Labor

With a majority of energy platforms across the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) likely to be shut in ahead of Hurricane Gustav before Labor Day barbecues are over, the enhanced offshore systems implemented since the 2005 storms — and burgeoning onshore gas production — could play a critical role in how well the markets perform.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Texas oil and natural gas well driller Patterson-UTI Drilling Co. for several violations and has proposed penalties totaling $47,600 for allegedly failing to protect employees from hazardous working conditions.

The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Texas oil and natural gas well driller Patterson-UTI Drilling Co. for several violations and has proposed penalties totaling $47,600 for allegedly failing to protect employees from hazardous working conditions.

The Long Island Association (LIA), whose membership includes more than 5,000 New York businesses, labor unions, academic institutions and nonprofits, has thrown its conditional support behind the controversial deepwater liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal proposed for Long Island Sound by Broadwater Energy LLC.

The Long Island Association (LIA), whose membership includes more than 5,000 New York businesses, labor unions, academic institutions and nonprofits, has thrown its conditional support behind the controversial deepwater liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal proposed for Long Island Sound by Broadwater Energy LLC.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a Fort Worth, TX drilling firm for six alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of safety standards following the May 12 collapse of a natural gas drilling rig in the Town of Dix in western New York that killed one worker and seriously injured three others. Union Drilling Inc. faces $138,500 in total fines.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited a Fort Worth, TX drilling firm for six alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of safety standards following the May 12 collapse of a natural gas drilling rig in Dix, NY, that killed one worker and seriously injured three others. Union Drilling Inc. faces $138,500 in total fines.

Brooklyn, NY-based KeySpan Corp. said Monday that it is negotiating with a labor union representing more than 3,000 workers at the energy company and its affiliates to address their concerns over potential job losses stemming from the proposed $11.8 billion merger of KeySpan and the United Kingdom’s National Grid

Shut-in natural gas production returned rapidly over the Labor Day weekend but progress stalled last week due to damaged processing plants, pipelines and production facilities. As of Friday, some of the more serious damage left by Katrina was on two of El Paso Corp.’s major pipeline systems — Tennessee Gas and Southern Natural, three large Louisiana gas processing plants (Venice, Toca and Yscloskey) and several of Shell’s deepwater platforms (Mars, Mensa, Cognac and Ursa).