Affiliate

Alaska officials Friday signed a license agreement that gives TransCanada Alaska LLC (TC Alaska) and affiliate Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd. the concession to construct a pipeline to tap the state’s North Slope gas reserves.

Atmos Pipeline and Storage LLC, an affiliate of of natural gas distribution provider Atmos Energy Corp., has filed an application at FERC seeking authorization to build a 25 Bcf high-deliverability storage facility in Fort Necessity in northeastern Louisiana.

A New York State judge has ruled that Amaranth Advisors LLC and affiliate Amaranth LLC can pursue their lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase & Co. for allegedly derailing the failed hedge fund’s efforts to mitigate losses from natural gas trades in 2006.

The U.S. affiliate of Norway’s StatoilHydro topped all bidders in the Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico (GOM) lease sale in August, with a $61.110 million offer for the opportunity to explore a block deep beneath the ocean floor about 160 miles south of Galveston, TX, in Alaminos Canyon.

The U.S. affiliate of Norway’s StatoilHydro topped all bidders in the latest Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico (GOM) lease sale, with a $61.110 million offer for the opportunity to explore a block deep beneath the ocean floor about 160 miles south of Galveston, TX, in Alaminos Canyon.

Vanguard Natural Resources LLC agreed to acquire natural gas properties in South Texas for $53.4 million in cash and stock from an affiliate of the Lewis Energy Group. The properties have estimated net proved reserves of 20 Bcfe, of which approximately 98% is natural gas and 65% is proved developed. Lewis will continue to operate the wells and the undeveloped portion of the properties, which Vanguard and Lewis will jointly develop. Upon closing, Vanguard will assume from Lewis natural gas swaps and collars based on Houston Ship Channel pricing for approximately 85% of the estimated gas production from existing producing wells for the period July 2008 through December 2011. Vanguard expects to finance the cash portion of the acquisition with borrowings under its existing credit facility. The transaction is scheduled to close before the end of July.

Ozark Gas Transmission LLC, an affiliate of Tulsa, OK-based Atlas Pipeline Mid-Continent LLC, is proposing to build a new pipeline to transport natural gas from the developing Fayetteville Shale area in Arkansas.

All 10 Bcf of firm storage service offered during a recently concluded open season by MoBay Storage Hub, an affiliate of Falcon Gas Storage Co. Inc., has been awarded, the company said last week.

All 10 Bcf of firm storage service offered during a recently concluded open season by MoBay Storage Hub, an affiliate of Falcon Gas Storage Co. Inc., has been awarded, the company said Monday.