Jointly

Florida Gas Transmission (FGT), which is jointly owned by El Paso Corp. and Enron Corp., said Wednesday that it placed the second half of its Phase VI expansion facilities into service at the start of the winter heating season on Nov. 1.

Dominion Transmission and Texas Eastern Transmission received approval Wednesday of their FERC petition to increase operations of compressors at their jointly-owned Oakford Storage Complex in Westmoreland County, PA to their design rating in order to enhance flexibility and reliability of the facility. The increase would be accomplished by adjusting software controls. FERC noted the change would increase power available for early and late season withdrawals, and may be used to maintain withdrawal capabilities in the event that existing horsepower becomes unavailable.

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service and the state of Louisiana signed a memorandum of understanding Friday to jointly implement a royalty-in-kind (RIK) pilot program for federal oil and gas leases located in the 8(g) zone offshore Louisiana. The pilot program also may potentially include state oil and gas leases if the state so decides.

The Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service and the state of Louisiana signed a memorandum of understanding Friday to jointly implement a royalty-in-kind (RIK) pilot program for federal oil and gas leases located in the 8(g) zone offshore Louisiana. The pilot program also may potentially include state oil and gas leases if the state so decides.

Enron Power Marketing Inc. (EPMI) and Portland General Electric Inc. (PGE) jointly developed an arrangement that allowed EPMI to implement a scheme to create false congestion and to receive payment for relieving that congestion on California’s transmission lines, FERC staff said in a recent report filed with a Commission administrative law judge (ALJ).

Tulsa, OK-based Oneok Inc. and Southern Union Co. jointly reported last week that Oneok has entered into an agreement to acquire the Southern Union Gas Co. Texas division and related assets for $420 million in cash.

Tulsa, OK-based Oneok Inc. and Southern Union Co. jointly reported Wednesday that Oneok has entered into an agreement to acquire the Southern Union Gas Co. Texas division and related assets for $420 million in cash.

Aquila Inc. and Cogentrix Energy Inc. on Friday jointly agreed to terminate an agreement under which Aquila was to acquire Cogentrix. Both companies said that the “current uncertainty of the electric power market made proceeding with the transaction impractical and not in either company’s best interest.” The transaction between Aquila and the Charlotte, NC-based company was announced in April (see NGI, May 6). Aquila said it did not consider the termination part of its “ongoing efforts” to sell $1 billion in non-strategic assets.

Citing current uncertainty in the electric power market, Aquila Inc. and Cogentrix Energy Inc. on Friday jointly agreed to drop the planned acquisition of Cogentrix by Aquila. The companies said that currently “the transaction impractical and not in either company’s best interest.” The transaction between Aquila and the Charlotte, NC-based company was announced in April (see Power Market Today, May 1). Aquila said it did not consider the termination part of its “ongoing efforts” to sell $1 billion in non-strategic assets.