Extends

Canada’s Petrobank Energy and Resources Ltd. extended thedeadline of its initial offer today to purchase all shares ofRanger Oil Ltd.’s common stock. Petrobank also has entered abinding deal with Alberta Energy Company to sell certain naturalgas assets currently held by Ranger for $262 million.

The Italians seem to be rediscovering the New World — and it’sin the Gulf of Mexico this time. In the largest venture of its kindin the Gulf of Mexico’s deep offshore, Exxon Mobil Corp. has givenAgip Petroleum Exploration Co. the opportunity to earn 25% of theU.S. company’s interest in up to 259 deepwater blocks. To earn theinterest, Agip, a subsidiary of Eni, the Italian oil and naturalgas company, has to participate in the drilling of at least 12exploration wells over the next five years.

The Italians seem to be rediscovering the New World — and it’sin the Gulf of Mexico this time. In the largest venture of its kindin the Gulf of Mexico’s deep offshore, ExxonMobil Corp. has givenAgip Petroleum Exploration Co. the opportunity to earn 25% of theU.S. company’s interest in up to 259 deep-water blocks. To earnthe interest, Agip, a subsidiary of Eni, the Italian oil andnatural gas company, has to participate in the drilling of at least12 exploration wells over the next five years.

At the request of potential new shippers, Petal Gas StorageL.L.C. has extended by three weeks its open season to determinewhether there’s enough market demand for further expansion of itstwo storage caverns in Mississippi.

NiSource Inc. said last week it has decided to extend its$74/share tender offer ($6.1 billion) for Columbia Energy Group’soutstanding common shares until 12 a.m. Dec. 10, while itparticipates in the negotiation process recently set up byColumbia. Meanwhile, Columbia told the SEC yesterday it has begunnegotiating with “numerous third parties,” including NiSource, whoare interested in reviewing non-public information about thecompany and considering making proposals for a potential merger orpurchase transaction.

NiSource Inc. said yesterday it has decided to extend its$74/share tender offer ($6.1 billion) for Columbia Energy Group’soutstanding common shares until 12 a.m. Dec. 10, while itparticipates in the negotiation process recently set up byColumbia. Meanwhile, Columbia told the SEC yesterday it has begunnegotiating with “numerous third parties,” including NiSource, whoare interested in reviewing non-public information about thecompany and considering making proposals for a potential merger orpurchase transaction.

Continuing an arrangement first forged in 1981, Conoco announced a definitive agreement last week to manage DuPont’s gas supply needs. DuPont is one of the largest U.S. industrial gas consumers and Conoco’s largest supply customer. Neither the financial terms nor energy volumes were disclosed.

Conoco continued an arrangement first forged in 1981 by announcing a definitive agreement yesterday to manage DuPont’s gas supply needs. DuPont is one of the largest U.S. industrial gas consumers and Conoco’s largest supply customer. Neither the financial terms nor energy volumes were disclosed.

Columbia shareholders have sent a “resounding message” to theColumbia board to sit down and negotiate a merger deal withNiSource. More than 60% (49,638,497) of CG common shares had beentendered in response to NiSource’s $68/share offer ($5.7 billion)as of last Friday and NiSource extended the deadline of the tenderoffer to Oct. 15.