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Canada’s frontier shale drilling hot spot lived up to hopes for a new source of premium-grade oil, according to first results disclosed from 2012-2013 winter exploration in the central Mackenzie Valley region of the Northwest Territories.

Canada’s frontier shale drilling hot spot lived up to hopes for a new source of premium-grade oil, according to first results disclosed from 2012-2013 winter exploration in the central Mackenzie Valley region of the Northwest Territories.

Sunoco Logistics Partners LP is holding a binding open season for its Mariner South Pipeline, which is intended to transport export-grade propane and butane, from Lone Star NGL LLC’s storage and fractionation complex in Mont Belvieu, TX, to Sunoco Logistics’ terminal in Nederland, TX. The pipeline is to be available for other natural gas liquids and petroleum products depending on shipper interest, Sunoco said. Initial capacity is expected to be 200,000 b/d and could be scaled to support higher volumes as needed. The pipeline is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2015. For information, visit www.sunocologistics.com/marinersouth.

Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP are partnering on a pipeline project to carry mixed (y-grade) natural gas liquids (NGL) from the Marcellus and Utica shales to the U.S. Gulf Coast as well as the petrochemical market in the Northeast.

Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP are partnering on a pipeline project to carry mixed (y-grade) natural gas liquids (NGL) from the Marcellus and Utica shales to the U.S. Gulf Coast as well as the petrochemical market in the Northeast.

Looking to expand its ability to offload and convert liquefied natural gas (LNG) from ships to pipeline-grade natural gas around the world, Excelerate Energy has reached a shipbuilding option agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) for the delivery of up to eight floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) between early 2015 and early 2017.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Corp. is investing $2.9 billion to acquire a 40% stake in Encana Corp.’s Cutbank Ridge leasehold in British Columbia, the companies said Friday. The deal is set to close this month.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Monday unveiled a strategy to help fund its spending obligations this year, which may include the outright sale of its Permian Basin portfolio, as well as other asset sales and joint venture (JV) partnerships, that together could reap $10-12 billion.

President Obama’s grade for his performance on oil and natural gas issues during his first 100 days in office is a “D,” two producer groups said last Wednesday. Critics say Obama speaks with a forked tongue when it comes to oil and gas.