Requested

Former Enron Corp. CEO Jeffrey Skilling has requested that his criminal trial, now scheduled for Houston, be moved out of state. Ex-Chairman Kenneth Lay, who originally was seeking a separate trial, joined in the motion because prejudice in Houston was “so extensive, pervasive and profound,” according to court documents filed Monday.

Former Enron Corp. CEO Jeffrey Skilling has requested that his criminal trial, now scheduled for Houston, be moved out of state. Ex-Chairman Kenneth Lay, who originally was seeking a separate trial, joined in the motion because prejudice in Houston was “so extensive, pervasive and profound,” according to court documents filed Monday.

As part of the agency’s royalty-in-kind (RIK) program, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) requested written offers last week to purchase 387,000 MMBtu/d of royalty gas produced from federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico. The production is delivered into 11 offshore pipeline systems, including ANR Nearshore, Columbia Gulf Bluewater, Central Texas Gathering System, Garden Banks, Mississippi Canyon, Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System, Seagull Shoreline, Stingray, Tennessee Gas 800 Leg, Tetco East Louisiana and the Transco Southeast Lateral. MMS said it may award a contract on the basis of the initial offer received without discussion. However, MMS may negotiate with offerers in the event offers of similar or unanticipated value are received. MMS said the Henry Hub and/or Nymex are preferred indices on all packages in addition to the named indices. Initial deliveries of royalty gas to the buyer will commence on Nov. 1. The royalty gas delivery period will be for a term of five months ending March 31, 2005 or 12 months ending Oct. 31, 2005, depending on the value of offers received. The MMS-implemented RIK program generates revenues through receiving oil and gas royalties in kind, rather than in cash, and competitively selling the commodities in the marketplace.

As part of the agency’s royalty-in-kind (RIK) program, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has requested written offers to purchase 387,000 MMBtu/d of royalty gas produced from federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico. The production is delivered into 11 offshore pipeline systems, including ANR Nearshore, Columbia Gulf Bluewater, Central Texas Gathering System, Garden Banks, Mississippi Canyon, Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System, Seagull Shoreline, Stingray, Tennessee Gas 800 Leg, Tetco East Louisiana and the Transco Southeast Lateral. MMS said it may award a contract on the basis of the initial offer received without discussion. Accordingly, each initial offer should be submitted on the most favorable terms that the offerer can submit. However, MMS may negotiate with offerers in the event offers of similar or unanticipated value are received. MMS said the Henry Hub and/or Nymex are preferred indices on all packages in addition to the named indices. Initial deliveries of royalty gas to the buyer will commence on Nov. 1. The royalty gas delivery period will be for a term of five months ending March 31, 2005 or 12 months ending Oct. 31, 2005, depending on the value of offers received. Written offers can be submitted via facsimile at (303)-231-3846 by 11 a.m. (CT) on Oct. 6. The agency said it will award the offers by 3:00 p.m. on Oct. 7. For more information, contact Mike DeBerard at (303)-231-3884, Karen Bigelow at (303)-231-3890, or Jeff Olson at (303)-231-3225. The MMS-implemented RIK program generates revenues through receiving oil and gas royalties in kind, rather than in cash, and competitively selling the commodities in the marketplace.

FERC on Thursday granted Islander East Pipeline Co. LLC and Algonguin Gas Transmission Co. their requested on-year extension to complete construction of their companion pipeline projects, given the numerous snags that Islander East has faced in its quest to obtain state permits for its Connecticut-to-Long Island natural gas pipeline (see Daily GPI, July 19).

FERC last Thursday granted Islander East Pipeline Co. LLC and Algonguin Gas Transmission Co. their requested on-year extension to complete construction of their companion pipeline projects, given the numerous snags that Islander East has faced in its quest to obtain state permits for its Connecticut-to-Long Island natural gas pipeline (see NGI, July 26).

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) requested “documents and other information” from American Electric Power (AEP) in January in connection with an agency investigation of activities affecting the price of natural gas last fall, the Columbus, OH-based utility told the Securities and Exchange Commission in its 10-K filing.

American Electric Power Co. (AEP) on Tuesday requested another week to respond to charges by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) that it intentionally reported bogus natural gas trading information to industry publications. AEP’s deadline to respond was Tuesday (Jan. 6).

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston has requested that a Houston judge reconsider separate rulings made in August that dismissed false reporting charges against two former natural gas traders.