Massive

Finding qualified workers to build the massive Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) has pushed the cost of the eastern leg of the project up 11%, or $500 million, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) confirmed Tuesday.

Calgary pipeline operator Enbridge Inc. posted impressive quarterly results, but it said that to finance some of the massive pipe projects planned over the coming four years, it may sell some of its assets, in whole or in part, rather than issue common shares.

The long-awaited Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) was accepting nominations today Friday for initial deliveries Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, starting up initial operations of the massive pipeline from the fastest growing U.S. supply region. The pipeline eventually will stretch nearly 1,700 miles to points East across the country.

The long-awaited Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) was accepting nominations last Friday for initial deliveries Saturday, Jan. 12, starting up initial operations of the massive pipeline from the fastest growing U.S. supply region. The pipeline eventually will stretch nearly 1,700 miles to points East across the country.

FERC Thursday gave Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (REX) the green light to place into service approximately 500 miles of the REX-West portion of the massive pipeline.

The “Big Five” U.S. producers — ExxonMobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell, BP plc, Chevron Corp. and ConocoPhillips — together last year spent 56% of their mighty cash flow on share repurchases and dividends, but the next 20 “second tier” U.S.-based independents were quicker on their feet, outperforming the majors in exploration and development, according to a study by the Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The “Big Five” U.S. producers — ExxonMobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell, BP plc, Chevron Corp. and ConocoPhillips — together last year spent 56% of their mighty cash flow on share repurchases and dividends, but the next 20 “second tier” U.S.-based independents were quicker on their feet, outperforming the majors in exploration and development, according to a study by the Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Once a basket case and white elephant abandoned by its private-sector sponsors, the massive Great Plains Synfuels Plant in North Dakota delivered $39.2 million in profits to the federal Department of Energy (DOE) earlier in May under a revenue-sharing agreement dating to 1988 when DOE bailed out the then money-losing venture. Now operated by Dakota Gasification Co. (DGC), a for-profit unit of a major Bismarck, ND, cooperative utility, the plant has returned nearly $1 billion to the U.S. Treasury in the form of revenues and unused tax credits.

Once a basket case and white elephant abandoned by its private-sector sponsors, the massive Great Plains Synfuels Plant in North Dakota delivered $39.2 million in profits to the federal Department of Energy (DOE) Monday under a revenue-sharing agreement dating to 1988 when DOE bailed out the then money-losing venture. Now operated by Dakota Gasification Co. (DGC), a for-profit unit of a major Bismarck, ND, cooperative utility, the plant has returned nearly $1 billion to the U.S. Treasury in the form of revenues and unused tax credits.