Backyard

Bill Barrett Corp. executives said Wednesday the company will be on the lookout for acquisition opportunities during the year, primarily in the company’s traditional backyard of the Rocky Mountains, but outside the Rockies, “we’ll take a look at it,” CEO Fred Barrett told financial analysts.

Stoked by the San Bruno, CA, gas pipeline explosion in September and the anti-gas drilling film “Gasland” — as well as general not-in-my-backyard sentiment — Jersey City, NJ, officials are set to consider zoning changes intended to block a natural gas pipeline that Spectra Energy Corp. wants to build through their town.

Stoked by the San Bruno, CA, gas pipeline explosion in September and the anti-gas drilling film “Gasland” — as well as general not-in-my-backyard sentiment — Jersey City, NJ, officials are set to consider zoning changes intended to block a natural gas pipeline that Spectra Energy Corp. wants to build through their town.

Some producers circle the globe looking for reserves, but Fort Worth-based XTO Energy Inc. has found one of the hottest gas plays going right in its own backyard.

Representing utilities that serve as many as 64 million natural gas customers in the United States, the American Gas Association (AGA) last week said it fully supports “continued and vigorous” oversight of gas markets by federal regulators. However, it believes that senators, who are pressing for investigations of the gas market, should do their part by passing the omnibus energy bill (HR 6) in this session of Congress.

Representing utilities that serve as many as 64 million natural gas customers in the United States, the American Gas Association (AGA) said it fully supports “continued and vigorous” oversight of gas markets by federal regulators. But it believes that senators, who have pressed for the investigations of the gas market, should do their part by passing the omnibus energy bill (HR 6) in the second session of the 108th Congress.

It is hard to imagine in California’s current summer of extremeelectricity discontent, but Southern California Gas, the nation’slargest natural gas distributor, envisions electric generationloads dropping by up to 38% over the next 20 years, according toits latest submission to the annual California Gas Report.

Announcements of new pipeline projects are booming despiterecently voiced concerns by pipeline executives that return onequity is not sufficient to justify new construction (see NGI, Feb.2). A recent NGI survey of projects announced over the last threeyears indicates more than 7 Bcf/d of new capacity has already beenconstructed in the U.S. and Canada, with nearly 21 Bcf/d ofcombined capacity additions approved or under consideration. Thisis in addition to projects canceled or put on hold indefinitely.