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San Diego-based Sempra Energy held debt-equity initial public offerings (IPO) in Mexico during the first quarter, raising nearly $1 billion for its expanding operations south of the border, and in the process creating what CEO Debra Reed said is Mexico’s second largest energy company, IEnova.

How to space wells in the Bakken Shale remains the “question of the day” for exploration production (E&P) operators working in the play, according to the CEO of Bismarck, ND-based MDU Resources Group Inc.

While natural gas and electric power market representatives wrangled over changes to better align operations of the two markets, a Boston-based industry veteran suggested solving the problem by allowing pipelines to return to their merchant function on a limited basis.

Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) set a record U.S. production at 478,000 boe/d in 1Q2013, its 10th consecutive record quarter, the management team said last week.

While natural gas and electric power market representatives wrangled over changes to better align operations of the two markets, a Boston-based industry veteran suggested solving the problem by allowing pipelines to return to their merchant function on a limited basis.

Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) set a record U.S. production at 478,000 boe/d in 1Q2013, its 10th consecutive record quarter, Oxy officials reported Thursday during a conference call with analysts. Income from continuing operations during the quarter was down slightly from the same period last year ($1.4 billion, or $1.69/diluted share, vs. $1.6 billion, or $1.92/diluted share, in 1Q2012), they said.

The Bakken Shale, Hess Corp.’s “principal engine of growth.” averaged 65,000 boe/d in the first three months of this year, an increase of 55% from a year ago, the CEO told investors on Wednesday.

A settlement was announced Monday among federal authorities, the Sierra Club and Madison, WI-based Alliant Energy Corp.’s Wisconsin Power and Light (WPL) utility that eventually may result in replacing 270 MW of coal-fired electric generation with natural gas-fired units.

Aubrey McClendon, who founded and then took Chesapeake Energy Corp. to the top of the U.S. natural gas industry, has launched a U.S. onshore-based exploration and production (E&P) company that is near his former company’s headquarters in Oklahoma City.