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The bankruptcy judge overseeing Enron Corp.’s case may decide today whether to move the venue to Houston. Judge Arthur Gonzalez deferred the decision last week on whether to move the case in a lawsuit filed by former merger partner and rival Dynegy Inc., which is involved in several lawsuits with Enron (see related story). Meanwhile, despite claims to the contrary, internal Enron documents seem to indicate that former CEO Jeffrey Skilling may have known more about the dubious off-balance sheet transactions, which precipitated the energy trader’s collapse last year.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton has dashed any industry hopes that the Bush administration might consider restoring the pared-down eastern Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 181 to its original larger size in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the nation.

The National Energy Board has scheduled a public hearing in November to discuss an application by Petro-Canada Oil & Gas to construct a natural gas pipeline from the Medicine Hat, AB area to Burstall, SK. Petro-Canada proposes to construct a 42-mile-long 10-inch pipe from its existing production properties in Medicine Hat to TransCanada Pipeline Ltd.’s system near Burstall. The pipeline would have a design capacity to transport 53 MMcf/d.

The Broward County Commission today will consider a proposal that, if approved, would impose an 11-month moratorium on the construction of new power plants in the county, but an Enron Corp. spokesperson yesterday said that Florida’s environmental protection agency may step in and tell the county that such a move is illegal.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) is asking Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber to consider a proposal that would result in the state purchasing Portland General Electric from Enron. In a letter recently sent to Kitzhaber, DeFazio also proposes that Oregon issue bonds to purchase Portland General’s transmission assets.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) is asking Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber to consider a proposal that would result in the state purchasing Portland General Electric from Enron. In a letter sent to Kitzhaber at the end of last week, DeFazio also proposes that Oregon issue bonds to purchase Portland General’s transmission assets.

Union Gas launched an open season for up to 6.5 Bcf of long-term working storage capacity and said it was willing to consider expanding if market demand is sufficient. The storage space available in the open season is for periods of three years or greater with injections beginning in April 2002. Bids are due July 31 and the capacity will be awarded by Aug. 31.

Union Gas launched an open season for up to 6.5 Bcf of long-term working storage capacity and said it was willing to consider expanding if market demand is sufficient. The storage space available in the open season is for periods of three years or greater with injections beginning in April 2002. Bids are due July 31 and the capacity will be awarded by Aug. 31.

Texas’ severance tax on oil and gas would be set on a sliding scale to assist industry during less profitable times, under a bill passed this week in the Texas Senate. Sen. Teel Bivins (R-Amarillo) said the legislation (SB 344) would create a sliding tax scale to allow industry to pay as little as 1% in taxes.