TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. has put its U.S. Gulf coast midstreamfacilities andpetroleum and products marketing and tradingbusinesses on the block, continuing to slim down assets to its coretransmission holdings.
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Articles from Block
Sale of Florida Gas’ South Texas Line Opposed
Dynegy Inc. and Chevron Corp. want FERC to either block FloridaGas Transmission’s (FGT) proposed abandonment and sale of 70 milesof mainline and associated facilities in the southern part of Texasor “at a minimum” ensure the continuity of transportation servicethere.
Sale of Florida Gas’ South Texas Line Opposed
Dynegy Inc. and Chevron Corp. want FERC to either block FloridaGas Transmission’s (FGT) proposed abandonment and sale of 70 milesof mainline and associated facilities in the southern part of Texasor “at a minimum” ensure the continuity of transportation servicethere.
CL&P Plants Going to Auction Block
J.P. Morgan & Co. will handle the auction of the non-nucleargeneration assets of Connecticut Light and Power Co. (CL&P), awholly owned subsidiary of Northeast Utilities, headquartered inBerlin, CT. The assets to be disposed of consist of 29 powerplants. CL&P’s power purchase agreements will be auctionedseparately in the near future.
UtiliCorp to Buy Back All AQP Shares at a 23% Premium
After taking Aquila Gas Pipeline off the auction block inAugust, UtiliCorp United announced plans last week to buy back 5.4million common shares of the company, representing the 18% ofoutstanding AQP common shares it does not already own, for $8 pershare. The price represents a 23% premium to the closing AQP shareprice of $6.50 on Nov. 11.
Samson Adds Producing Properties
Samson Resources Co., of Tulsa has acquired a significant blockof producing oil and gas properties in Texas, Louisiana,Mississippi, Alabama, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. from Duer Wagner& Co. of Fort Worth. The purchase price was in excess of $40million. The properties are located in the same geographical areasas certain of Samson’s existing properties and include multipleopportunities for additional drilling and recompletions.
California Continues to Block Gas Restructuring
In the wild final hours of the California state legislature’s1998 session Monday (August 31), another bill aimed at curbing theleeway of the state energy regulators was passed (Senate Bill 1757)and is now awaiting the governor’s signature. A California PublicUtilities Commission representative at the state capitol said theregulators’ remain neutral on the bill, but may take a positionwhen they meet for a regularly scheduled commission conferenceThursday (Sept. 3).
Rocky 2Q for Aquila Gas Pipeline, Sale Questionable
Aquila Gas Pipeline might be taken off the auction block inlight of depressed gas liquids prices and the fear a sale pricewon’t do justice to the company’s value. Indeed, the company’ssecond quarter results were something less than stellar. Net incomewas $1.4 million, down from $7 million in the second quarter of1997. This despite the fact gas throughput and marketed volumesaveraged a record 1.4 Bcf/d, compared to 1.2 Bcf/d in the secondquarter of last year. However, total system throughput was 446MMcf/d, compared to 534 MMcf/d in the second quarter of 1997. Anincrease in gas volumes marketed off system to 954 MMcf/d from 642MMcf/d in the second quarter of 1997 reflects the continuedincreased emphasis on marketing activities. Liquids productiondecreased to 25,000 barrels/d from 38,000 barrels/d 2Q 1997. Lowliquids prices were the reason for the decline.
OK Governor Gives Green Light to Unbundling
A road block to retail competition in Oklahoma was smashed lastweek when Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating vetoed Senate bill 565, alast-minute attempt to derail gas unbundling in the state. The billwould have pushed back the effective date for unbundling untilOctober 2001 and erased the final rules completed by the OklahomaCorporation Commission in April and approved by the legislature andthe governor.
Aquila Gas Pipeline on the Auction Block
Given the lofty prices paid for midstream assets recently, SanAntonio, TX-based Aquila Gas Pipeline believes the time is right totest the waters for a possible sale or merger. The Texas andOklahoma gas processing and pipeline company has hired MerrillLynch & Co. to assist in the effort.