Confirmed

The Energy Information Administration has confirmed that gas demand from power generation posted a new record in July of 923.7 Bcf (29.8 Bcf/d), far surpassing the old record set in August 2005 of 780.9 Bcf. In a significant revision to its prior estimates, EIA sharply raised its demand estimate for July by about 138 Bcf. Furthermore, Denver-based consulting firm Bentek Energy said in several reports Wednesday that gas demand from generation remains well above levels last year, in part due to more nuclear maintenance outages in the shoulder months.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Tuesday signed three greenhouse gas (GHG) measures into law and his press spokespeople confirmed that he plans to sign a fourth measure Wednesday — the state’s historic “Global Warming Solutions Act” (AB 32). Schwarzenegger signed SB 107, AB 1925, and SB 1686 that deal with renewable goals, industrial carbon capturing, and forest management to reduce GHG emissions, respectively.

A BP plc spokesperson on Tuesday confirmed a report in The Wall Street Journal indicating federal investigators are investigating whether the London-based oil major manipulated crude oil and unleaded gasoline markets in 2002, 2003 and 2004. BP already is facing allegations by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that it manipulated the U.S. propane market in 2004 (see Daily GPI, June 29).

A day after ExxonMobil confirmed that it will sell or cancel its Vista del Sol LNG import project near Corpus Christi, TX, (see Daily GPI, Aug. 22), BP said Tuesday it has put its Bay Crossing LNG project, planned for Pelican Island in Galveston, TX, indefinitely on hold.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Kerr-McGee Corp. (KMG) and Western Gas Resources (WGR) confirmed Thursday that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched an informal inquiry into possible insider trading involving their $21 billion merger announcement last month (see NGI, June 26).

Anadarko Petroleum Corp., Kerr-McGee Corp. (KMG) and Western Gas Resources (WGR) confirmed Thursday that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has launched an informal inquiry into possible insider trading involving their $21 billion merger announcement last month (see Daily GPI, June 26).

Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald’s office has confirmed the premier will make an announcement Friday about the redevelopment of the Deep Panuke natural gas project, which is located offshore about 155 miles southeast of Halifax. The project, put on hold three years ago by EnCana Corp. (see Daily GPI, Feb. 18, 2003), originally was estimated to hold 1 Tcf of gas and was expected to produce 400 MMcf/d.

The U.S. Senate Friday confirmed by voice vote the nomination of former Idaho governor, Dirk Kempthorne, to be Secretary of the Interior. The voice vote occurred immediately following an 85-8 vote to invoke cloture, overriding a hold on the nomination.

Gulf South said Monday it had confirmed and scheduled gas over the previous several days to be delivered into Florida Gas Transmission at the Arnaudville/St. Landry and Montpelier/St. Helena interconnects in South Louisiana. “Gulf South has had such gas available for delivery and Florida Gas has been confirming the nominations; however, Florida Gas has failed to take delivery of such gas,” Gulf South continued. “Effective immediately Gulf South will not confirm deliveries at the subject locations until further notice.” Under its tariff, the pipeline said, it is a customer’s responsibility to cause gas to be taken from Gulf South at the delivery points, adding that it will reevaluate conditions on a daily basis. Gulf South also said Monday it had completed pigging maintenance on its Burns Offshore Pipeline System segment (see Daily GPI, April 21).