Mexico

The first three weeks of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season have been quiet, but a low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) at the end of the week was threatening to make some noise that would be heard by energy interests.

FERC Thursday approved the requests of several companies to abandon by sale all or virtually all of their pipeline facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as some onshore facilities.

Five conservation groups on Monday filed a lawsuit challenging the Department of Interior’s plans to hold a Central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) lease sale in New Orleans on Wednesday, claiming the Obama administration has failed to address the risks to wildlife and the environment following the Macondo deepwater well blowout two years ago.

The composition of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) is changing with the election of one new member in the recent state primary and the prospect for a second new regulator following the general election in November. Current District 1 Commissioner Jason Marks is term-limited out this year. Bernalillo County Assessor Karen Montoya won a Democratic primary and will face Republican candidate Christopher Ocksrider in November for the seat. In the meantime, Valerie Espinoza, a county clerk in Santa Fe, gained sufficient votes for the District 3 seat to allow her to bypass a runoff and head straight to the PRC, replacing Douglas Howe. Howe was appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez on an interim basis to fill a vacancy created when Jerome Block resigned last year after pleading guilty to felony charges involving embezzlement of public funds.

Of the 216 projects being planned worldwide that potentially could require floating production systems, an estimated 10% are likely to be located in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), according to an analysis conducted by Washington, DC-based International Maritime Associates Inc. (IMA).

Adding to its already significant holdings in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southern New Mexico, Concho Resources Inc. on Monday agreed to acquire all the oil and natural gas assets of Three Rivers Operating Co. and affiliated entities for $1 billion in cash.

BHP Billiton has agreed to provide $708 million in pre-commitment funding for phase two of the BP plc-operated Mad Dog project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM).

An analysis of resources in 171 geologic provinces, including Canada and Mexico and several Arctic provinces — but excluding the United States — found that the world holds an estimated 5,606 Tcf of undiscovered, technically recoverable conventional natural gas, according to a new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) report.

A sidetrack appraisal well at the Heidelberg prospect in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GOM) has successfully confirmed an extension of up to 1,500 acres, an Anadarko Petroleum Corp. executive said Thursday.