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ZaZa Energy Corp. more than doubled its proved Eagle Ford Shale oil reserves between the end of last year and Sept. 1; however, proved Eagle Ford gas reserves declined by more than half with the dissolution of a joint venture (JV) the company had with Hess Corp.

Native Americans claim they were unable to add input in the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) negotiations on the final rules that will regulate hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of oil and gas operations on public lands. Absent this input, some of the tribal leaders claimed the rules could impede their ability to develop their energy resources.

San Diego-based Sempra Energy remains tight-lipped about reports that JPMorgan Chase is now the exclusive bidder for the Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) 51% share of its trading joint venture with a unit of Sempra. The price remains close to $4 billion for the unit, which trades energy, metals and other commodities through RBS Sempra Commodities, according to reports by news service Reuters.

San Diego-based Sempra Energy remained tight-lipped Wednesday about reports that JPMorgan Chase is now the exclusive bidder for the Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) 51% share of its trading joint venture with a unit of Sempra. The price remains close to $4 billion for the unit, which trades energy, metals and other commodities through RBS Sempra Commodities, according to reports by news service Reuters.

At the dedication of its new auto plant in Greensburg, IN, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. said it will transfer exclusive production of the world’s only compressed natural gas powered passenger vehicle, the Civic GX, from a Honda plant in Ohio to Honda Manufacturing of Indiana LLC in 2009.

Sonangol, Chevron, BP, ExxonMobil and Total, joint venture partners in the Angola LNG Project, said they have agreed to initiate a period of exclusive negotiations with Gulf LNG, developer of the Clean Energy regasification facility near Pascagoula, MS, regarding a terminal use agreement, based on their submission during a competitive bid process. The successful negotiation of this agreement will allow for 100% of the LNG produced by the Angola LNG project to be received at the Mississippi regasification facility.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would give Sound Energy Solutions (SES) exclusive development rights for its Long Beach, CA, liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal is set to expire the end of this week, and the oversight board of the Port of Long Beach is considering whether to extend the agreement. Both sides told NGI that regardless of what the Harbor Commission does, permitting and environmental review work by both sides will continue on the project.

Citing the new federal Energy Policy Act of 2005, parts of which give FERC exclusive siting authority for onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, the California Public Utilities Commission dropped its investigation of the Sound Energy Solutions (SES) proposed LNG terminal in Long Beach harbor in a closed session following its business meeting earlier this month (Nov. 18). The state regulators had started the proceeding to examine safety and economic issues.

California regulators and FERC have quietly resolved their nearly 20-month long dispute over who has “exclusive jurisdiction” over a planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal for the Port of Long Beach, CA.