Mark

El Paso Corp. CFO D. Mark Leland has been named president of the company’s newly created Midstream Group. Leland, also an executive vice president at El Paso, formerly was COO of GulfTerra Energy Partners LP, the company’s former midstream master limited partnership. “The North American natural gas industry is undergoing a period of rapid evolution, presenting new opportunities for synergies among our existing Pipeline and E&P [exploration and production] businesses and a midstream unit,” said CEO Doug Foshee. “We intend to reenter the midstream business at a measured pace.” John R. Sult, currently senior vice president and Chief Accounting Officer, was promoted to CFO of the Houston-based company. Sult is to remain CFO of the general partner for El Paso Pipeline Partners LP and will become a new member of the executive committee. Dane E. Whitehead, currently senior vice president and CFO of El Paso Exploration & Production Co., was promoted to senior vice president, Strategy and Enterprise Business Development. Whitehead, who also joins the executive committee, will be responsible for strategy and market analysis, acquisitions and divestitures, planning, investor and media relations and risk management. Susan B. Ortenstone, currently senior vice president, Human Resources and Administration, will become senior vice president and Chief Administrative Officer, where she will be responsible for all administrative service functions, including human resources, information technology, communications and community relations, and administrative services. Sult is to assume the role of CFO when El Paso files its 3Q2009 Form 10-Q. The other promotions are scheduled to take effect by year’s end.

The story, “No Plans to Slow North American Gas Development, Says ExxonMobil Exec,” (see Daily GPI, Sept. 10), misquoted Senior Vice President Mark W. Albers, who was a keynote speaker at the Barclays Capital 2009 CEO Energy/Power Conference in New York City. Albers did not say “North American unconventional gas production will remain steady.” Rather, Albers said, “North American natural gas production will remain steady, with conventional production decline offset by increases in tight gas and shale gas.” NGI regrets the error.

EOG Resources Inc. CEO Mark Papa said Friday it will be “real close” as to whether U.S. natural gas producers will be forced to curtail their output this year. If gas pipeline pressures increase, there could be “automatic curtailments pretty much across the board.” But for those who tough it out, there are higher prices ahead.

EOG Resources Inc. CEO Mark Papa said Friday it will be “real close” as to whether U.S. natural gas producers will be forced to curtail their output this year. If gas pipeline pressures increase, there could be “automatic curtailments pretty much across the board.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, last week pushed back her timeline for completing mark-up on climate change legislation to early September.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has pushed back her timeline for completing mark-up on climate change legislation to early September.

August natural gas wasted no time in making its mark Monday on the futures market in its first regular session action as the front-month contract, shedding 16.1 cents to close at $3.944 as the fear premium associated with a possible storm in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend fully dissipated.

Spain’s Repsol YPF said it will mark the opening of its Canaport liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal Thursday. The project is due to receive what will be the first LNG cargo delivered to Canada.

Trying to put their mark on national energy policy, a group of House Republicans last Wednesday unveiled an alternative energy plan to the Democrats’ climate change bill that is headed towards a House vote later this month. Reports last week indicated that a growing number of House Democrats also are balking at the legislation, but this isn’t expected to jeopardize its passage.