Mike

Energen CEO Mike Warren promised $1 billion in exploration and production (E&P) asset purchases over the next four years after high commodity prices helped the Alabama utility company cash in during the quarter ended March 31 on its recent E&P growth.

ConocoPhillips has appointed Chris Conway as president of ConocoPhillips Gas and Power. He replaces J. Mike Stice, who was recently named president of ConocoPhillips Qatar. Conway joined the company 23 years ago and was most recently general manager of ConocoPhillips’ Americas crude supply and trading operations. He has also served as manager of the company’s specialty products unit and manager of strategy and business development for European refining and marketing. Stice, who was president of ConocoPhillips Gas and Power for five years, will lead all aspects of the company’s Qatar liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, including the upstream and shipping aspects. In July, Qatar Petroleum and ConocoPhillips announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement for the development of Qatargas 3, a large-scale LNG project located in Qatar to service the U.S. natural gas market.

On behalf of the Natural Gas Supply Association, Conoco GeneralManager Mike Johnson is scheduled today to recommend that thegovernment maintain a hands-off approach to the natural gas marketdespite concerns about a potential crisis from Senate Energy andNatural Resources Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski, Sen. CharlesE. Schumer (D-NY) and other lawmakers. Several congressmen andsenators have voiced concern recently about high prices, low storagelevels and rising demand (see Daily GPI, July 11).

While the congressional session enters its last month, Sens.Mike Enzi (R-WY), Craig Thomas (R-WY), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) andRep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY) have made a late attempt to aid coalbedmethane producers and royalty owners whose leases have been throwninto “legal limbo” by a recent appellate court decision.Legislation introduced in both Houses of Congress would grandfatherany coalbed methane lease agreements in operation at the timelegislation is passed from the effects of the court ruling.