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Bismarck, ND-based MDU Resources Group is aligning its utility, construction, midstream infrastructure and exploration/production (E&P) businesses so each one profits and grows with the continuing hydrocarbon boom in the Bakken, the MDU senior executives emphasized in a half-day financial analysts meeting Thursday in New York City.

During its second fiscal quarter, which ended Feb. 28, Platteville, CO-based independent Synergy Resources Corp. continued its 100% success rate in the Wattenberg Field in the Denver-Julesberg (DJ) Basin. Synergy recently struck a joint venture (JV) agreement in the DJ Basin as well.

Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Inc.’s Colorado combination utility said Thursday that it has reached a settlement with WildEarth Guardians on a four-year-old lawsuit by the environmental group involving emissions at the Cherokee Generating Station north of Denver. Under the agreement, Xcel’s Public Service Company of Colorado will fund several environmental and community projects in the area impacted by the 611 MW coal-fired generation plant. The settlement will not be final until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Justice Department have reviewed it and made comments, an Xcel spokesperson said. Since the 2009 lawsuit, Xcel has decided to convert the Cherokee plant by 2018 as part of the Colorado Clean Air, Clean Jobs Act, which has prompted more renewables, efficiency and natural gas-fired generation in the state. Cherokee will remain a “vital resource,” but as a natural gas-fired plant. The conversion process began last October, the spokesperson said.

Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc. last year cut debt by $750 million, stabilized its balance sheet and is now focused on two core areas: the Americas and the Asia-Pacific region, said CEO Hal Kvisle.

Denver-based DCP Midstream Partners LP announced a $626 million dropdown from DCP Midstream of an additional 47% interest in its Eagle Ford joint venture, bringing its ownership to 80%. It’s the largest dropdown in the history of the partnership.

The Eagle Ford Shale continued to drive results for Houston-based Rosetta Resources Inc. last year, leading the company to record production, reserves and cash flow. The South Texas play also lifted Carrizo Oil & Gas Inc.

San Diego-based Sempra Energy’s Mexico business unit plans to hold an initial public offering (IPO) of up to 20% of stock as part of a long-range plan to increase natural gas investments on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. At the same time, the company senior management is talking bullishly about U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.

Unimin Corp. has opened a proppant distribution terminal in Navarre, OH, in Stark County to serve oil and natural gas operators in the Utica Shale.

The Eagle Ford Shale continued to drive results for Houston-based Rosetta Resources Inc. last year, leading the company to record production, reserves and cash flow.