Receiving

Fresh after receiving a boost from a hefty storage withdrawalWednesday afternoon, natural gas futures continued higher yesterdayin yet another tumultuous trading session. And for the second dayin a row locals were seen as the catalyst, using buy stops toorchestrate a gap higher opening. But overhead resistance at $1.77held and the market was left to ebb and flow within the 4-centtrading range, which was set in the first hour of trading. TheApril contract finished up 3.9 cents to $1.762.

British Petroleum (BP) and Amoco Corp. said they will completetheir merger today after receiving Federal Trade Commission (FTC)approval yesterday for the $57 billion deal. To win FTC approval,the companies agreed to free up more than 1,600 gas stations in 30southeastern and midwestern markets and to divest nine petroleumterminals. The 4-0 vote in favor of the merger becomes final aftera 60-day comment period.

A class action complaint was filed in the Supreme Court of NewYork in Nassau County against MarketSpan Corp. and former seniorofficers/directors of Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO). Theclass action was filed on behalf of current shareholders ofMarketSpan who were stockholders of LILCO and/or The Brooklyn UnionGas Co. (BU) or its successor, KeySpan Energy Corp. at the time ofthe merger of LILCO and BU.

Nautilus Pipeline said it is on track to begin receiving gasagain at Ship Shoal 207 at the start of the May 1 gas day.Processing of a large condensate slug at Exxon’s Garden City Plantonshore Louisiana (see Daily GPI, April 17) is expected to becompleted by Thursday.

Chesapeake Energy completed its acquisition of Hugoton Energyafter receiving shareholder approvals. Proforma for the Hugotontransaction and other announced pending acquisitions, Chesapeake’sproved oil and gas reserves will be about 1,050 Bcfe, of which 80%are natural gas. In addition, about 70% of Chesapeake’s reserveswill be proved developed producing, and 75% will consist oflong-lived Midcontinent reserves. Estimated proforma dailyproduction will exceed 410 MMcfe. Trading of Hugoton stock ceasedMarch 10, and each outstanding common share of Hugoton stock wasconverted into the right to receive 1.3 shares of Chesapeake commonstock. Holders of fractional shares will receive $8.78/Hugotonshare. About 26 million additional shares of Chesapeake will beissued to Hugoton shareholders. Including $120 million of Hugotondebt assumed by Chesapeake, the transaction is worth about $300million.