Minority

Strong liquids and oil growth from the Greater Wattenberg Field in Colorado, and stronger-than-expected natural gas output from the Marcellus Shale, contributed to record volumes in the first quarter by Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) wants lawmakers to restore several oil and gas rules that were included in the original version of the state’s biennial budget bill, but were stripped out by the state House of Representatives.

Debt-tarnished Quicksilver Resources Inc. said Thursday it is still in talks to sell a nonoperated minority working interest in its Barnett Shale assets and is negotiating a potential joint venture (JV) in the Horn River Basin in northeast British Columbia. Investors have been awaiting deals on both fronts for some time.

Debt-tarnished Quicksilver Resources Inc. said Thursday it is still in talks to sell a nonoperated minority working interest in its Barnett Shale assets and is negotiating a potential joint venture (JV) in the Horn River Basin in northeast British Columbia. Investors have been awaiting deals on both fronts for some time.

The overall cash market advanced another 6 cents on average with only a minority of points in the loss column and some locations sporting double-digit gains. Rockies and northern California points were strong as well as the Gulf Coast and the Midcontinent. Much to the delight of market technicians, futures put in a new high, and at the close November was 3.0 cents higher at $3.617 and December had added 4.3 cents to $3.947. November crude oil followed slumping equity markets and dropped $2.05 to $90.05/bbl.

Woodside has accepted an offer from Japan Australia LNG (MIMI Browse) Pty Ltd (MIMI) to purchase a minority portion of its equity in the proposed Browse LNG Development in western Australia for US$2 billion with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2012. MIMI is to take a 16% interest in the East Browse joint venture (JV) and 8% interest in the West Browse JV, giving it an estimated 14.7% interest in the Browse development. Woodside’s assumed unitized interest in the Browse liquefaction and export project would fall from 46% to 31.3%. Woodside would remain operator of the development. Woodside has also accepted an offer from MIMI for a long-term sales and purchase agreement for about 1.5 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year from the Browse development. The price was said to be in line with “traditional Asian pricing for conventional LNG projects.” The parties will jointly market co-mingled LNG volumes to the Asian market, primarily Japanese customers, Woodside said.

The Pennsylvania state Senate met briefly Tuesday before adjourning until Jan. 17, but it did not discuss legislation to impose a fee on unconventional natural gas drilling. Until the Senate takes action on House Bill 1950 the legislation cannot proceed to a conference committee for a process where members of both chambers and both parties will hammer out differences. Although current lawmakers are in office until November, many have urged the General Assembly to pass something before Gov. Tom Corbett announces his budget priorities in early February. The six-member committee would include three senators and three representatives, with two members of each chamber coming from the majority party and one coming from the minority.

Endeavour International Corp. last Wednesday said it had terminated purchase and sale agreements with SM Energy Co. and other minority owners to buy a 42,000-acre leasehold and associated pipeline assets in McKean and Potter counties in northern Pennsylvania. SM Energy Co. responded with a threat of legal action.

Endeavour International Corp. on Wednesday said it has terminated purchase and sale agreements with SM Energy Co. and other minority owners to buy a 42,000-acre leasehold and associated pipeline assets in McKean and Potter counties in northern Pennsylvania.