Core

Calgary-based Elk Point Resources Inc. increased its core area of operations this week, agreeing to pay C$24.8 million to purchase some natural gas and light crude oil assets in the Pembina, Easyford and Bigoray areas of Alberta. Current net production from the properties is approximately 2.9 MMcf/d, 385 bbl/d of light crude oil and 55 bbl/d of natural gas liquids — 730 boe/d total.

After being on the divestiture road for almost a year andshedding $3 billion worth of non-core assets, TransCanada PipeLinesLtd., reported that its first nine months of 2000 and third quartershowed progress over the equivalent time periods of 1999. Netearnings before asset sales and long-term natural gas contractlosses were $433 million ($0.91 per share) for the first ninemonths of 2000, compared to $402 million ($0.86 per share) duringthe same period last year. The company attributed the 8% increaseto higher income from the power and gas marketing businesses aswell as reduced financial and preferred equity charges. Beforeadding special items, the company posted third quarter net earningsof $151 million ($0.32 per share), compared to $141 million ($0.30per share) for the third quarter of 1999.Deliveries of natural gason the Canadian Mainline and the BC system were approximately thesame for the first nine months of 2000 and 1999. The CanadianMainline delivered about 7.3 Bcf/d for both periods, while the BCsystem delivered approximately 1.1 Bcf/d. The Alberta system didexperience a decline. For the first nine months of 2000 itdelivered an average of 12.2 Bcf/d, compared with the same periodduring 1999 when it delivered 12.4 Bcf/d. Marketing also stumbled abit, as the company marketed about 6.1 Bcf/d for the first ninemonths of 2000, compared to 6.6 Bcf/d for the first nine months of1999. TransCanada took a beating on some long-term natural gascontracts it had entered into to support various pipelineinvestments and other business initiatives. Due to growing naturalgas demand in Alberta, and excess pipeline capacity leaving theprovince, the price differential between the Western CanadaSedimentary Basin and eastern market areas continued to shrink.TransCanada was forced to enter into third party arrangements tocrystallize the negative value of its long term natural gascontracts and the company reported taking a $124 million after-taxcharge associated with the losses.

After waiting two and a half years, American Electric Powercompleted its $4.6 billion purchase of Central and South West Corp.last week following approval from the Securities and ExchangeCommission (SEC). The deal creates the U.S.’s largest electricutility with annual revenues of $12.5 billion, assets of more than$35 billion, more than 4.8 million customers in 11 states, and38,000 MW of power generation in the U.S.

After waiting more than two years, American Electric Power andCentral and South West Corp. completed their merger yesterdayfollowing approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC). AEP chairman E. Linn Draper Jr. said the company’spost-merger strategy consists of three key elements: wholesale,energy delivery and retail.

Cabot Oil & Gas announced it will close its Pittsburghoffice Aug. 31 as part of a “strategic repositioning” that includedthe sale of non-core Appalachian properties to Enervest ManagementCo. for $46.2 million last September. About 15 jobs will beeliminated as a result of the action. The remaining positions willbe transferred to existing offices in Charleston, WV, and Houston.

Cabot Oil & Gas announced it will close its Pittsburghoffice Aug. 31 as part of a “strategic repositioning” that includedthe sale of non-core Appalachian properties to Enervest ManagementCo. for $46.2 million last September. About 15 jobs will beeliminated as a result of the action. The remaining positions willbe transferred to existing offices in Charleston, WV, and Houston.

Prize Energy, a privately-held Dallas-based producer, increasedits core area production and reserve base yesterday by announcing adefinitive merger agreement with Vista Energy Resources. Thetransaction will create a mid-sized independent oil and gas companynamed Prize Energy Corp. with assets valued in excess of $450million. The merger is expected to be completed in the fourthquarter of this year.

Putting more emphasis its core business, Crystal Oil Co. changedits name recently to Crystal Gas Storage Inc. The company owns andoperates two natural gas storage facilities near Hattiesburg, MSand owns interests in other natural gas properties in Louisiana.

Unocal Corp.’s Spirit Energy 76 unit recorded a 64% success ratein its core Gulf of Mexico shelf exploration program during 1998,including four new discoveries during December. For the full-year,Spirit Energy had 21 discoveries on the shelf. Preliminaryinformation indicates the company replaced about 100% of its 1998production with new reserves (excluding sales), increasedproduction from year-ago levels, and continued to developadditional attractive exploration prospects.