Named

The oil and gas industry is lionizing George Phydias Mitchell, 94, who died at his home on Friday in Galveston, TX. Mitchell is credited with pioneering unconventional drilling techniques that have opened up North America’s natural gas and oil potential.

Sabal Trail Transmission LLC, a joint venture of Spectra Energy and NextEra Energy Inc., has been named the winning bidder to build a 465-mile interstate natural gas pipeline project by Florida Power & Light (FPL) to provide transportation services for its power generations needs beginning in May 2017. FPL, the largest power company in the state, put out the request for proposals for a new pipeline in December. Sabal Trail would have an estimated price tag of $3 billion and originate in Tallapoosa County, AL, extend through Georgia and terminate at the Central Florida Hub near Orlando (see NGI, July 8). Through a capacity lease with Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line (Transco), natural gas supply would be accessed at Transco’s Station 85 in Choctaw County, AL. The pipeline, when completed, would have the capacity to transport more than 1 Bcf/d to serve local distribution companies, industrial users and natural gas-fired power generators. According to the Energy Information Administration, Florida generates 62% of its power from 1.1 Tcf of natural gas.

Ben van Beurden, 55, who was appointed downstream director and a member of the executive committee for Royal Dutch Shell plc in January, was named to succeed Peter Voser as CEO on Jan. 1 (see NGI, May 6). Van Beurden has been responsible for refining and marketing businesses, as well as overseeing the trading companies. He also is responsible for the petrochemicals manufacturing and marketing business, which has been eyeing expansions in the United States because of increased natural gas activity, as well as the gas-to-liquids business. He joined Shell in 1983 and has worked in Houston, the Netherlands, Africa, Malaysia and most recently, the UK. He is credited with helping to turn the petrochemicals operations to profitability after several quarters of big losses. The Dutch national earned a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Robert Douglas Lawler, 46, one of Anadarko Petroleum Corp.’s top exploration and production (E&P) executives, on Monday was named the new CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Once exports of liquefied U.S. natural gas begin, the global gas market will get its formal introduction to the hub in Louisiana named Henry. The response might only be a shrug, or even less. But gas markets will feel the hub’s presence, IHS Inc. Vice Chairman Dan Yergin told a Houston audience.

The Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center (SGICC) has named a dozen finalists in its annual Shale Gas Innovation Competition, which will award a total of $75,000 to three winners to be selected next month.

National Grid US named John Donleavy chief operating officer covering natural gas and electric utility operations in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, according to National Grid US President Tom King. Donleavy is the former CEO of Vermont Electric Co. King credited Donleavy with leading an enterprise-wide business process transformation and the largest capital infrastructure construction program in the company’s and Vermont’s history. Reporting to King, Donleavy will oversee all aspects of National Grid’s operations in the United States, including gas and power transmission/distribution systems, generation, liquefied natural gas control center operations, emergency planning and a variety of operating, safety and environmental programs.

America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) last Wednesday announced that Martin J. Durbin, a top lobbyist at the American Petroleum Institute (API), has been named president and CEO, effective May 1. Durbin comes to ANGA after serving as executive vice president at API, where he led advocacy efforts on behalf of the oil and gas industry (see related story).

America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) Wednesday announced that Martin J. Durbin, a top lobbyist at the American Petroleum Institute (API), has been named president and CEO, effective May 1. Durbin comes to ANGA after serving as executive vice president at API, where he led advocacy efforts on behalf of the oil and gas industry.