Gaining

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. is gaining Gulf of Mexico sub-saltexploration rights through an agreement with Texaco Exploration andProduction Inc. Anadarko also just announced significantly improvedsecond quarter results and a nearly 60% boost to its currentcapital spending program.

Anadarko Energy Services Co., the wholesale marketing affiliateof Anadarko Petroleum, is gaining entrance into the retail marketthrough an agreement with independent marketer Mountain Energy.

In the ever-changing climate of energy deregulation, portfoliomanagement tools, such as weather hedging and storage control, arebecoming more vital, a panel of industry experts said Thursday atthe LDC Forum Conference in Boston, MA.

The longevity of the San Juan Basin never ceases to amaze mostindustry observers. Like the Denver Broncos’ John Elway, thewestern producing basin in New Mexico and Colorado just seems tokeep coming back each year to produce even more despite its age andthe endless predictions of its degeneration by its critics.

Nipsco Industries reached the brink of gaining a valuable eastcoast influence Thursday as the SEC approved a merger betweenNipsco and Massachusetts-based Bay State Gas Co. The $780 millionmerger was originally announced in December of 1997. Both sides arereviewing final documentation and no other regulatory matters arepending. Nipsco expects the deal to close today.

Cash prices across the board followed through on Monday’s Nymexrise by gaining a dime (or more in some cases) yesterday, andexcept for the Alberta market, nobody had any plausible fundamentalreason to explain the changes. Ranges continued to tighten fromlast Friday’s and Monday’s wide-open spaces, a marketer said. Hethinks the market will continue to be range-bound “until we getsome cooling load.” Supply and demand are currently well balancedand storage inventories are far ahead of last year’s, so he doesn’texpect the gas market to heat up until the weather does, “and thatmay not happen until June [futures] is off the board.”

The May Nymex contract took time out to lick its wounds Tuesdayby gaining 2.2 cents to settle the day at $2.501. Several longtraders were concerned that May would add to its massive 17.8 centloss turned in on Monday, but good buying from the outset kept Mayat either side of $2.50 throughout the session.