Project

Royal Dutch Shell and IBM Corp. announced a research collaboration that aims to extend the life of oil and natural gas fields. Shell said the project, which will explore advanced techniques for reconciling geophysical and reservoir engineering field data, has the potential to reduce the time and money required to model reservoirs. An enhanced mathematical optimization solution resulting from the collaboration would improve the cost-effectiveness of the data inversion process and would become part of Shell’s proprietary reservoir modeling tool kits for application in new oil and natural gas developments, as well as existing assets, Shell said. IBM and Shell research scientists will work in several laboratories in both the United States and The Netherlands.

In the minutes leading up to the fatal explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems LLC power plant project in Middletown, CT, earlier this month, there was enough natural gas released into the atmosphere to fill an entire pro-basketball arena from floor to ceiling, said the Chemical Safety Board’s (CSB) lead investigator into the blast.

In the minutes leading up to the fatal explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems LLC power plant project in Middletown, CT, earlier this month, there was enough natural gas released into the atmosphere to fill an entire pro-basketball arena from floor to ceiling, said the Chemical Safety Board’s (CSB) lead investigator into the blast.

The Natural Gas Exchange Inc. (NGX) said Thursday it has opened three new natural gas clearing points in the United States. The clearing points, which are part of an expansion project that began in 2008, bring the number of U.S. locations to 23.

The Natural Gas Exchange Inc. (NGX) said Thursday it has opened three new natural gas clearing points in the United States. The clearing points, which are part of an expansion project that began in 2008, bring the number of U.S. locations to 23.

Regency Energy Partners LP said it plans to purchase another 5% stake in the Haynesville Expansion Project (HEP) from joint venture (JV) partner GE Energy Financial Services using part of an $80 million investment from private equity investors led by MTP Energy Management and Harvest Partners. The purchase would give Regency a 43% interest in HEP, which initially is designed to transport up to 1.1 Bcf/d of gas from the Haynesville Shale (see Daily GPI, March 2; Nov. 11, 2008). Regency serves as a platform for the GE affiliate’s growth in the midstream sector. Because of financial market turmoil, Regency secured Alinda Capital Partners LP and the GE affiliate as JV partners in HEP. Once the private equity offering is closed, the GE affiliate would retain a 7% interest in HEP, Regency said.

Freeport LNG has applied at FERC to construct and operate a natural gas liquids (NGL) extraction system at the Quintana Island liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in Texas.

Nearly one year to the date that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project, the 500-mile Midcontinent Express Pipeline (MEP) went into full operation last week (see NGI, Aug. 4, 2008).

Dena E. Wiggins has joined Ballard Spahr as a partner in the Business & Finance Department and Energy and Project Finance Group in Washington, DC, according to the firm. Ballard Spahr said Wiggins’ experience representing energy clients, coupled with her extensive work on natural gas projects, enhances the range of legal services the firm offers the energy industry. Wiggins, who most recently was with Sutherland, will concentrate on natural gas regulatory issues. She has more than 20 years’ experience handling energy policy issues, incentives for natural gas production and regulatory matters involving natural gas, crude oil, petroleum products, and hydropower. She represented a major producer in successful legislative efforts to oppose reform of Outer Continental Shelf leases and represents a client on the Natural Gas Council, a coalition of major gas and electric trade associations. She speaks regularly on natural gas policy, has testified before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and served on the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board under then-Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham.