Emerged

Two critical issues emerged last week in Capitol Hill debate over futures, over-the-counter (OTC) and derivatives regulatory reform as lawmakers heard witnesses proposing mandatory clearing of all OTC contracts — or not; and the merging of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) — or not. Senate committee debate also took a side trip into new charges of possible excessive speculation driving energy commodity prices higher.

More aggressive bidding was just one of the themes that emerged during the record-breaking Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 206, according to consultant Wood Mackenzie.

More aggressive bidding was just one of the themes that emerged during the record-breaking Minerals Management Service (MMS) Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 206, according to consultant Wood Mackenzie.

With nearly a year to go before announced increases go into effect, Alberta royalties and faltering natural gas drilling swiftly emerged as an issue after Conservative Premier Ed Stelmach called a provincial election for March 3.

With nearly a year to go before announced increases go into effect, Alberta royalties and faltering natural gas drilling swiftly emerged as an issue after Conservative Premier Ed Stelmach called a provincial election for March 3.

Considerably lighter in debt and megawatts, San Jose, CA-based Calpine Corp. Thursday emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, closing its $7.3 billion exit financing facility, including a $300 million bridge loan the reorganized independent power plant developer/operator expects to pay off by the end of the first quarter.

In addition to the solar water heating rebate program (AB 1470), three other energy bills emerged before the California legislature adjourned its regular session Wednesday heading into a gubernatorial-called special session next week to deal with health care and some other specific issues. The three bills dealt with renewable energy and global climate change issues.

With rapid payout and strong cash flow, the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has emerged as the “epicenter” of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, accounting for half of the top 10 deals involving U.S.-based exploration and production (E&P) companies year-to-date, Raymond James analysts wrote in their latest “Stat of the Week.” Overall, M&A activity within the oil and gas sector continues to heat up, with more than $18 billion in announcements involving U.S.-based E&Ps so far this year.

With rapid payout and strong cash flow, the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has emerged as the “epicenter” of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity, accounting for half of the top 10 deals involving U.S.-based exploration and production (E&P) companies year-to-date, Raymond James analysts wrote in their latest “Stat of the Week.” Overall, M&A activity within the oil and gas sector continues to heat up, with more than $18 billion in announcements involving U.S.-based E&Ps so far this year.