Beginning

Pacific NorthWest LNG has applied to the National Energy Board (NEB) for a license to export up to 19.68 million tonnes (mmty) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year for 25 years beginning in 2019 from its proposed facility in Port Edward, British Columbia (BC), not far from nine other proposed LNG projects centered on Prince Rupert, BC.

Researchers at Colorado State University (CSU) are beginning to collect data from possible fugitive methane emissions sources in natural gas transmission systems in an effort to quantify the amount of the greenhouse gas that is escaping.

Piedmont Natural Gas will be soliciting bids for asset management services and gas supply beginning Nov. 1 for its North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee operations. The Charlotte, NC-based utility has a total system throughput of more than 250 Bcf/year, with firm transportation contracts on multiple pipelines. Piedmont will be seeking asset management services, seasonal, and year-round supply for contract terms yet to be determined. To receive a copy of the request for proposals when posted, contact Keith Maust at (704) 731-4901, or Sarah Stabley at (704) 731-4907.

Robert Douglas Lawler, tapped to be CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corp. beginning June 17, will earn more than co-founder and predecessor Aubrey McClendon, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing (see Daily GPI, May 21). The compensation package for the first year of employment has the potential to total at least $22 million, if Lawler hits his bonus targets, the SEC Form 8-K indicated. Base salary is set at $1.25 million a year, with a cash bonus of at least $800,000 the first year, a cash signing bonus of $2 million, and shares and options worth $18 million. About $7.5 million of the shares and options are to be paid over the next five years. If Lawler stays for five years, he is to receive another $5 million. About $12.5 million of the share awards are to compensate for losses in pensions and benefits for leaving Anadarko Petroleum Corp. By comparison, McClendon earned a base salary of $975,000 in 2012, with total remuneration of $16.9 million, according to company documents. However, McClendon also earns, and will continue to earn through June 2014, up to 2.5% in profits on wells that the company drills.

Despite persistent surpluses, soft prices and an industry-wide switch of drilling targets to liquids, construction is beginning on the first large new Alberta natural gas processing plant in recent industry or regulatory memory.

A cold beginning to spring that resulted in a tepid start to the natural gas storage refill season has analysts at the Energy Information Administration (EIA) once again revising their natural gas price forecasts upward for the rest of 2013 and 2014.

Despite persistent surpluses, soft prices and an industry-wide switch of drilling targets to liquids, construction is beginning on the first large Alberta natural gas processing plant in recent industry or regulatory memory.

A cold beginning to spring that resulted in a tepid start to the natural gas storage refill season has analysts at the Energy Information Administration (EIA) once again revising their natural gas price forecasts upward for the rest of 2013 and 2014. The government agency added that strong onshore production growth will offset Gulf of Mexico declines in both years.

A cold beginning to spring that resulted in a tepid start to the natural gas storage refill season has analysts at the Energy Information Administration (EIA) once again revising their natural gas price forecasts upward for the rest of 2013 and 2014.