Muscle

Gasfrac Energy Services Inc., which has been attempting to muscle into the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) market with its waterless technology, hit some roadblocks in 2Q2012, in part because the pressure pumping market is bursting at the seams, company officials said Thursday.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has reduced its natural gas-operated rig count in the Marcellus Shale and in the Greater Natural Buttes of Utah to put more mechanical muscle into the oily Wattenberg field of Colorado, which is delivering the highest rates of return (ROR) in the U.S. onshore portfolio, said CEO Al Walker.

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has reduced its natural gas-operated rig count in the Marcellus Shale and in the Greater Natural Buttes of Utah to put more mechanical muscle into the oily Wattenberg field of Colorado, which is delivering the highest rates of return (ROR) in the U.S. onshore portfolio, said CEO Al Walker.

Southwestern Energy Co. used its muscle in the Fayetteville Shale to boost its natural gas-weighted output by 65% in the last three months of 2008 from a year earlier, the company reported late Thursday.

Southwestern Energy Co. used its muscle in the Fayetteville Shale to boost its natural gas-weighted output by 65% in the last three months of 2008 from a year earlier, the company reported late Thursday.

European financial heavyweight Fortis became the latest banker to muscle into North America’s energy marketing business last week with the estimated $415 million purchase of Duke Energy’s commercial marketing and trading business. Fortis, which ranks among the 20 largest financial institutions in Europe, will pay Duke $210 million for the business and will pay an amount equal to the value of Duke’s portfolio of contracts and net working capital associated with the business when the transaction closes.

The main thing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission needs from an energy bill is muscle, or the authority to levy stiff penalties for criminal and civil rules violations, FERC Chairman Patrick Wood said in a letter to Rep. John Dingell, D-MI, ranking minority member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The main thing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission needs from an energy bill is muscle, or the authority to levy stiff penalties for criminal and civil rules violations, FERC Chairman Patrick Wood said in a letter to Rep. John Dingell, D-MI, ranking minority member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Tulsa-based Williams Cos. Inc. apparently is considering a bid to buy Barrett Resources Corp., the Denver-based independent producer fighting off a takeover bid by Royal Dutch/Shell Group. Williams filed information regarding its interest Tuesday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after outside individuals were inadvertently connected to a telephonic conference call of Williams board of directors.