Effective

El Paso declared an Unauthorized Overpull Penalty situationWednesday, effective until further notice. System linepack wascontinuing to decline despite withdrawals from Washington RanchStorage Field, the pipeline said. It will limit scheduled volumesat underperforming interconnects to insure system integrity.

Florida Gas Transmission issued an Overage Alert Day noticeWednesday, effective until further notice. The 2% tolerance fornegative daily imbalances is considerably more stringent than thosein OAD notices earlier this month.

FERC’s pipeline marketing affiliate rule is about as effectiveas having a wolf guard the henhouse, says a Washington D.C. lawyerwho represents producers and independent marketers. Because ofescalating abuses in the market, he believes overhauling Order 497should be the first priority of the Commission in its post-Order637 dialogue with the natural gas industry.

Questar Pipeline bought Enron Overthrust Pipeline Co.’s 18%interest in the Overthrust Pipeline effective Jan. 1, 2000. Thetransaction gives Questar Pipeline a 72% interest in the 88-mile,36-inch-diameter pipeline, which runs from the Whitney Canyon area— north of Evanston, WY, — to Rock Springs, WY. QuestarPipeline designed and built the Overthrust Pipeline, and hasoperated it since its completion in October 1982. Other partnersare Natural Gas Pipeline Co. of America and Colorado Interstate GasCo. The Overthrust Pipeline is a segment of the 793-mileTrailblazer system, which runs from southwestern Wyoming toBeatrice, NE. “Increased ownership of the Overthrust Pipeline is anatural fit for us,” said Questar Pipeline President Nick Rose.”Its location in our service territory and proximity to ourfacilities and supply sources will enhance the services weprovide.”

Effective today, Kern River will lift all restrictions on firmservice that had resulted from this week’s Muddy Creek maintenance.IT service will resume as scheduled Saturday.

Texaco named John E. Bethancourt president-production operationsyesterday. Bethancourt, whose appointment is effective immediately,was most recently vice president – upstream corporate development.In his new role, Bethancourt will relocate to Texaco’s CorporateCenter in White Plains, NY. After joining Texaco upon the company’sacquisition of Getty Oil in 1984, Bethancourt was appointed areamanager-South Texas in Texaco U.S.A. producing operations. In 1996he was appointed vice president of international businessdevelopment in Texaco International Marketing and Manufacturing,and was named to his most recent assignment in November 1997.

The Independent Petroleum Association of America elected BarryRussell as its new president yesterday, replacing Gil Thurm. Thechange was immediately effective.

Following a run of more than two weeks, MRT lifted effectiveSaturday the OFO that was put in place Jan. 19.

Houston-based Newfield Exploration Co. made David A. Trice CEOeffective today, replacing Joe B. Foster who resigned as CEO butwill remain as chairman and be involved with the company in anon-executive role. Foster, a director of Baker Hughes Inc. since1990, has been made interim CEO of that company in the wake of theresignation of Max L. Lukens. Foster resigned his Newfield positiontwo weeks ahead of the planned date of Feb. 15 to accept thetemporary post at Baker Hughes. Foster founded Newfield in 1989after serving as executive vice president of Tenneco Inc. andChairman of Tenneco Oil.