Bureau

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has given prelimary approval to development plans for as many as 66,000 coalbed methane (CBM) wells in Wyoming and Montana, advising in two final environmental impact statements (FEIS) that with specified mitigation the wells can be accommodated without undue damage to the environment.

BC Gas Inc. announced it has received approval in the form of an Advance Ruling Certificate from the Canadian Competition Bureau for its previously announced acquisition of Centra Gas British Columbia Inc. and Centra Gas Whistler Inc. from Westcoast Energy Inc.

PanCanadian Energy Corp. and Alberta Energy Co. reported that their merger has received a green light from the Competition Bureau of Canada. The receipt of a “no action” letter satisfies one of the key approvals required to complete the proposed merger to form EnCana Corp. “Momentum continues to build towards the shareholder meetings on April 4,” said AEC President Gwyn Morgan. The proposed merger is still subject to approvals by shareholders, the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and the expiry of the waiting period under the Hart Scott Rodino Act in the United States.

An environmental analysis by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has found that approving eight natural gas wells on existing federal leases north of the Missouri River within and adjacent to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Montana would have little environmental impact. BLM has recommended approval of the wells, but said it will not make a final decision until after a public comment period ends in mid-February.

An environmental analysis by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has found that approving eight natural gas wells on existing federal leases north of the Missouri River within and adjacent to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Montana would have little environmental impact. BLM has recommended approval of the wells, but said it will not make a final decision until after a public comment period ends in mid-February.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed last week it put out a general advisory to all its field offices warning that Osama bin Laden has issued orders for U.S. natural gas supplies to be attacked in the event of the death or capture of himself or his Taliban leader, Mullah Omar. The FBI stressed it had no corroboration for the information and it could turn out to be unreliable.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed Monday it has put out a general advisory to all its field offices warning that it has an uncorroborated report that Osama bin Laden has issued orders for U.S. natural gas supplies to be attacked in the event of the death or capture of himself or his general, Mullah Omar. The FBI stresses it has no corroboration for this information and it could turn out to be unreliable.

President Bush announced his intention to nominate Kathleen Burton Clarke to be director of the Bureau of Land Management at the Department of Interior. She has served as the executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources since 1998, and she was deputy director from 1993 to 1998. Clarke served in the office of Rep. James V. Hansen from 1987 to 1993, first as director of constituent services and then as executive director. A Utah native, she is a graduate of Utah State University.

Infinity Inc. plans to move forward with its drilling plans in the Green River Basin of Wyoming after the Bureau of Land Management approved three of four drilling permits for its LaBarge project there. Infinity has already drilled one coalbed methane (CBM) well in the basin, and independent engineers estimate net reserves of recoverable gas of more than 550 Bcf — putting cumulative future potential cash flows (10% discount rate and price of $2.69/Mcf) at $374 million.