Confidential

EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. settled a lawsuit brought by a New Mexico man who was burned in an explosion at the Lisbon Valley natural gas plant in 2004 (see Daily GPI, Aug. 30). Details were to be confidential. Following six days of testimony in a jury trial in U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell’s courtroom in Salt Lake City, the EnCana subsidiary on Aug. 27 was found 100% liable for Michael Melton’s injuries. The jury was determining compensatory damages and a possible punitive judgment against EnCana when the private settlement was reached late Thursday. When Melton was injured in 2004, the plant was owned by Denver-based Tom Brown Inc. (TBI), which was bought by Calgary-based EnCana Corp. (see Daily GPI, April 16, 2004). TBI’s operations were merged with those of EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) in 2005.

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski, who is continuing confidential negotiations with three North Slope producers about building a $20 billion natural gas pipeline, is apparently readying a separate package as part of the discussions to overhaul the state’s oilfield tax system.

May 28, 2003

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last week publicly released previously confidential reports that detail, through transcripts of recorded telephone calls, how there may have been an attempt by Williams and AES Corp. to withhold power generation capacity from the California market in order to pressure power prices.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has enjoined the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) from enforcing its open-ended reporting requirement on natural gas pipelines operating offshore, ruling that the agency far exceeded its authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) when it took this action nearly two years ago.

Canadian 88 Energy Corp. said it has opened data rooms to allowpotential acquirers access to confidential information. TheCanadian exploration and production company put itself up for salein October after Duke Energy rescued it by buying a controllingstake. On Oct. 10, the company announced that its board hadestablished a special committee to review strategic alternativesand identify opportunities to enhance shareholder value. The boardsaid strong fundamentals for high quality natural gas assets andprospects are not reflected in current stock price valuations andare more likely to be realized through such a strategic reviewprocess. Canadian 88 stated several reasons for initiating thereview process, including high gas prices, large working interestsin significant company-operated gas fields, an inventory ofexcellent gas exploration prospects, the world class potential ofthe company’s East Coast holdings, imminent expiration of currentgas hedges and tax pools in excess of $400 million.

Petrobank Energy and Resources gave the board of directors ofRanger Oil an ultimatum yesterday: Give full access to Ranger’sconfidential data room under Petrobank’s terms no later than 5 p.m.(MDT) on Thursday, or Petrobank will not amend or extend its offer toacquire all of the common shares of Ranger. (see Daily GPI, June 9) This would mean Petrobank’sexisting offer would run out next Monday, at 9 a.m. Calgary time.

Southern California Gas Co.’s proposed restructuring plan hasbeen pushed aside by six new confidential alternatives becausecertain aspects of the utility’s plan have been deemedanticompetitive and have the potential to allow gaming at theTopock, AZ, receipt point, according to observers and participantsin discussions taking place at a downtown Los Angeles hotel.

Southern California Gas Co.’s proposed restructuring plan hasbeen pushed aside by six new confidential alternatives becausecertain aspects of the utility’s plan have been deemedanticompetitive and have the potential to allow gaming at theTopock, AZ, receipt point, according to participants in settlementdiscussions taking place at a downtown Los Angeles hotel.