Better

To better suit the growing demand for natural gas at a moment’s notice for gas-fired electricity generating plants, Duke Energy reported Monday that it is finally planning to convert an underground salt dome in Copiah County, MS, into a natural gas storage facility with 3 Bcf of initial storage capacity. The dome could be expanded by an additional 6 Bcf at a later date, the company said.

SCANA’s South Carolina Pipeline Corp. (SCPC) is fundamentally changing the way it does business in an effort to better market its pipeline capacity and expand its service territory. The company announced plans last week to voluntarily open its pipeline system to transportation-only service and discontinue gas sales service. It intends to file an application for the switch with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (SCPSC) next month.

SCANA’s South Carolina Pipeline Corp. (SCPC) is fundamentally changing the way it does business in an effort to better market its pipeline capacity and expand its service territory. The company announced plans yesterday to voluntarily open its pipeline system to transportation-only service. It intends to file an application for the switch with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina (SCPSC) this year.

Rig operators are doing better than ever, said Houston-based Global Marine Inc. executives last week. Global Marine said dayrates for offshore oil and gas drilling rigs will shoot past the 1997-98 levels, based partly on energy proposals from the Bush Administration and because of increased drilling in international markets. Other operators also are benefiting: Tulsa-based Unit Corp. said its drilling demand in the Gulf Coast region has jumped 26% in just six months.

El Paso Natural Gas has announced plans to convert a portion of its All America Pipeline into a bi-directional lateral between Daggett, CA, and Ehrenberg, AZ, to better facilitate transfers of gas among the various pipelines and LDC systems in California.

El Paso Natural Gas has announced plans to convert a portion of its All America Pipeline into a bi-directional lateral between Daggett, CA, and Ehrenberg, AZ, to better facilitate transfers of gas among the various pipelines and LDC systems in California.

In announcing better-than-expected earnings last Tuesday, PSEG CEO E. James Ferland said growth prospects for his energy and energy services company are the strongest in its 98-year history because of high expectations for its unregulated power generation and global energy operations. He expressed confidence that PSEG can both maintain its current dividend and achieve a 7% compound growth rate over the next five years.

In announcing better-than-expected earnings yesterday, PSEG CEO E. James Ferland said growth prospects for his energy and energy services company are the strongest in its 98-year history because of high expectations for its unregulated power generation and global energy operations. He expressed confidence that PSEG can both maintain its current dividend and achieve a 7% compound growth rate over the next five years.

Phillips Petroleum reported on Tuesday that it is making numerous management changes and creating a new worldwide gas division to better focus on the company’s worldwide gas strategy. Laura Sugg, previously the new business ventures manager for the corporation, has been elected to the position of vice president of worldwide gas, effective April 1. Joseph High will make the move from his current position as vice president of human resources for the components and packaged applications group of Rockwell Automation to the post of vice president of human resources for the corporation, effective April 15. Don Duncan, manager of federal relations since 1993, has been elected vice president of government relations, effective April 1. Former assistant treasurer Jeff Sheets, effective April 1, took his newly elected position of vice president and treasurer. Fran Vallejo, currently strategic transactions and planning manager in the company’s corporate strategy and development group, has been elected assistant treasurer, effective May 1. Edd Grigsby, vice president of investor and public relations, has announced that he will retire after 39 years of service on July 1. Effective May 1, Grigsby will continue to be responsible for public relations, but he will also be on special assignment to Jim Mulva, chairman and CEO. Clayton Reasor, currently commercial services resource area manager for Phillips’ Norway division, has been named manager of investor relations beginning on May 1.