Interest

StatoilHydro has added to its sizable stake in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), announcing Tuesday that it has acquired a 40% interest from BHP Billiton Ltd. in 50 offshore blocks. Financial details were not disclosed.

A binding open season was launched Friday by Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) to solicit market interest in the Tiger Pipeline, a 180-mile, 42-inch diameter interstate system that would carry growing natural gas supplies from the Haynesville Shale.

Responding to market interest for increased access to emerging Appalachian Basin natural gas supplies, Spectra Energy Partners LP on Monday launched its second open season in less than a year to further expand its East Tennessee Natural gas (ETNG) system.

Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) agreed to acquire the interest it didn’t already own in some Permian and Piceance basin fields from Plains Exploration and Production Co. (PXP) for $1.29 billion. The transaction frees up cash that would allow PXP to develop its joint venture with Chesapeake Energy Corp. in the Haynesville Shale.

Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP, a subsidiary of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP, has launched a binding open season to solicit interest in expanding its East Texas-to-Mississippi 42-inch diameter pipeline. The expansion would provide for increased natural gas production from East Texas and the emerging Haynesville Shale of northwestern Louisiana. If it obtains enough commitments in the open season, Gulf South would expand its existing system by 500,000 MMBtu/d with compression subject to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval. Gulf South said that based on commitments, it also may pursue “further expansions of its capacity beyond the initial expansion” of 500,000 MMBtu/d. The East Texas-to-Mississippi expansion project was placed in service early this year (see NGI, Jan. 21). Bids for capacity will be accepted until 3 p.m. CDT on Oct. 6. For more information contact Rick Whitworth at (713) 479-8644 or Steve Noe at (713) 479-8126, or visit www.gulfsouthpl.com.

Gulf South Pipeline Co. LP, a subsidiary of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP, has launched a binding open season to solicit interest in expanding its East Texas-to-Mississippi 42-inch diameter pipeline. The expansion would provide for increased natural gas production from East Texas and the emerging Haynesville Shale of northwestern Louisiana.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. and BP America intend to form a joint venture that gives BP a 25% interest in Chesapeake’s Fayetteville Shale assets in Arkansas for $1.9 billion, the companies said last week. This marks the third transaction in less than two months involving the sale of Chesapeake’s shale assets, two of which have been with BP.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. and BP America intend to form a joint venture that gives BP a 25% interest in Chesapeake’s Fayetteville Shale assets in Arkansas for $1.9 billion, the companies said Tuesday. This marks the third transaction in less than two months involving the sale of Chesapeake’s shale assets, two of which have been with BP.

With the Appalachian Basin’s Marcellus Shale drawing more interest from producers, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Friday initiated a public process to review its oil and natural gas regulations to include rules for horizontal gas drilling activities.