Discussed

The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) has agreed to sell more water to Gulfport Energy Corp. for Utica Shale drilling activities, as it adopts a new short-term water sales policy and partners with the U.S. Geological Survey to study the impact of future water withdrawals.

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. has signed an agreement with Sinochem Petroleum USA LLC, a U.S. subsidiary of China’s Sinochem Group, to sell 40% of its interest in 207,000 net acres leased by the Pioneer in the horizontal Wolfcamp Shale in the southern portion of the Spraberry Trend Area Field for $1.7 billion.

Chevron Corp. has not shut in any natural gas wells within its U.S. onshore portfolio, but it is “working to minimize dry gas as much as we possibly can,” CFO Pat Yarrington said Friday.

Chevron Corp. has not shut in any natural gas wells within its U.S. onshore portfolio, but it is “working to minimize dry gas as much as we possibly can,” CFO Pat Yarrington said Friday.

In an effort to expand its production of olefins, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP plans to build a massive 1-hexene plant at its Cedar Bayou Chemical Complex in Baytown, TX.

Cheniere Energy said Tuesday it expects to begin construction of long-discussed natural gas liquefaction and export facilities at its existing Sabine Pass import terminal in Cameron Parish, LA, early next year. The company said it will spend $6 billion to expand the facility to allow the liquefaction and export of domestic natural gas, particularly that from shale plays.

As the legal community discussed the court-related impact of Kenneth Lay’s death early Wednesday, a preliminary autopsy on the Enron founder concluded that clogged arteries were the cause of death. Prevailing legal opinion is that his death will wipe Lay’s slate clean in the eyes of the law. History will determine the rest.

Forget previously discussed concerns about 2006, it’s the summer of 2005 that’s worrying California state energy officials who gathered to review an update of the state Energy Action Plan last Tuesday. Dominating their discussions were “what-if” questions and proposed contingencies, including everything from mandatory load-reduction programs to accelerated power plant-building and delayed plant closings for older units.

Forget previously discussed concerns about 2006, it’s the summer of 2005 that’s worrying California state energy officials who gathered to review an update of the state Energy Action Plan Tuesday. Dominating their discussions were “what-if” questions and proposed contingencies, including everything from mandatory load-reduction programs to accelerated power plant-building and delayed plant closings for older units