Indicates

New Orleans-based independent McMoRan Exploration Co.’s test results on an exploratory well offshore Louisiana indicate it has the potential of producing 50 MMcfe/d. Production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter.

A new study released by the American Gas Association indicates that gas reserve levels remained flat or dropped slightly last year compared to the 183.5 Tcf recorded in 2001. Reserves rose in six out of the last eight years.

A new study released by the American Gas Association indicates that gas reserve levels remained flat or dropped slightly last year compared to the 183.5 Tcf recorded in 2001. Reserves rose in six out of the last eight years.

In an amicus court briefing by the U.S. Department of Labor, federal officials considering a motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit over alleged mismanagement of Enron Corp.’s 401(k) losses have indicated that former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay and other Enron executives could be held personally liable for millions of dollars in the fund losses. The brief was filed by the Labor Department on behalf of former Enron employees and retirees who participated in three benefit plans sponsored by Enron.

In an amicus court briefing by the U.S. Department of Labor, federal officials considering a motion to dismiss a class-action lawsuit over alleged mismanagement of Enron Corp.’s 401(k) losses have indicated that former Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay and other Enron executives could be held personally liable for millions of dollars in the fund losses. The brief was filed by the Labor Department on behalf of former Enron employees and retirees who participated in three benefit plans sponsored by Enron.

Second quarter physical gas sales volumes showed large cracks beginning to form in the foundation of the energy merchant business. The credit and liquidity crisis was growing rapidly during the quarter and the effects of the regulatory investigation into round-trip trading had taken hold. While there still were large volume increases compared to the previous year’s second quarter (a 38 Bcf/d increase for the top 20), an estimated 10.7 Bcf/d decline in volumes appeared compared to the first quarter of this year. All signs currently point to much greater declines as the year progresses.

NewPower Holdings Inc., in a filing last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), indicated that its auditors will state in the company’s annual report that there is a substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The auditors’ concern about NewPower’s viability was included in a filing notifying the SEC that it wouldn’t be able to file its annual report on time.

In a study expected to fuel the debate over federal plans to revamp stringent air pollution regulations, a report released Thursday found that fewer than 20 of the 100 largest U.S. public and private electric companies account for nearly 50% of the emissions from carbon dioxide (CO2), mercury (Hg), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). The report, which used publicly available company data provided in 2000 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, noted that four to six companies alone accounted for 25% of emissions of each pollutant.

The GRI’s latest report indicates producers won’t run out ofwork anytime soon in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB),which is estimated to have 166 Tcf in new pool potential and a 31.4Tcf reserve appreciation potential. Because of these positiveestimates, the GRI said the region could surpass 8 Tcf ofproduction by 2015.