Block

Following months of unconfirmed speculation that Nymex Holdings might be on the sale block (see Daily GPI, June 18), the parent company of the New York Mercantile Exchange, a global energy exchange powerhouse, confirmed Tuesday that the company has been in talks with “certain parties” with regard to a “potential business combination.”

Three U.S. congressmen from Colorado, who in the past had worked to block natural gas drilling on the Roan Plateau, are calling for a compromise that would allow phased-in energy development on the Western Slope landmark.

Three U.S. congressmen from Colorado, who in the past had worked to block natural gas drilling on the Roan Plateau, this week called for a compromise that would allow phased-in energy development on the Western Slope landmark.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has discovered oil at its West Tonga prospect on Green Canyon block 726 in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The discovery well, located in 4,700 feet of water, was drilled to a total depth of 25,680 feet and encountered more than 350 feet of net oil pay in three high-quality subsalt Miocene sands. An Anadarko spokesman said there will likely be some associated gas with the discovery, but he said it was predominately oil. Anadarko operates West Tonga with a 37.5% working interest. Partners in the discovery include StatoilHydro with a 25% working interest, Chevron Corp. with a 20.5% working interest and Shell Exploration with a 17% working interest. “The West Tonga discovery continues the success of our deepwater Gulf of Mexico exploration program and further illustrates the value of our extensive hub-and-spoke infrastructure,” said Bob Daniels, senior vice president of Worldwide Exploration. Anadarko focuses on deepwater prospects in the Miocene and Lower Tertiary plays of the GOM that have estimated recoverable resources of more than 100 MMboe.

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) Tuesday approved a settlement proposal that removes a stumbling block from Georgia Power’s plans to build a 19-mile natural gas pipeline through the suburban metropolitan area just west of Atlanta.

As part of his ongoing fight to block the Broadwater Energy LLC liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has called on a New York state agency to reject a permit for the controversial deepwater LNG terminal proposed for Long Island Sound.

As part of his ongoing fight to block the Broadwater Energy LLC liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has called on a New York state agency to reject a permit for the controversial deepwater LNG terminal proposed for Long Island Sound.

A special master to the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the state of Delaware has the authority to block the construction of an off-loading pier that would serve a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal being proposed by BP’s Crown Landing LLC along the Delaware River in Logan Township, NJ.

Hedge fund Pirate Capital LLC said last week it is suing to block Aquila Inc. from selling its Missouri electric utilities — Missouri Public Service and St. Joseph Light and Power — to Great Plains Energy Inc., parent of Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L) for $1.7 billion in cash and stock plus assumption of $1 billion of Aquila debt.