Expenses

Expenses related to pipeline expansion projects were a drag on profits in 2Q2009, with earnings declining to $20.3 million (12 cents/share) compared with $64.7 million (50 cents/share) in 2Q2008, Houston-based Boardwalk Pipeline Partners said Monday.

A $25 million jump in pension expenses related to last year’s securities market collapse and a slowdown in industrial activity in the Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) service territory dragged NiSource Inc.’s 1Q2009 net operating earnings down 10.1% to $170.2 million (62 cents/share) compared with $189.4 million (69 cents/share) in 1Q2008.

Marathon Oil Corp. blamed higher-than-expected exploration expenses and unscheduled downtime for a 38% decline in quarterly profit from a year ago; however, the producer is stepping up its exploration spending this year — with most of the money directed at U.S. assets.

Marathon Oil Corp. blamed higher-than-expected exploration expenses and unscheduled downtime for a 38% decline in quarterly profit from a year ago; however, the producer is stepping up its exploration spending this year — with most of the money directed at U.S. assets.

Forecast costs of Canada’s arctic natural gas pipeline project have jumped 116% and the beleaguered scheme’s sponsors have pushed the target date for starting deliveries back at least three years.

Williams on Monday set the terms for a $1.1 billion tender offer as part of a long-range plan to trim $4 billion of its $11.3 billion debt by the end of 2005.

Burlington Resources Inc. easily surpassed Wall Street’s expectations Wednesday, reporting a 238% increase in net income in the third quarter on higher commodity prices and a 3% overall boost in natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil production. Progress in the company’s cost containment efforts also helped the bottom line.

Aquila Inc. said it received US$477 million after fees and expenses for its Australian energy investments from a consortium representing Alinta Limited, AMP Henderson and their affiliates. The proceeds were about US$32 million higher than earlier estimates mainly because of a stronger Australian dollar. Aquila said the net proceeds will be used to repay obligations under its recent 364-day secured loan and for other actions to strengthen the company’s balance sheet. Aquila’s investments in Australia included a 34% investment in United Energy Limited, the first electric distribution system to be privatized by the state of Victoria. Aquila purchased its interest in UEL in 1995. Prior to the sale Aquila also owned a significant minority interest in Alinta, a natural gas distributor and operator of a retail gas business in the state of Western Australia, and an interest in Multinet Gas, a gas distribution business in Victoria. The sale of the Australian investments is part of Aquila’s back to basics strategy, which has involved exiting the energy trading business, selling international assets and merchant power plants and refocusing on its utility operations in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Michigan.

Aquila Inc. said it received US$477 million after fees and expenses for its Australian energy investments from a consortium representing Alinta Limited, AMP Henderson and their affiliates. The proceeds were about US$32 million higher than earlier estimates mainly because of a stronger Australian dollar.