Filing

Onshore natural gas explorer CDX Gas LLC has filed for bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas (No. 08-37922). The filing, which indicated the producer owes $500 million to $1 billion, would allow the Houston-based producer to restructure its finances and operations. Formed in 1991, CDX and its affiliated companies were acquired in March 2006 by investor group TCW and some co-investors. CDX operates across the United States in the Appalachian, Barnett, Arkoma, Black Warrior, Cahaba, Piceance, Uinta and San Juan basins. It extracts coalbed methane using its patented Z-Pinnate Horizontal Drilling and Completion System, which was developed for the Appalachian Basin operations.

After filing at FERC earlier in the week for merger approval (see Daily GPI, Oct. 15), MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. and Constellation Energy said late Friday that MidAmerican has filed an application with the Maryland Public Service Commission requesting approval to acquire Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. (BGE), a subsidiary of Constellation that is part of the original merger agreement.

Sabine Pass LNG LP does not have to go through the mandatory pre-filing process for liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility modifications that are related to its request to export foreign-sourced LNG from its terminal in southwest Louisiana, FERC said last Wednesday.

Sabine Pass LNG LP does not have to go through the mandatory pre-filing process for liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility modifications that are related to its request to export foreign-sourced LNG from its terminal in southwest Louisiana, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said Wednesday.

In a filing with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy, Cheniere Marketing Inc. has requested authorization to export on a spot market basis over a two year period up to 64 Bcf of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that has been imported and stored at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in southwest Louisiana.

In a filing with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy, Cheniere Marketing Inc. has requested authorization to export on a spot market basis over a two-year period up to 64 Bcf of liquefied natural gas (LNG) that has been imported and stored at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in southwest Louisiana.

Over the objections of shippers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last Thursday approved a compliance filing for a series of proposed natural gas interchangeability specifications proposed by Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL).

Over the objections of shippers, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Thursday approved a compliance filing for a series of proposed natural gas interchangeability specifications proposed by Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL).

Newfield Exploration Co. has signed another joint venture agreement with ExxonMobil Corp., this one to explore and develop 87,000 gross acres in South Texas that will target the prolific Vicksburg Trend. Newfield, which will equally participate with ExxonMobil in the venture, said it expects to have an active drilling program in the area over the next three years. Newfield, which owns interests in about 482,000 gross lease acres in South Texas, has been active in the region since 2000. Current net production from the region is 230 MMcfe/d. The latest agreement covers properties in Kenedy, Brooks and Hidalgo counties, which complements Newfield’s existing activity areas. Expenditures associated with the South Texas drilling program are estimated at $245 million, or about 15% of Newfield’s 2008 capital budget. Newfield has an existing joint venture agreement with ExxonMobil, also in South Texas. The existing agreement covers the Sarita Field area of Kenedy County, where Newfield expects to drill 10-12 additional wells this year (see NGI, Feb. 11).