Revive

A quest to revive growth in Canadian natural gas supplies by tapping the nation’s vast coal seams has spread to the Atlantic region, where a Calgary-based specialist reports initial technical success with methane drilling.

While TransCanada Pipe Lines continues its push to revive its original route for the Alaska gas pipeline, another Canadian pipeline giant, Enbridge Inc., which made its mark in oil pipelines and now is moving into natural gas, is pressing the Canadian government to open up the field for competition.

While TransCanada Pipe Lines continues its push to revive its original route for the Alaska gas pipeline, another Canadian pipeline giant, Enbridge Inc., which made its mark in oil pipelines and now is moving into natural gas, is pressing the Canadian government to open up the field for competition.

HNG Storage said it is reviving two long dormant gas storage projects, one that will add about 1.6 Bcf/d of deliverability in Louisiana and another that will boost peak deliveries by more than 600 MMcf/d in Kansas. The company expects to have them both on line in 2006.

HNG Storage said it is reviving two long dormant gas storage projects, one that will add about 1.6 Bcf/d of deliverability in Louisiana and another that will boost peak deliveries by more than 600 MMcf/d in Kansas. The company expects to have them both on line in 2006.

Under indictment for fraud, conspiracy and submitting false documents to a federally insured bank in Topeka, KS, David C. Wittig, chairman and CEO of Westar Energy Inc. resigned last week, two weeks after being put on unpaid administrative leave (see Power Market Today, Nov. 15; Nov. 8).

Under indictment for fraud, conspiracy and submitting false documents to a federally insured bank in Topeka, KS, David C. Wittig, chairman and CEO of Westar Energy Inc. resigned over the weekend, two weeks after being put on unpaid administrative leave (see Power Market Today, Nov. 15; Nov. 8).

A superior credit rating and financial acumen apparently have done little to help revive Enron Corp.’s collapsed energy trading operations. UBS Warburg Energy debuted early this year after taking over the trading business. However, the Houston-based unit has failed to produce, and 10 months later, the corporation’s president admits the “business outlook is very challenging.”

In what would certainly be a blow in at least the short term for UBS Warburg Energy’s push to revive Enron Corp.’s trading arm, some of the former trading powerhouse’s top traders are soon expected to leave. UBS confirmed last week that at least six of Enron’s former key wholesale energy traders, including the leading natural gas trader and the chief of the options desk, have turned down offers to stay, although most who were offered jobs are staying with UBS.