Rowan

Canadian Superior Energy said Wednesday that it has signed a contract to use Rowan Companies’ Gorilla V super jack up rig, designed for harsh environment exploration and development drilling operations, to begin drilling its Mariner project offshore Nova Scotia near Sable Island beginning next month.

Canadian Superior Energy said Wednesday that it has signed a contract to use Rowan Companies’ Gorilla V super jack up rig, designed for harsh environment exploration and development drilling operations, to begin drilling its Mariner project offshore Nova Scotia near Sable Island beginning next month.

Carolina Power &amp Light announced it is considering sites inRichmond and Rowan counties, NC, for new natural gas-fired electricgeneration to be operational in 2001 and 2002. CP&ampL plans tobuild up to seven combustion turbine units totaling about 1,100 MWto be operational by June 2001 and may build additional units to bein service in June 2002. The projects are part of CP&ampL’spreviously announced generation expansion of about 4,000 MW, or40%, by 2007. Each combustion turbine unit represents a capitalinvestment of about $40 million. Construction is scheduled to beginby the end of 1999. CP&ampL also is building additional peakinggeneration at two existing plant sites-in Wayne and Buncombecounties-and has broken ground on a 160 MW gas-fired peaking plantin Monroe, GA. Natural gas to fuel a plant in Richmond County wouldcome through North Carolina Natural’s (NCNG) pipeline andTranscontinental Gas. Last November, CP&ampL announced its plan toacquire NCNG and to make it a wholly owned subsidiary. CP&ampLanticipates receiving regulatory approval for the acquisition bymid-1999.