Aimed

The federal agency overseeing offshore drilling activities announced a new policy last Tuesday aimed at thwarting undue influence by the oil and natural gas industry on agency employees and averting conflicts of interest.

The federal agency overseeing offshore drilling activities announced a new policy Tuesday aimed at preventing undue influence by the oil and natural gas industry on agency employees and averting conflicts of interest.

Legislation has been introduced in the Senate and House aimed at speeding up permitting for oil and natural gas operators in the Gulf of Mexico who have complied with the new safety and inspection regulations issued by the Interior Department.

Both the House and Senate Tuesday rolled out legislation aimed at increasing federal regulation and inspection of oil and natural gas operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Normally a tropical storm aimed at the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) production area is a bullish development, but traders seemed to pay it and forecasts of Southern highs in the 100-degree area little heed as most prices were slightly softer Friday.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to mark up four bills aimed at cracking down on the federal agency responsible for the safety inspections and enforcement of regulations governing the oil and natural gas industry, as well as the operators of the oil and natural gas rigs and platforms in the offshore.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Friday came out with a much-anticipated bill aimed at reining in commodities market speculation by forcing over-the-counter (OTC) derivative trades onto regulated exchanges and clearinghouses. As expected, it would include an exemption for large commercial traders who use derivatives to hedge the risk associated with trading of physical products.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Friday came out with a much-anticipated bill aimed at reining in commodities market speculation by forcing over-the-counter (OTC) derivative trades onto regulated exchanges and clearinghouses. As expected, it would include an exemption for large commercial traders who use derivatives to hedge the risk associated with trading of physical products.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Friday came out with a much-anticipated bill aimed at reining in commodities market speculation by forcing over-the-counter (OTC) derivative trades onto regulated exchanges and clearinghouses. As expected, it would include an exemption for large commercial traders who use derivatives to hedge the risk associated with trading of physical products.