Recently

GRI and the Institute of Gas Technology (IGT) named theirrecently merged organizations the Gas Technology Institute (GTI)last week and formed a senior management team led by John F.Riordan, president and CEO. The research groups announced theirmerger in April, saying it was mainly an effort to reduceoverlapping dues paid by their members and to combine the variousstrengths of the two entities.

Egan Hub Partners, a subsidiary of NiSource, filed a request atFERC recently to expand the operating capacity of its existingstorage facility in Acadia Parish, LA from 15.5 Bcf to 21 Bcf. Thecompany wants a FERC decision by Sept. 1 so that some or all of theexpansion can be online during the 2000-2001 heating season. Egansaid the expansion is necessary because of the large number ofrequests from customers for additional storage service. It expectsthat the expanded capacity will be fully subscribed and says it canprovide the identity of customers with which it is discussingincremental service, if the Commission requests such information.The company’s two existing salt dome caverns will be enlarged from7.75 Bcf to 10.5 Bcf and compression will be added, boostingdeliverability from 750 MMcf/d to 800 MMcf/d.

Egan Hub Partners, a subsidiary of NiSource, filed a request atFERC recently to expand the operating capacity of its existingstorage facility in Acadia Parish, LA from 15.5 Bcf to 21 Bcf. Thecompany wants a FERC decision by Sept. 1 so that some or all of theexpansion can be online during the 2000-2001 heating season. Egansaid the expansion is necessary because of the large number ofrequests from customers for additional storage service. It expectsthat the expanded capacity will be fully subscribed and says it canprovide the identity of customers with which it is discussingincremental service, if the Commission requests such information.The company’s two existing salt dome caverns will be enlarged from7.75 Bcf to 10.5 Bcf and compression will be added, boostingdeliverability from 750 MMcf/d to 800 MMcf/d.

After studying the financial and operational situations of 15major oil and gas producers, the international credit agency FitchIBCA recently published a report indicating the industry isrebounding from the financially depressed timeframe between 1998and early 1999, but new challenges are just around the corner.

Cinergy Corp., the owner of Cincinnati Gas & Electric(CG&E), experienced a corporate makeover recently as it soldits nonregulated retail gas marketing unit, Cinergy Resources, toan integrated energy services cooperative called The EnergyCooperative (TEC) for an undisclosed sum and set plans in motion tocut its corporate center staff by more than 50%.

The Southwest Gas merger soap opera took another turn recentlyas Oneok, the former merger partner of Southwest, announced it ispursuing lawsuits against the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC),the state of Arizona and specific members of the ACC staff fortheir roles in interfering with the merger. Oneok said it iswilling to settle its claims for $85 million.

The Southwest Gas merger soap opera took another turn recentlyas Oneok, the former merger partner of Southwest, announced it ispursuing lawsuits against the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC),the state of Arizona and specific members of the ACC staff fortheir roles in interfering with the merger. Oneok said it iswilling to settle its claims for $85 million.

Top officials in New Brunswick and Quebec said recently thatthey are near an agreement that would pave the way for theconstruction of a pipeline between the two provinces. New BrunswickPremier Bernard Lord and Quebec Premier Lucien Bouchard both saidthey plan to sign the agreement Feb. 28.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. recently filed with FERC to expandits 300-Line, bringing Central New York Oil & Gas’ Stagecoachstorage project closer to completion. The El Paso-owned subsidiaryasked the commission to rule on the $86.5 million expansionproposal by Dec. 31, 2000 so that the facilities can be operationalin line with the proposed storage project’s in-service date of Aug.1, 2001.