Considered

The Montana Supreme Court has upheld a natural gas company’s right to drill beneath the Montana ranch of candy billionaire Forrest Mars. The ruling, considered significant for its split-estate implications, also offers a cautionary tale about proper paperwork.

A solid majority of points achieved rebounds Monday from across the board weekend plunges. The overall rally was considered largely driven by the previous Friday’s 35.2-cent spike in December futures (along with a little help from industrial load returning from its typical weekend drop) because weather fundamentals were weak for the most part.

Continuing its strategy of divesting assets considered noncore to the company, Houston-based Linn Energy LLC said it has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed buyer to sell its deep rights in certain central Oklahoma acreage, which includes the Woodford Shale interval, for cash consideration of $229 million.

Thunder Horse, considered the world’s largest semisubmersible platform, has begun production in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) from a single well and is on track to be fully commissioned before the end of 2008 following a three-year delay.

BP plc, Royal Dutch Shell and Bill Barrett Corp. are considered the “best” oil and natural gas production companies operating in Wyoming based on their environmental performance, according to a conservation group.

BP plc, Royal Dutch Shell and Bill Barrett Corp. are considered the “best” oil and natural gas production companies operating in Wyoming based on their environmental performance, according to a conservation group.

Quicksilver Resources Inc. has increased its position in the emerging Horn River Basin of northeastern British Columbia, which is considered one of the most promising new natural gas shale plays in Canada.

Acknowledging that Nova Scotia has work to do if its waters are to ever be considered a world class attraction for exploration and production companies, the regulator of the province’s offshore petroleum industry announced changes to make the region more enticing.

Acknowledging that Nova Scotia has work to do if its waters are to ever be considered a world class attraction for exploration and production companies, the regulator of the province’s offshore petroleum industry announced changes to make the region more enticing.