Focus

Up to 17 natural gas-fired electric generation plants along California’s coast are the main focus of new water cooling restrictions adoped last Tuesday by a state water board in close collaboration with the state’s major energy agencies. The arcane and still-not-fully-developed rules were approved by the California Water Resources Control Board after five years of analysis, a full day of testimony from staff and stakeholders, and the clarification of 17 last-minute amendments.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference, Tuesday said the major focus of the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill should be on “how [to] contain this devastation,” rather than on calling BP officials to Capitol Hill to “assign blame” for the disaster.

The integrated majors are taking proactive steps to improve their growth curve, including a stronger focus in North America, an energy analyst with Raymond James & Associates Inc. said last week.

The integrated majors are taking proactive steps to improve their growth curve, including a stronger focus in North America, an energy analyst with Raymond James & Associates Inc. said Monday.

The integrated majors are taking proactive steps to improve their growth curve, including a stronger focus in North America, an energy analyst with Raymond James & Associates Inc. said Monday.

Low natural gas prices may be driving numerous producers to shift their focus to oil production; however, results from a recent executive survey released last week suggest that the country’s energy future will be more closely linked with natural gas than was previously thought.

Low natural gas prices may be driving numerous producers to shift their focus to oil production; however, results from a recent executive survey suggest that the country’s energy future will be more closely linked with natural gas than was previously thought.

Range Resources Corp. and Denbury Resources Inc. in separate announcements said they would sell some onshore natural gas properties to focus on their core businesses. Range is selling some Ohio properties that include around 3,500 producing wells that currently produce 25 MMcfe/d net. The properties, which are 70% weighted to gas, include 418,000 net acres of leasehold and about 1,600 miles of pipeline and gathering system infrastructure. Range retained an adviser to assist in the sales process and it plans to open a data room in early January. Assuming a suitable bid is received, Range expects to close the sale before the end of March. Denbury, which now focuses on carbon dioxide tertiary recovery projects in the onshore, agreed to sell its remaining Barnett Shale stake for $210 million to Talon Oil & Gas LLC, a privately held producer. Talon, which expects to complete the transaction by then end of the year, had earlier purchased a 60% stake in the properties (see NGI, May 18).

Range Resources Corp. and Denbury Resources Inc. in separate announcements Thursday said they would sell some onshore natural gas properties to focus on their core businesses. Range is selling tight gas assets in Ohio, while Denbury is selling the rest of its Barnett Shale assets.