Enters

Apache Corp. enters the new year with rising production, cash on its balance sheet and access to credit markets “at very acceptable rates,” CEO G. Steven Farris said Wednesday as he warned that less well positioned companies could be up for grabs given the tight market for credit.

Dallas-based Atmos Energy Corp. has joined 52 other gas/electric utilities on the Fortune 500 ranking of the largest companies. Atmos enters the list at No. 430 based on revenues of $4.9 billion.

Dallas-based Atmos Energy Corp. has joined 52 other gas/electric utilities on the Fortune 500 ranking of the largest companies. Atmos enters the list at No. 430 based on revenues of $4.9 billion.

The blaze at Duke Energy’s Moss Bluff underground salt cavern storage facility in Liberty County, TX, was continuing into its sixth day Tuesday, but the size and intensity of the fire has decreased significantly, according to company officials.

ONEOK Inc. last Thursday said it entered into an agreement to purchase Northern Plains Natural Gas Co. from a joint venture of Southern Union Co. and a General Electric unit for $175 million, conditioned on that partnership’s success in completing the acquisition of Enron Corp.’s pipeline unit, CrossCountry Energy LLC, which includes Northern Plains.

ONEOK Inc. on Thursday said it entered into an agreement to purchase Northern Plains Natural Gas Co. from a joint venture of Southern Union Co. and a General Electric unit for $175 million, conditioned on that partnership’s success in completing the acquisition of Enron Corp.’s pipeline unit, CrossCountry Energy LLC, which includes Northern Plains.

Dominion Resources and Statoil ASA announced last Monday they have signed a 20-year agreement that gives Statoil access to increased capacity at the Dominion Cove Point liquefied natural gas plant (LNG) located on the Chesapeake Bay in eastern Maryland.

Dominion Resources and Statoil ASA announced Monday they have signed a 20-year agreement that gives Statoil access to increased capacity at the Dominion Cove Point liquefied natural gas plant (LNG) located on the Chesapeake Bay in eastern Maryland.

Without admitting any wrongdoing, National Fuel Gas Supply Corp. last week entered into a consent agreement with FERC enforcement authorities to settle charges that the interstate pipeline gave preferential treatment to certain select customers, including its natural gas marketing affiliate, from 1999 through mid-2002.