Jack N. Gerard, former president of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and a long-time advocate of expanded offshore drilling, was elected president of the American Petroleum Institute (API) by the board of directors last Monday, succeeding Red Cavaney, who will leave Oct. 31 after 30 years with the institute. The board also named Devon Energy CEO J. Larry Nichols chairman, making him the first CEO of an independent oil and natural gas company to hold that position at the API, which represents producers mostly on issues before Congress. Although he represented chemical companies as head of the ACC, Gerard has been deeply involved in energy issues — particularly as a critic of the ban on drilling in the federal Outer Continental Shelf and its impact on natural gas prices. Nichols co-founded Devon with his father and has been a director since 1971. He was named chairman of the board of directors in 2000, served as president of the company between 1976 and 2003, and has been CEO since 1980. Cavaney will join ConocoPhillips’ office in Washington, DC, as senior vice president of government and public affairs. At the ACC, Gerard has been succeeded by Cal Dooley, most recently CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association and a former congressman representing California.
Offshore
Articles from Offshore
Former Chemical Group President Elected to Head API
Jack N. Gerard, former president of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and a long-time advocate of expanded offshore drilling, was elected president of the American Petroleum Institute (API) by the board of directors Monday, succeeding Red Cavaney who will leave Oct. 31 after 30 years with the institute.
SUEZ Completes Pipeline for Neptune LNG Project
SUEZ LNG NA LLC has completed pipeline construction for its offshore LNG project Neptune, which will be 10 miles off the coast of Gloucester, MA, the company said Thursday. The terminal ultimately will deliver 400-750 MMcf/d of gas to New England markets.
Transportation Notes
Due to Hurricane Ike’s approach, Northern Natural Gas, operator of Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System (MOPS), declared a systemwide force majeure Thursday and required all MOPS platforms to shut in. All receipt and delivery points were being allocated to zero flow effective with Evening cycle nominations for Thursday’s gas day. The force majeure will remain in affect “until all harmful affects of the hurricane have passed,” Northern said.
‘Loose’ Gas Supply Expected to Fill Storage by End of Injection Season
At this stage, it’s still difficult to predict how much damage Hurricane Gustav may inflict on natural gas infrastructure on- and offshore along the Gulf of Mexico. However, the increase in gas production onshore in the past few months has led to a “sudden loosening of the supply and demand balance,” which was evident in storage data issued by the Energy Information Administration, Lehman Brothers analysts said in a recent report.
Barnett Shippers Sign Up for Capacity on Enterprise Expansion
Enterprise Products Partners LP last Thursday said its affiliates have signed new long-term agreements with major Barnett Shale producers for 900 MMcf/d of capacity on its 1.1 Bcf/d Sherman Extension pipeline, which is due to go into operation in the fourth quarter. The Houston-based energy company also announced plans to build a lateral to increase takeaway capacity from the Barnett Shale region.
Northeast Gateway Receives First LNG Tanker, Begins Operations
Houston-based Excelerate Energy LLC announced last Monday that its Northeast Gateway offshore system in Massachusetts Bay received its first liquefied natural Gas (LNG) tanker shipment over the weekend of May 17-18 and had begun commercial operations.
Northeast Gateway Receives First LNG Tanker, Begins Operations
Houston-based Excelerate Energy LLC announced Monday that its Northeast Gateway offshore system in Massachusetts Bay received its first liquefied natural Gas (LNG) tanker shipment over the weekend and has begun commercial operations.
Independents Assessed Major Penalties for Violating OCSLA
The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) collected $3.1 million in civil penalties from offshore producers in calendar year 2007 for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).
Bush Urged Not to Renew Cuba Pact Allowing Drilling Near Florida
Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), a foe of drilling offshore Florida, has asked President Bush not to renew an international agreement that allows for oil and natural gas drilling in Cuban waters within 50 miles of the Sunshine State’s coastline.
