Seek

Atmos Energy subsidiary Atmos Pipeline and Storage LLC plans to seek an exemption from regulatory oversight by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for a 20-inch diameter natural gas gathering system it plans to build in Eastern Kentucky. The proposed 50-mile Straight Creek Gathering System would be capable of moving up to 100,000 MMBtu/d with the ability to expand to 225,000 MMBtu/d. It is designed to relieve transportation constraints and allow gas to flow from shut-in wells. The $80 million system would originate in Floyd County, KY, and extend to an interconnect with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline in Carter County, KY. Atmos said the project is supported by independent oil and gas producers in the area, including Kinzer Drilling, which will have an ownership stake in the project. More than a dozen other producers have signed memoranda of understanding to commit gas volumes to the system and to agree to commercial terms. “We expect our Straight Creek project to help boost natural gas drilling and production in the Big Sandy region of Kentucky,” said Mark H. Johnson, senior vice president, nonutility operations, of Atmos Energy. “The gathering system should help provide year-round dependability for gas producers and should indirectly benefit natural gas customers by helping bring more gas supplies to market as demand continues to grow.” Johnson said production from 1,700 gas wells on the eastern side of the state has been shut in. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2006, with operations expected to begin by the summer of 2007.

Kinder Morgan Inc. subsidiary Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) started a binding open season to seek shipper support for a proposed 200,000 Dth/d expansion of its Gulf Coast and Louisiana lines to serve growing gas production in North Texas and to transport Canadian and Rocky Mountain supply entering the system at existing and proposed pipeline interconnections. Service is expected in January 2008.

The Northern Trust Co. on Friday reached an agreement to seek approval of a $37.5 million settlement of an Enron Corp. class-action lawsuit, all of which would be paid by Northern Trust’s insurance carriers.

New York-based Amerada Hess Corp. on Friday announced it will seek shareholder approval to change its name to Hess Corp. The revised name, said the company, is already “firmly established” in the company’s marketing and refining operations and recognized by customers where the company operates.

The federal government last week decided not to seek a U.S. Supreme Court review of lower court rulings involving Duke Energy and whether it violated New Source Review (NSR) rules regarding certain modifications to its power plants. The company is “very pleased” with the news, Duke spokesperson Randy Wheeless said.

Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on Thursday said he would oppose any plan that would seek to levy a tax on oil companies to help pay for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) this winter.

A unit of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, Port Arthur Pipeline LP, launched an open season to seek market interest in capacity on its proposed pipeline project that is scheduled to be operational in the 2008-09 winter heating season in conjunction with Sempra’s Gulf Coast LNG terminals starting commercial operations.

A unit of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, Port Arthur Pipeline, L.P., Friday launched an open season to seek market interest in capacity on its proposed pipeline project that is scheduled to be operational in the 2008-09 winter heating season in conjunction with Sempra’s Gulf Coast LNG terminals starting commercial operations.

The leaders of three citizens organizations have called for a face-to-face meeting with FERC Chairman Pat Wood to air their opposition to the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in Fall River, MA, and Providence, RI, according to a published report.