Offered

Varying levels of support and caution regarding a national shift to increased use of natural gas vehicles (NGV) were offered Tuesday from a panel of five experts testifying at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Experts and the senators alike shied away from calling for reconsideration of national legislation to boost NGVs.

U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar Thursday offered the final version of the department’s OCS [Outer Continental Shelf] Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017, sticking to tried and true areas in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and holding out delayed possibilities in Alaska.

U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ken Salazar Thursday offered the final version of the department’s OCS [Outer Continental Shelf] Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017, sticking to tried and true areas in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and holding out delayed possibilities in Alaska.

Oklahoma regulators on Monday approved rebates of up to $2,500 for natural gas vehicles (NGV) and home fueling equipment providing compressed natural gas (CNG). Rebates will be offered by ONEOK’s Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. (ONG) utility, and all residents of the state are eligible for the program.

A new investor presentation posted early Tuesday by Chesapeake Energy Corp. offered 32 pages of onshore production and financial numbers, as well as a full-page statement that opened the document with the headline, “It’s been a tough five weeks, but better days ahead.” By Tuesday afternoon the page, originally the second page of the 32-page presentation, had been deleted with no explanation.

One day after purchasing natural gas processing facilities and associated infrastructure in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays, MarkWest Energy Partners LP said it plans to remain independent and will allocate more toward capital expenditures (capex) in 2012.

The two state chief executives agreed that environmental safeguards are imperative from both the public’s and the industry’s perspective. They offered their views during a keynote panel discussion moderated by the huge annual energy confab’s founder Daniel Yergin, the well-known global energy author/expert.

Corbett wants an impact fee, but his proposal is closer to the House version. Still, following the Senate vote, he offered limited praise for the measure, calling it “a significant step forward toward finalizing a strong and sensible Marcellus Shale legislative package…While productive discussions are ongoing and continue to resolve the various issues related to the Marcellus Shale, [Wednesday’s] action reaffirms the strong commitment of the Senate to achieve out common goals of safe and responsible natural gas development in Pennsylvania.”

Quicksilver Resources Inc. has priced a public offering of 6,967,844 units of BreitBurn Energy Partners LP. The units are offered at $16.52 each. Closing is expected to occur on or about Dec. 5. Analysts at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. said the move was expected as part of Quicksilver’s liquidity plan (see Daily GPI, Oct. 21) and a “smart move to take advantage of an open equity/capital markets window.” Underwriters have been granted a 30-day option to purchase up to 1,045,177 additional units from Quicksilver to cover over allotments.