Platts Global Energy said it has received a subpoena from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for documents, employee information, policies and customer lists for price reports it publishes in its energy publications. The subpoena is part of a broad investigation of energy trading practices the CFTC is conducting, that was sparked by disclosures about Enron. A number of energy companies already have provided information to the CFTC. Two companies, Dynegy and AEP have admitted they provided false data to some price reporting publications. The companies have not publicly identified the false reports by time or location, nor is there any information as to whether the false reports were used by the publications, which have screening methods to eliminate suspect information. The subpoena seeks a list of current and former Platts employees “responsible for gathering, editing, verifying and publishing the information” and policies and training manuals for new price reporters. It also demands notes and other records of third-party services used in price gathering, and any information that “indicates any person’s knowledge of false, inaccurate or otherwise incorrect pricing and volume information,” Platts said.

Devon Energy Corp. on Friday reported production results from a Gulf of Mexico natural gas discovery located on Viosca Knoll block 694, which was completed in September. Although production was delayed due to severe weather, the Viosca Knoll 694 #4 well is now on stream and producing at a sustained rate of 16 MMcf of natural gas and 200 barrels of condensate per day. Devon operates the well, which is in federal waters offshore Mississippi, with a 100% working interest. Production is flowing to facilities at Main Pass block 259, approximately three miles to the north. The well was drilled to a total depth of 10,775 feet. Devon also reported that damage from Tropical Storm Isidore and Hurricane Lili was not extensive and did not disable any of its111 operated offshore platforms. The company’s operated offshore Gulf of Mexico oil and gas production has been almost completely restored to pre-storm levels. Production from two deepwater blocks, however, remains shut-in due to damage sustained to a third-party’s production facilities. The two blocks produce approximately 12.4 MMcf of gas and 8,900 barrels of liquids per day net to Devon. The company said it anticipates that repairs by the operator will be completed within two weeks.

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