Commitment

With its known Alaska oil and natural gas reserves approaching 7 billion boe — its largest single source in its global portfolio, BP plc will be a major player on the North Slope for at least 40 years and most likely, longer, the company’s Alaska chief affirmed this week.

Ignoring protests from some shareholders who want a complete separation from Dynegy Inc., ChevronTexaco Corp. Tuesday offered its strongest public endorsement to date, writing down a total of $631 million in second-quarter earnings related to its stake in the marketer, and reiterating that all of its U.S. natural gas agreements remain in place and will remain in place for at least the near term. ChevronTexaco’s profits were down 78% compared to the second quarter a year ago, and part of the loss related to a $531 million special-item charge for the company’s investment in Dynegy’s common and preferred stock to its estimated fair value as of June 30, 2002, and $100 million related to its share of Dynegy’s own writedown.

Ignoring protests from some shareholders who want a complete separation from Dynegy Inc., ChevronTexaco Corp. Tuesday offered its strongest public endorsement to date, writing down a total of $631 million in second-quarter earnings related to its stake in the marketer, and reiterating that all of its U.S. natural gas agreements remain in place and will remain in place for at least the near term. ChevronTexaco’s profits were down 78% compared to the second quarter a year ago, and part of the loss related to a $531 million special-item charge for the company’s investment in Dynegy’s common and preferred stock to its estimated fair value as of June 30, 2002, and $100 million related to its share of Dynegy’s own writedown.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood last Wednesday said that it is getting tougher for him to remain committed to the voluntary nature of the Commission’s landmark Order 2000, which spelled out the agency’s expectations that transmission owners will join regional transmission organizations (RTOs), against the backdrop of several RTO membership rosters remaining in a state of flux several years after that decision was issued.

In the midst of much uncertainty surrounding California’s powersituation, Duke Energy North America Monday reiterated itscommitment to the state’s struggling wholesale electricity market,announcing new bilateral power deals with Pacific Gas and ElectricCo. and progress with redevelopment plans at three coastal powerplant sites it is operating.

Dynegy Inc. has signaled its commitment to addtelecommunications to its natural gas and power interests with aninvestment of more than half a billion dollars, including the $152million purchase of a Colorado-based communications solutions andnetwork company.

Dynegy Inc. has signaled its commitment to addtelecommunications to its natural gas and power interests with aninvestment of more than half a billion dollars, including the $152million purchase of a Colorado-based communications solutions andnetwork company.

Living up to a commitment to make 2000 the “year of the drillbit,” Apache Corp. said last week it will acquire long-livedproducing properties in the Permian Basin and South Texas for morethan $300 million in a definitive agreement with Collins & WareInc., based in Midland, TX.

Living up to a commitment to make 2000 the “year of the drillbit,” Apache Corp. said yesterday it will acquire long-livedproducing properties in the Permian Basin and South Texas for morethan $300 million in a definitive agreement with Collins & WareInc., based in Midland, TX.