Elected

January natural gas futures drifted lower Wednesday as traders elected to trade within a narrow range, all the while debating what Thursday’s government inventory report would show. At the end of an uninspired day January futures fell 6.1 cents to $5.462 and February shed 6.5 cents to $5.513. January crude oil rose $1.97 to $72.66/bbl on a supportive petroleum inventory report.

David Crane, CEO of NRG Energy, and Timothy J. Probert, president of Halliburton’s Global Business Lines, have been elected to El Paso Corp.’s board of directors. Crane, 50, will serve on the governance and nominating committee of El Paso’s board. Crane earned a bachelor of arts degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a juris doctorate from Harvard Law School. Probert, 58, will serve on the health, safety and environmental committee of the board. He received his bachelor of science degree in geology and geography from the University of London in 1972 and is a member of the corporate advisory board of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Lee K. Boothby, 47, president of Newfield Exploration Co., was elected CEO at the company’s annual meeting. He succeeds retiring David A. Trice, 61, who agreed to serve a one-year term as nonexecutive chairman. Boothby joined Newfield 10 years ago and previously served as senior vice president of acquisitions and business development. He also has headed Newfield’s Midcontinent division. Gary D. Packer, 46, who most recently served as president of Newfield’s Rocky Mountain division, was promoted to executive vice president and COO. Terry W. Rathert, 56, a founding member of the company, was promoted to executive vice president and CFO by the board. Daryll T. Howard, 46, was promoted to vice president of the Rocky Mountains division, succeeding Packer. In addition, Samuel E. Langford, 51, was promoted to vice president of corporate development.

Elected northern Canadian leaders have thrown cold water on the latest initiative in a decades-old industry quest for a clear regulatory path toward opening the Northwest Territories (NWT) to natural gas development at a businesslike pace.

Elected northern Canadian leaders have thrown cold water on the latest initiative in a decades-old industry quest for a clear regulatory path toward opening the Northwest Territories (NWT) to natural gas development at a businesslike pace.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission elected Commissioner Michael V. Dunn to serve as acting chairman until President Obama’s nominee, Gary S. Gensler, has been confirmed by the Senate. Dunn succeeds Walter Lukken, who served as acting chairman since June 27, 2007 and announced his resignation effective Jan. 20. Lukken will remain a commissioner.

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) elected Sandy Jones chairman and David King vice chairman. A road construction business founder and owner from the southwestern part of the state, Jones joined the PRC Jan. 1, 2007. Jones said he wants to help small businesses “thrive,” which he claims will create jobs and allow the state to retain more of its young citizens. King is a third generation New Mexican from the family that operates the King Ranch in South Texas. King is a veteran of local, state and federal government positions and has served three previous governors in New Mexico.

Lamar McKay, a veteran of U.S. oil company Amoco, as been appointed chairman and president of BP America, succeeding Robert A. (Bob) Malone who has elected to retire after 34 years with the company. McKay, a member of the BP p.l.c. executive management team, has led the company’s Special Projects Team since early 2008. In that capacity, he played a major role in establishing a new governance model for TNK-BP, BP’s Russian joint venture. Prior to that assignment, he served as executive vice president and COO for BP America and brings deep knowledge of BP’s U.S. operations to his new position, the company announcement said. McKay joined Amoco Production Co. as a petroleum engineer in 1980 and later served in a variety of operating and commercial roles. During his career he has led upstream production businesses in the Arkoma Basin, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea. After working on the BP-Amoco merger, he led BP’s worldwide exploration and production strategy efforts followed by a posting as chief of staff for the company’s global exploration and production business. Prior to his first assignment with BP America, he served as group vice president for Russia and Kazakhstan.

Susan F. Clark was elected to the Sierra Pacific Resources board of directors, filling one of two vacancies. Clark is a partner in Tallahassee, FL-based law firm Radey Thomas Yon & Clark, which specializes in telecommunication law and energy regulation. During more than 20 years service with the Florida Public Service commission Clark was a commissioner for nine years and served as chairman in 1995-1996. She also served the regulatory commission as its general counsel.