Independent Operators See Opportunities In Dry Natural Gas By Dan Holder It has been difficult for the nation's oil and natural gas producers to see beyond the dark clouds that descended on economies around the world this spring, but the glimmer of a silver lining is starting to emerge on the distant horizon. Thanks to several years of indiscriminate associated gas growth in tight oil plays and abnormally mild weather the past two winters, the rig count in dry gas plays was on a steady decline long before anyone had heard of COVID-19. That may be about to change dramatically. In late April, Moody's joined a growing chorus of analysts predicting better times ahead for natural gas pricing, with most forecasters calling for prices to rally later this year as the economic recovery picks up steam and the winter heating season draws near. 42 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER