Programs

Cascade Natural Gas Corp. has agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty and improve its gas pipeline inspection and maintenance programs as part of a proposed settlement announced by Washington state regulators.

The inherent vulnerability of the Pacific Northwest’s energy infrastructure to terrorist attack is a strong reason to expand energy efficiency and conservation programs to lessen the general public’s dependence on centralized oil, natural gas and electricity supply sources, according to the Seattle-based Northwest Environment Watch, a research organization, in its annual report released earlier this month.

Cascade Natural Gas Corp. has agreed to pay a $75,000 penalty and improve its gas pipeline inspection and maintenance programs as part of a proposed settlement announced by Washington state regulators.

The inherent vulnerability of the Pacific Northwest’s energy infrastructure to terrorist attack is a strong reason to expand energy efficiency and conservation programs to lessen the general public’s dependence on centralized oil, natural gas and electricity supply sources, according to the Seattle-based Northwest Environment Watch, a research organization, in its annual report released earlier this month.

Questar Corp. said Tuesday it will increase capital spending by $25 million to accelerate its drilling programs in the Rockies and Midcontinent regions. The company now expects to spend $480 million for 2004 capital projects, with $344 million targeted for exploration and production, gas development, gas gathering and other nonregulated activities through its Questar Market Resources subsidiary. The regulated pipeline and utility businesses plan to spend $127 million.

Two successful drilling programs in Texas and the Arkoma Basin have given Houston-based Southwestern Energy Co. impetus to revise upward its gas-rich production forecast for this year to a range of 48.5-50.5 Bcfe.

Prequalification credit-worthiness requirements for prospective replacement shippers in capacity release programs are “unworkable for many capacity release transactions, particularly short-term releases,” Reliant Energy Services said last week in rebutting a call by KeySpan Delivery Cos. for prequalification, including the posting of collateral by non-creditworthy shippers.

Prequalification credit-worthiness requirements for prospective replacement shippers in capacity release programs are “unworkable for many capacity release transactions, particularly short-term releases,” Reliant Energy Services said in rebutting a call by KeySpan Delivery Cos. for prequalification, including the posting of collateral by non-creditworthy shippers.

KeySpan Corp. and Houston Exploration Co. announced Friday that Keyspan is reducing its ownership interest in the Houston-based E&P company in its continuing effort to monetize its non-core assets.