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GE Energy Financial Services added to its growing U.S. energy infrastructure last week after gaining majority control of Regency Energy Partners LP in a $603 million deal. Regency owns 4,000 miles of natural gas gathering pipe systems in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Kansas, as well as a 320-mile intrastate gas pipeline in Louisiana.

Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (APL) agreement to acquire control of Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s interests in the Chaney Dell and Midkiff/Benedum natural gas gathering and processing systems for $1.85 billion, announced last week, doubles the company’s aggregate processing capacity and gives it a strong presence in northwestern Oklahoma and western Texas.

Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (APL) agreed to acquire control of Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s interests in the Chaney Dell and Midkiff/Benedum natural gas gathering and processing systems for $1.85 billion. The deal will double Atlas’ aggregate processing capacity and give the company a strong presence in northwestern Oklahoma and western Texas.

Belen Station became unavailable Wednesday morning due to surge control valve problems, El Paso said, adding that parts are being shipped in and if all goes well, the station will be returned to service Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Belen’s outage has changed a capacity reduction of the San Juan Crossover from 29 MMcf/d to 75 MMcf/d through Friday.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) last week approved a settlement in a Peoples Gas citation case in which the company failed to conduct corrosion control monitoring and to act promptly to fix problems. Peoples Gas will pay a $1 million penalty and must bring its system into compliance with applicable federal and state pipeline safety regulations.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) approved a settlement in a Peoples Gas citation case in which the company failed to conduct corrosion control monitoring and to act promptly to fix problems.Peoples Gas will pay a $1 million penalty and must bring its system into compliance with applicable federal and state pipeline safety regulations. Safety standards are designed to ensure protection of the physical condition of iron and steel pipelines, which may corrode over time due to chemical and electrochemical reactions. Cathodic protection reduces the corrosion rate of metal gas pipes and the gas system operator is responsible for ensuring that the protection devices are in place and working.

On Nov. 8 — after election returns showed Democrats will take control of both houses of Congress — many in the oil and gas industry likely heard the windfall profits tax bogeyman knocking on the door.

On Nov. 8 — after election returns showed Democrats will take control of both houses of Congress — many in the oil and gas industry likely heard the windfall profits tax bogeyman knocking on the door.

With mother nature largely in control of the natural gas market, forecasting prices can be a real headache. Winter Henry Hub prices (November-March), for example, could average anywhere from $4 to $11.50, depending on whether temperatures are 13% warmer than normal or 12% colder than normal this winter, Energy and Environmental Analysis Inc. (EEA) said in its latest Monthly Gas Update. EEA’s best guess is an $8.48 winter average at the hub.