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UtiliCorp subsidiary Aquila Energy renamed its gas assetdevelopment group Merchant Energy Partners. It previously was knownas Natural Gas Partners. The change follows a recent reorganizationin which Aquila realigned its asset development activities, placingboth gas and power asset development under one executive. Thecompany will use Merchant Energy Partners for both its gas andpower asset development groups. V.J. Horgan is president of MEP andan Aquila Energy senior vice president.

If Questar’s predictions concerning its Pinedale Anticline fieldhold true, then the Utah-based company is about to embark on one ofthe most significant exploration and production projects in the itshistory. Although some drilling has already taken place at theSublette County, WY, field, Questar is preparing to launch amassive drilling program aimed at cultivating the projected 3 Tcfthe field holds.

Semco Energy Inc. of Port Huron, MI, agreed to buy EnstarNatural Gas and the Alaska Pipeline Co. (together known as Enstar)for $290 million in cash. The Anchorage, AK-based gas distributionsystem and transmission company are currently owned by Ocean EnergyInc.

Semco Energy Inc. of Port Huron, MI, agreed to buy EnstarNatural Gas and the Alaska Pipeline Co. (together known as Enstar)for $290 million in cash. The Anchorage, AK-based gas distributionsystem and transmission company are currently owned by Ocean EnergyInc.

While the Carolinas are known for warm breezes and friendly folks, a pipeline proposed for the two states is getting a very cold shoulder from competitors.

Same story, different company. That summarizes third quarterresults reported recently by Anadarko Petroleum. Like everyoneelse, Anadarko suffered from lower gas and oil prices last quarter,and the hurt shows plainly in its financials.

May 1 is known as May Day, celebrated as a springtime festivalin some countries, according to Webster’s. But Friday must haveseemed like “Mayday” (international distress call) to many tradersas they watched cash prices crumble to levels that were virtuallyunimaginable last month. A few Gulf Coast points were sinking below$2 in widely ranging quotes.

Expiration days are known for their unusualness, but perhaps noother day in the history of the New York Mercantile Exchange willmatch the one turned in yesterday. The last few days of trading hadbeen relatively tame, but a telephone glitch that knocked outcommunications on the floor of the Exchange (see “Phone Lines Dead; Nymex TradingDisrupted”) at approximately 1:50 EST forced many traders intotrading at prices and volumes “that they otherwise would not havedone,” a source told GPI. As a result of the madness, the Marchcontract finally left the board at $2.286, up an even 7.0 cents forthe day.