the key drivers that are fueling current resurgence in gas storage?
- From a market perspective, which locations/storage types are better situated?
- What is the outlook for FSS pricing to 2030 under market uncertainties?
- How much highly flexible gas storage capacity is needed by 2030/2035?
- What is the overall investment risk and how long will this Supercycle 2.0 last?
Speaker: Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
8:35 AM – 9:05 AM
KEYNOTE Speaker
Speaker: Craig Jarchow, President & CEO – TG Natural Resources
9:05 AM – 10:00 AM
Panel #1: Gas Storage Customer Panel
Besides increase in FSS rates, there has been notable evolution in customer needs, focus and commitment levels. Operational needs (such as Hourly Balancing Service for power plants or No notice injections for LNG) are dominating need for gas storage in Supercycle 2.0. This panel will discuss their respective needs for gas storage service, level of service and asset types that are more aligned with their service needs
- What are the key requirements of LNG customers and level of service needed?
- What is driving the need? What alternatives are available other than storage?
- What are the requirements for power plants and gas pipelines?
- Are traders being priced out of the FSS market?
Panelists:
Mark Wilson, VP Commercial- Gas Pipelines – Kinder Morgan
Jim Diemer, President – Energy Evolution Strategy Advisors
Andrew Dornier, Sr. Manager – Entergy
Moderator: Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Networking Break
10:20 AM - 11:15 AM
Panel #2: Gas Storage Developers Panel
Improvement in FSS rates, gas storage capacity additions continue to rise. While most additions are brownfield projects, there are multiple greenfield projects under development. This panel will address key challenges and opportunities for gas storage development and pathway to commercialization to meet evolving customer needs.
- What customer class is driving storage/injection/deliverability needs?
- Impact of cost inflation on brownfield/greenfield capacity development?
- Changes to contracting/commercial philosophy from Super Cycle 1 to 2?
- Access to capital and financeability under Super Cycle 2.0
Panelists:
Ron Key, Chief Technology Officer & Vice President of Strategy – GasTech Engineering LLC
Mark Fullerton, Vice President-Storage Development – Texas Brine
Sam Porter, Co-Founder & CEO – NeuVentus
Edmund Knolle, CEO- Gulf Coast Midstream Partners
Moderator: Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
11:15 AM – 12:10 PM
Panel #3: Gas Storage “Independent Operator” Panel
Patience – is the key word! Operating storage assets have gone through the highs of Super Cycle 1 and rode down the trough that followed. Finally, it is time to make hay and add low-hanging capacity in Super Cycle 2.0. This operator-centric panel will throw light on market developments and tailwinds for their storage business, contracting strategies in light of rising FSS rates and changing customer requirements, opportunities and challenges for commercialization of brownfield opportunities.
- Strategies to deploy growing free-cash flows due to resurgence in FSS rates
- How significant is the brownfield advantage in light of cost escalation?
- Optimal pathway to scale – organic or M&A? Justification for M&A?
- Regional differences in gas storage needs?
Panelists:
Peter Abt, President & Chief Strategy Officer – Enstor Gas
Dave Marchese, Chief Executive Officer – Caliche Development Partners
James Eckert, VP-New Jersey Resources & President – Leaf River Energy Center
Jim Goetz, Chief Executive Officer- Trinity Gas Storage
Moderator: Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
12:10 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch and Networking Break
Lunch Time
1:00 PM - 1:20 PM
Presentation: Gas Storage Commercial and M&A Trends in Super Cycle 2.0
There are key commercial factors observed in Super cycle 2.0 that are likely to make it more sustainable with a long runway for investors. The Speaker will discuss key commercial trends and impacts on M&A valuations for gas storage in Super Cycle 2.0
- How is Supercycle 2.0 different from Supercycle 1.0? What went wrong?
- How have the FSS rates trended? Can market support greenfield economics?
- What are key changes in commercial Ts & Cs (Commitment, service level & term)
- What are the indications from the current M&A valuations for gas storage?
Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
1:20 PM - 2:15 PM
Panel #4: Gas Storage Financing Panel (Lender Perspective)
Greenfield gas storage projects and some brownfield projects are expected to require debt financing. Financeability of gas storage projects will depend on how projects plan to mitigate commercial, technical and operational risk factors to meet debt covenants. This panel will delve into their appetite for financing capacity growth in Super Cycle 2.0, key commercial requirements for obtaining debt on favorable terms and overall availability of debt for gas storage asset class.
- What are key considerations for lenders to evaluate projects in Super Cycle 2.0?
- What are the biggest hurdles for financing gas storage projects today?
- Are loan covenants/ security arrangements likely to be more stringent than 1.0?
- How deep is the bank market for gas storage and are lenders set up internally to assess underlying market, regulatory and technical risk?
Panelists:
Hans Beekmans, Co-Head of Energy & Infrastructure North America – Investec
Chris Buckingham, Managing Director, Infrastructure & Energy Debt Advisory -Evercore
Matt Rollins, Managing Director & Head of Midstream – Santander
Blake Yaralian, Head Energy Finance- Deutsche Bank
Moderator: Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
2:15 PM – 3:10 PM
Panel #5: Investor Panel (Equity Perspective)
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The resurgence for gas storage assets is making financial and strategic investors take notice. Recent M&A metrics for gas storage are robust indicating increasing capital inflow in this sector. Investments have also been made in greenfield projects. The significant differences in the commercial trends should make investments in gas storage more attractive for investors. However, investors grapple with one key question – how sustainable is the Super Cycle 2.0 to ensure acceptable returns? This panel will provide equity perspective on appetite for greenfield opportunities, M&A activity and challenges for value growth and exit ramps.
- How does gas storage fit into respective investment mandates?
- What is a winning strategy for an investor in Super Cycle 2.0?
- What is the overall investment risk and how long will this Supercycle last?
Panelists:
Sam Pyne, Managing Director -Haddington Ventures
David Siegel, Principal – Lotus Infrastructure Partners
Trevor Breen, Managing Director – ArcLight Capital Partners
Michael Allison, Partner – Transition Equity Partners
Moderator: Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
3:10 PM – 3:30 PM
networking break
3:30 PM - 4:10 PM
Panel #6: Gas Storage “Integrated Operator” PaneL
Integration – is the differentiator! The panel brings together operators that manage gas storage as part of a broader, interconnected midstream portfolio, including transmission pipelines, trading units, and optimization platforms. Speakers will discuss how integrated ownership shapes commercial strategies, system flexibility, asset optimization, and the ability to respond to market volatility. The session will explore how cross-asset coordination, network balancing responsibilities, and long-term infrastructure planning influence investment decisions and customer offerings, providing insights into how integrated operators leverage scale and system connectivity to enhance product offerings.
Panelists:
Liz Perez, Director Business Development – Enbridge
Justin Joyce, Director Commercial Development of Natural Gas Storage – Williams
Mark Wilson, VP Commercial- Gas Pipelines – Kinder Morgan
Moderator: Amol Wayangankar, Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
4:10 PM - 4:50 PM
Panel #7: Regulatory panel
This panel will delve into the latest developments in natural gas storage regulations, including latest trends in project approvals, permitting timelines, and environmental compliance. Industry experts and regulatory leaders will provide insight into how evolving policies—at both federal and state levels—are shaping investment decisions and operational strategies. With growing demand for reliability and flexibility in the energy system, understanding the regulatory framework is more critical than ever. Attendees will gain practical perspectives on navigating approval processes and anticipating future regulatory shifts.
Panelists:
Jim Bowe, Partner – King & Spalding
Jacob Abraham, Manager Gas Storage – Williams
John Arnold, Partner – Troutman Pepper Locke
Moderator: Dale Smith, Partner – Willkie Farr & Gallagher
4:50 PM - 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Cocktail Reception and Forum Adjournment
Speakers
Dave marchese
Chief Executive Officer - Caliche Development Partners
Ron KEy
Chief Technology Officer & Vice President Of Strategy – GasTech Engineering LLC
james eckert
President - Leaf River Energy Center
craig JARCHOW
President & CEO - TG Natural Resources
peter abt
President & CSO - Enstor
hans beekmans
Co-Head of Energy & Infrastructure NA – Investec
mark fullerton
Vice President Storage Development - Texas Brine Company
jim goetz
Chief Executive Officer - Trinity Gas Storage
Michael Allison
Partner - Transition Equity Partners
Edmund Knolle
Chief Executive Officer – Gulf Coast Midstream Partners
JOhn Arnold
Partner - Troutman Pepper Locke
chris buckingham
Managing Director - Evercore
James bowe, Jr.
Partner - King & Spalding
Justin Joyce
Director, Commercial Development - Williams
Amol Wayangankar
Principal Founder – Enkon Energy Advisors
Sam Pyne
Managing Director - Haddington Ventures
sam porter
CEO -Neuventus
DAvid siegel
Principal - Lotus Infrastructure Partners
Mark wilson
Vice President - Kinder Morgan
james diemer
President - Energy Evolution Strategy Advisors
Trevor Breen
Managing Director - Arclight Capital Partners
liz perez
Director BD - Enbridge
jacob abraham
Manager Gas Storage - Willliams
dale smith
Partner - Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
matt rollins
Managing Director & Head of Midstream - Santander
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
About Enkon Energy Advisors
Enkon is an energy focused advisory firm specializing in oil & gas with deep expertise across the energy value chain. Energy companies, investors, asset developers, and industrials have engaged us to advance energy projects, transactions and decisions.
Over the years, Enkon have provided a wide spectrum of advisory services to meet client’s strategic, commercial, transactional and operational needs. We combine deep transaction experience, industry relationships and rigorous analysis to provide commercially viable solutions to clients.
For more information please visit us at www.enkonenergy.com
Venue
Norris Conference Centers – Houston/CityCentre – 816 Town and Country Blvd #210, Houston, TX 77024
2026 Natural Gas Storage Forum hosted by Enkon Energy Advisors will be held in Houston, Texas at the Norris Conference Center, which is in the Town & Country City Centre located at the intersection of I-10 and Sam Houston Parkway Beltway 8.