Weatherford International plc, the fourth largest global oilfield services operator, agreed to pay a $140 million penalty to settle charges that it inflated earnings by using deceptive income tax accounting, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said. Two former senior accounting executives settled claims that they were behind the scheme.
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BP Seeks Rehearing of FERC’s $20M Decision in 2008 Market Manipulation Case
BP plc has requested a rehearing of a FERC decision last month that affirmed the findings of an administrative law judge (ALJ) and levied a $20.16 million fine against the London-based supermajor in a 2008 market manipulation case, saying it “is not the product of reasoned decisionmaking and is not supported by substantial evidence.”
Brief — Louisiana Oil & Gas Association
“Given the ongoing distress in the oil and gas industry…” Lampert Capital Markets and the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association (LOGA) have made an alliance to provide “corporate financial solutions” for the industry. “…[M]any of LOGA’s members are facing daunting financial situations,” the trade association said Wednesday. “The current environment will require LOGA members to effectively address weakened balance sheets, resolve reduced cash flows, and achieve stabilization and growth through consolidation and acquisitions. Through this partnership with LOGA, Lampert Capital will aid oil and gas industry members in developing a strategy that will help industry participants achieve their financial and investment objectives.”

BOEM Financial Assurance Rules Align With ‘Realities of Industry’ as Operators Move to Deeper Waters
U.S. offshore operators face more stringent financial assurance and risk management requirements to ensure that they can pay to decommission and remove oil and natural gas production facilities, but critics say the changes could upend the industry.
Oil & Gas Prices, Supplies, Politics Top Concerns For U.S. E&Ps, BDO Says
Volatile commodity prices, supply risks and political/regulatory developments are the top concerns of U.S. producers, and the threat of bankruptcy has reached a six-year high, according to BDO USA LLP.

SandRidge Considers Bankruptcy, Sees ‘Substantial Doubt’ to Continue as Going Concern
SandRidge Energy Inc. is evaluating options to take the company private or voluntarily reorganize under Chapter 11, the Oklahoma City-based independent said Wednesday.
Oil/Gas Downturn Squeezing Rex Energy’s Liquidity
In a series of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings made since February, Rex Energy Corp. disclosed the toll that the prolonged commodities downturn has had on the company’s financial strength.

SandRidge Delays Quarterly Results Pending SEC Review
SandRidge Energy Inc. said Tuesday it will delay filing its 3Q2014 report until it has resolved a “routine review” by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which could result in restating almost two years of earnings results.
GE Energy and Vess Oil Partnering Again in Texas
GE Energy Financial Services and an affiliate of Vess Oil Corp. are buying about 13,000 net acres in East Texas and associated production from the Woodbine formation from an EnerVest Ltd. affiliate for $108 million.
Energy Firms to Fed: Don’t Exclude Banks from Commodities Markets
“If counterparties, such as banks…begin to disappear, our ability to manage our risk would be seriously impeded,” energy companies told Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.