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Baker Hughes Inc. is realigning its operations by changing up organization and senior leadership as part of a strategy to simplify after the mega-merger with Halliburton Co. fell through.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners has approved an agreement to lease 5,870 acres of land in the northeastern part of the state to Chief Oil & Gas LLC, netting the agency a bonus payment of more than $14.6 million plus royalties and other fees.

Privately-owned Chief Oil & Gas LLC has confirmed that it plans to close its Appalachian headquarters in Western Pennsylvania by the end of October as part of a broader administrative consolidation within the company.

Encana Corp., in the midst of a strategic review of its North American onshore business, on Tuesday announced an organizational restructuring following the retirement of formerly key executives.

Apache Corp.announced several executive changes effective Jan. 1, 2014. COORod Eichleris transitioning to two newly created roles: executive adviser to the chairman and CEO of liquefied natural gas projects and upstream, as well as oversight of gas monetization, and corporate health, safety, environment and emergency response. Permian Basin Region Vice PresidentJohn Christmannis to become COO of North America. International Operations EVPTom Voytovichis becoming COO of International, whileMike Bahorich, chief technology officer, also assumes responsibility for exploration and production technology. Argentina Region Vice PresidentMichael Bosewould take over the Permian Region, whileDavid Chi, manager of Argentina production, would become interim region vice president.Rob Johnstonis to become vice president of the Central Region.

Researchers at Ohio State University (OSU) want to set up a functioning oil and gas well at the school’s Eastern Agricultural Station in Noble County, OH, to study the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

Gina McCarthy’s challenge to be confirmed by the Senate as chief of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be more difficult once the president rolls out his climate change initiative Tuesday, said an energy specialist with the Bracewell Policy Resolution Group.

Former Anadarko Petroleum Corp. chief Jim Hackett was appointed to co-lead the Houston office of private energy investment giant Riverstone Holdings LLC. Hackett stepped down as Anadarko CEO in 2012 and retired as executive chairman in May; he still plans to pursue a master’s degree in theological studies at Harvard Divinity School, completing a two-year program over the next four years (see Daily GPI, March 12). Working at Riverstone is “a way to still stay in touch with a business I love as a principal, but to do it very much in light of my primary duty, which is to go back to school.” Riverstone, founded in 2000, has nearly $24 billion in seven investment funds, with equity invested in operators that include deepwater explorer Cobalt International Energy Inc., midstreamer Magellan Midstream Partners LP and UK shale explorer Cuadrilla Resources Ltd.

Doug Suttles, the former operating chief for BP plc’s global exploration and production arm, on Tuesday took the helm of Canada’s largest natural gas producer, Encana Corp., as CEO and president.