Supporters of Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s reelection bid were more optimistic Friday after the Alaska Division of Elections revealed that besides the more than 11,000 absentee ballots that have come in so far, there are an additional 8,000-plus questioned ballots still to be counted in the Republican primary race Aug. 23 in which Tea Party candidate Joe Miller won the initial precinct count by 1,668 votes (see Daily GPI, Aug. 27).
Division
Articles from Division
Industry Brief
The Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice has approved Baker Hughes Inc.’s (BHI) plan to sell Superior Energy Services two stimulation vessels (the HR Hughes and the Blue Ray) and some other assets used to perform sand control services in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (see Daily GPI, July 7). The asset sale, expected to close by the end of August, is being conducted in connection with BHI’s acquisition of BJ Services Co. (see Daily GPI, April 29). Once the Superior sale is closed BHI would be free to fully integrate BJ Services into its operations.
El Paso’s Fuel Cost Recovery Method Called Unjust
Texas Gas Service Co., a division of ONEOK Inc., has filed a Section 5 complaint against El Paso Natural Gas, saying that the pipeline’s collection of fuel costs on a postage stamp basis is forcing shippers on the east end of El Paso’s pipeline to subsidize shippers on the west end.
Complaint Calls El Paso’s Fuel Cost Recovery Method ‘Unjust’
Texas Gas Service Co., a division of ONEOK Inc., has filed a Section 5 complaint against El Paso Natural Gas, saying that the pipeline’s collection of fuel costs on a postage stamp basis is forcing shippers on the east end of El Paso’s pipeline to subsidize shippers on the west end.
DOJ to BP: Report ‘Significant’ Corporate Actions
BP plc and other operators involved in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) rig explosion have been asked by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to inform U.S. officials of “any significant corporate actions related to the organization, structure and financial position…” going forward.
DOJ to BP: Report ‘Significant’ Corporate Actions
Companies involved in the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion were asked by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to inform U.S. officials of “any significant corporate actions related to the organization, structure and financial position…” going forward.
Consumer Unit Seeks to Halt Customer Shutoffs in California
The California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) independent consumer unit, the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA), took a few punches Friday at the state’s major private-sector utilities, saying they aren’t doing enough to curb the rising numbers of customer shutoffs for nonpayment. The action followed a six-hour, CPUC-hosted workshop last Tuesday in San Francisco.
Legislators Push for Changes to Climate Bill, Urge Obama to Action
Rather than continue down the same cap-and-trade path that “has only increased division” within Congress over climate change legislation, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) last Wednesday called for the Senate to return to the drawing board to consider other options, such as a carbon tax, which is favored by some oil and natural gas producers.
Murkowski Calls for ‘Return to Drawing Board’ on Climate Change
Rather than continue down the same cap-and-trade path that “has only increased division” within Congress over climate change legislation, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Wednesday called for the Senate to return to the drawing board to consider other options, such as a carbon tax that is favored by oil and natural gas producers.
People
James Dupree has been named by BP plc to take over the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) division, which is based in Houston. BP is the largest leaseholder in the GOM. Dupree, who was named senior vice president of the offshore U.S. region, replaces Neil Shaw, who was tapped to lead the company’s Centralized Developments Organization, a global exploration and production unit. Dupree recently was in charge of BP’s oil and gas business in Russia; he previously was in charge of activities in Kazakhstan. Dupree was based in Houston from 2000 to 2002 when he helmed the company’s GOM deepwater production, drilling, exploration and facility fabrication unit.