Frank

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski has a preliminary agreement in hand with the big three North Slope producers to build a natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48, but besides legislative hurdles, pipeline operators have to be appeased, state legislators were told on Thursday. TransCanada Corp., which claims to hold sole rights to construct the project, promises to fight for the right to build the Canadian portion of the line.

After causing quite a stir in 2005 with his unsuccessful attempt to open up the Virginia coastline to natural gas drilling, state Sen. Frank Wagner (R-VA) introduced energy legislation in the opening days of the General Assembly last week that is more comprehensive in scope than his energy measure that was debated by state lawmakers last year.

After causing quite a stir last year with his unsuccessful attempt to open up the Virginia coastline to natural gas drilling, state Sen. Frank Wagner (R-VA) is planning to introduce energy legislation Tuesday that is more comprehensive in scope than his energy measure that was debated in the General Assembly last year.

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski, who is continuing confidential negotiations with three North Slope producers about building a $20 billion natural gas pipeline, is apparently readying a separate package as part of the discussions to overhaul the state’s oilfield tax system.

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski met with the premiers of three Canadian provinces Monday to discuss the Alaska gas pipeline project, which ultimately will have to run through the Yukon, British Columbia and Alberta. Murkowski said all three premiers “committed to support good faith negotiations between their governments, North Slope oil producers and Canadian pipeline companies to ensure the most expeditious development of the project.”

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski said Thursday Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Irwin agreed to quit his job after questioning the legality of the governor’s negotiations with producers on an agreement for a gas pipeline to the Lower 48 states.

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski announced late Friday that he has reached an agreement with ConocoPhillips on the base fiscal contract terms of a proposed agreement for a gas pipeline that would bring gas from the North Slope to gas markets in the Lower 48 states.

In a press conference Thursday, Governor Frank H. Murkowski announced that he has delivered a proposed contract for construction of a long-disputed pipeline to carry Alaska natural gas to the Lower 48, to the main producers in Alaska, ExxonMobil, BP and ConocoPhillips. “I urge the producers to respond affirmatively and immediately.”

Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski has told the North Slope producers — BP, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips — that he wants a response this week to his contract terms for an agreement on the proposed construction of a gas pipeline from the North Slope to the Lower 48 states.