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Vessel operators in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) who seek storm shelter at the Port of New Orleans were advised Tuesday by the U.S. Coast Guard that the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, the area of the Harvey Canal between the Lapalco Bridge and Algiers Alternate Route and the Algiers Canal will not be open as a safe haven during the 2009 hurricane season.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) plans to hold a series of hearings this month and in August to seek input from the public on how the agency should use all of its existing authorities to protect the integrity of the futures markets, said Chairman Gary Gensler. The first hearing will focus on whether federal speculative limits should be set by the CFTC on all commodities of finite supply, particularly energy commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, heating oil and gasoline.

Idaho regulators will seek comments from stakeholders and the general public over the first three weeks of September on Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities’ Aug. 18 request for an $11.6 million, or 14.2%, natural gas rate increase for its 72,000 Idaho customers to recover high wholesale costs of gas. It asked for the rate hike to be effective Oct. 1.

Tenaska Capital Management LLC (TCM) has formed Houston-based Voyager Midstream LLC to develop, acquire and manage midstream gas assets. The company intends to seek acquisition opportunities in some of the hot producing regions as well as develop its own market-area gas storage projects.

Tenaska Capital Management LLC (TCM) has formed Houston-based Voyager Midstream LLC to develop, acquire and manage midstream gas assets. The company intends to seek acquisition opportunities in some of the hot producing regions as well as develop its own market-area gas storage projects.

New Orleans-based McMoRan Exploration Co. plans to seek permission from the Department of Interior’s Minerals Management Service to drill deeper on the Blackbeard West prospect, located on the Treasure Island play in the Outer Continental Shelf.

Due to increasing shipper interest, Texas Gas Transmission LLC pipeline on Thursday said it will seek FERC approval to increase the planned capacity of its proposed Fayetteville and Greenville laterals to 1.2 Bcf/d from 800 MMcf/d. The lateral projects would provide takeaway capacity for natural gas from the Fayetteville Shale play area in north-central Arkansas.

Due to increasing shipper interest, Texas Gas Transmission LLC pipeline Thursday said it will seek FERC approval to increase the planned capacity of its proposed Fayetteville and Greenville laterals to 1.2 Bcf/d from 800 MMcf/d. The lateral projects would provide takeaway capacity for natural gas from the Fayetteville Shale play area in north-central Arkansas.

Sempra Energy continues to actively seek long-term supply deals that will allow it to begin construction of its proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal on part of the 2,900 acres it owns at Port Arthur, TX. But currently there are no pending contracts to announce, a San Diego-based Sempra spokesperson told NGI.