Announced

Apache Canada Ltd. and Chevron Canada Ltd. have completed the previously announced transaction making them 50-50 partners in the Kitimat LNG [liquefied natural gas] plant in British Columbia, the Pacific Trail Pipelines and 644,000 gross undeveloped acres in the Horn River and Liard basins. After a brief transition, Chevron Canada will assume operatorship of the LNG plant and the pipeline. Apache Canada increased its ownership in the LNG plant and pipeline from 40% and will operate the upstream assets. Apache’s net proceeds from the transaction were $405 million. Encana Corp. and EOG Resources, formerly 30% nonoperating owners in Kitimat LNG and Pacific Trail Pipelines, sold their interests and exited the venture (see Daily GPI, Dec. 26, 2012).

Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. did something in the final three months of 2012 that no other onshore oilfield services provider has announced yet: hydraulic fracturing (fracking) services climbed and sales surpassed expectations — surprising even company executives.

Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. did something in the final three months of 2012 that no other onshore oilfield services provider has announced yet: hydraulic fracturing (fracking) services climbed and sales surpassed expectations — surprising even company executives.

Trans Energy Inc. announced Wednesday that it had sold its drilling rights and working interest in shallow wells targeting the Devonian Shale for $2.75 million before adjustments, but had retained a royalty interest on most wells and drilling rights to deeper formations, such as the Rhinestreet, Marcellus and Utica shales.

With its acquisition of Copano Energy LLC, announced Wednesday, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP) will expand its footprint in Texas shale plays, the Eagle Ford in particular, as it adds gas gathering, processing, treating and natural gas liquids fractionation assets.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. CEO Aubrey McClendon, whose retirement from the company he founded 24 years ago was announced late Tuesday, told employees in an email that the departure centered on some differences with the board of directors.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a division of the Commerce Department, announced that it plans to conduct a supplemental environmental review of the incidental taking of marine mammals, specifically whales, dolphins, sea lions and seals, by the oil and gas industry incidental to exploration activities in Alaska’s Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

Antero Resources announced Monday that its proved reserves had increased 73% in one year by the end of 2012, while its proved, probable and possible (3P) reserves had increased 94% and its natural gas liquids (NGL) reserves increased by 170% during the same time frame, all thanks to discoveries in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays.

Continental Resources Inc. announced Wednesday that its proved reserves have nearly doubled, driven primarily by strong production growth in North Dakota and Montana’s portions of the Bakken Shale, and part from a legacy play in south-central Oklahoma.