Discuss

The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service hasscheduled a meeting in Houston to discuss implementation of itsGulf of Mexico Royalty In-Kind pilot program, which is slated tobegin in October. The three-year program will involve thecollection and sale of as much as 800 MMcf/d of royalty gas fromfederal leases in the Gulf. It is the MMS’s third RIK pilot, all ofwhich are being conducted to determine the feasibility andeconomics of accepting royalties in kind rather that as a cashpayment from lessees. The meeting on the Gulf RIK will begin at 10a.m. on July 20 at the MMS Houston Compliance Division Office RM104, 4141 Sam Houston Parkway East. It is open to the publicwithout reservation. Lessees, operators, payers and potentialpurchasers are encouraged to attend.

The International Petroleum Exchange (IPE), based in London,accepted an offer from NYMEX last week to look into a possiblemerger, which would create a “single global energy exchange.” Anagreement to join the exchanges would affect companies which sellcommodities internationally in both markets. The domestic gasmarkets in both countries, however, would see little impact.