Integration

Compressed natural gas (CNG) continues to gain attention in the transportation fleet, fuel and vehicle sectors, as well as more integration in the states.

Shale plays globally are a very good long-term asset and the continuing hype about the under-explored Monterey Shale in California is worthy of most of the superlatives, according to two analysts at Wood Mackenzie’s Houston office.

U.S. suppliers will turn the tables on Canadian rivals in the North American natural gas market by fully reversing current cross-border flows in the Niagara Falls trading region of Ontario and New York State, TransCanada Corp. predicts.

Loews Corp.’s Owensboro, KY-based subsidiary TGT Pipeline LLC has wrapped up its $1.136 billion purchase of Gulf South Pipeline LP from Entergy-Koch, which also is in the process of being sold. The addition completed just before the end of 2004 gives Loews, a company with diverse business interests, a second major gas pipeline operation and a much larger presence in the energy industry.

Loews Corp.’s Owensboro, KY-based subsidiary TGT Pipeline LLC on Wednesday wrapped up its $1.136 billion purchase of Gulf South Pipeline LP from Entergy-Koch LP, which also is in the process of being sold. The addition gives Loews, a company with diverse business interests, a second major gas pipeline operation and a much larger presence in the energy industry.

El Paso said it is finally nearing completion of the All American oil pipeline conversion and its integration into the southern pipeline system. All American was bought by El Paso from Plains All American Pipeline LP in February 2000 (see Daily GPI, Feb. 4, 2000 ). The pipe segment extends 1,088 miles from McCamey, TX, to Emidio, CA, and will boost system flexibility by adding 230 MMcf/d of capacity this year on the southern system from the Permian Basin in West Texas to markets in Arizona and California.

New U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said two importantitems he will be pursuing in his current visits to Venezuela andMexico will be the hemispheric integration of energy policy and thepossibility of a common electric grid. He added it is highlysignificant and symbolic that this first official call on foreigngovernments as Energy Department head will be to the two LatinAmerican nations most important to U.S. energy interests.

KN Energy will be reducing its new combined work force by a total of 750 positions or 18% as the result of the integration of its operations with that of newly-acquired MidCon Corp., the company acknowledged Wednesday.