Involve

Two high-ranking state oil/gas drilling officials were fired by California’s Gov. Jerry Brown for putting too many roadblocks in the state’s permitting process, it was reported Monday. The move brought immediate praise from the exploration/production (E&P) industry, which has increasingly been critical of what its leaders viewed as an overly arduous process for obtaining permits to drill new wells.

Government officials, environmentalists and industry representatives carried the debate on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to California’s south-central coast last Thursday in Santa Barbara County, and while there was no across-the-board agreement, local elected officials did voice surprise that fracking is a potential issue in their county where offshore oil/gas development has had a long-standing love-hate relationship with residents.

The Kern River Gas Transmission Co. 2010 Expansion Project has been set for environmental assessment by the FERC, the agency said Monday. The project would involve new facilities as well as improvements to existing facilities in Lincoln and Uinta counties in Wyoming and San Bernardino County, CA.

Rumors were rampant Friday that Cheniere Energy Inc. may be close to announcing a transaction that could involve selling its Gulf Coast-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal at Sabine Pass in Cameron Parish, LA — or even the entire company.

Rumors were rampant Friday that Cheniere Energy Inc. may be close to announcing a transaction that could involve selling its Gulf Coast-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal at Sabine Pass in Cameron Parish, LA — or even the entire company.

In a potential deal that would involve its energy trading and North American liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations, Sempra Energy’s global unit announced last week that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Moscow with Russia’s Gazprom, the largest natural gas producing company in the world, to “cooperate in the delivery and associated marketing of LNG in North America.” No financial value, terms or volumes of gas were disclosed.

In a potential deal that would involve its energy trading and North American liquefied natural gas (LNG) operations, Sempra Energy’s global unit announced Monday it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Moscow with Russia’s Gazprom, the largest natural gas producing company in the world, to “cooperate in the delivery and associated marketing of LNG in North America.” No financial value, terms or volumes of gas were disclosed.

Aquila Inc. announced an “accelerated repositioning” plan last week that will involve selling some of its utility assets in order to collect funds for an investment program designed to achieve 3-5%/year earnings growth and eventually return the company’s credit to investment grade status.

Aquila Inc. shares rose nearly 3% Monday to $4.03 after the company announced an “accelerated repositioning” plan that will involve selling some utility assets in order to collect funds for an investment program designed to achieve 3-5%/year earnings growth and eventually return the company’s credit to investment grade status.