Acquires

Denver-based MarkWest Hydrocarbon Inc. has acquired an Alberta gathering system for C$3.1 million (US$2.0 million). The purchase includes six miles of pipelines and compression facilities that currently gather 5,500 Mcf/d. MarkWest plans to expand the system to 10,000 Mcf/d by early 2002. The new addition in southeastern Alberta is located in the Bantry field, where MarkWest already has wells and drilling locations.

Atmos Energy Corp. has agreed to purchase Mississippi Valley Gas, the state’s largest gas utility, for $150 million. The definitive agreement calls for a $75 million cash deal, and another $75 million of Atmos common stock. Atmos also will assume Mississippi Valley’s outstanding debt, estimated to be $45 million. The deal will make the Dallas-based company the third-largest pure gas utility in the United States.

Atmos Energy Corp. on Monday said it agreed to purchase Mississippi Valley Gas, the state’s largest gas utility, for $150 million. The definitive agreement calls for a $75 million cash deal, and another $75 million of Atmos common stock. Atmos also will assume Mississippi Valley’s outstanding debt, estimated to be $45 million. The deal will make the Dallas-based company the third-largest pure gas utility in the United States.

Bidder Communications Inc. (BIDC) said on Thursday that as part of its diversification strategy the company has acquired 100% ownership of Southern States Gas Gathering LLC of Louisiana. The acquisition gives BIDC entry into the southern energy resource market.

Platts, the energy information arm of the McGraw-Hill Companies, has announced the acquisition of Financial Times (FT) Energy, parent of several energy publications and online data services including Gas Daily and Megawatt Daily, from London-based conglomerate Pearson plc.

As mergers and acquisitions attempt to live up to the pace set during 2000, Denver-based MarkWest Hydrocarbon Inc. reported it has more than doubled natural gas reserves with the $51 million acquisitions of Leland Energy Canada Ltd. and Watford Energy Ltd. — two privately owned exploration and production companies based in Calgary. The companies’ current management, which directs both Leland’s and Watford’s operations, will remain intact, MarkWest said.

Falcon Gas Storage Co. and its subsidiary, Hill-Lake Gas Storage LP, reported that the right-of-way acquisition has been completed for the construction of a new 17-mile, 20-inch diameter natural gas pipeline that would connect Falcon’s Hill-Lake gas storage facility with both Lone Star Pipeline Co.’s Line “X” and the El Paso/TXU Fuels North Texas Pipeline in Eastland County near Dallas/Fort. Worth.

Falcon Gas Storage Co. and its subsidiary, Hill-Lake Gas Storage LP, reported that the right-of-way acquisition has been completed for the construction of a new 17-mile, 20-inch diameter natural gas pipeline that would connect Falcon’s Hill-Lake gas storage facility with both Lone Star Pipeline Co.’s Line “X” and the El Paso/TXU Fuels North Texas Pipeline in Eastland County near Dallas/Ft. Worth.

KeySpan Energy Canada last week acquired all of Westcoast Capital Corp.’s interests in the Wilson Creek Express Pipeline and the Crystal Pipeline, which KeySpan said will complement its existing natural gas gathering and processing infrastructure. The pipelines gather sour gas from areas to the west and north of the KeySpan-operated Rimbey Gas Plant in Alberta.