Separated

Spectra Energy, which separated from Duke Energy and became a stand-alone, publicly traded company earlier this year, on Friday announced that its midstream master limited partnership (MLP), Spectra Energy Partners LP, plans to spin off as an initial public offering (IPO). The time for the spin-off was not disclosed.

McMoRan Exploration Co. said Tuesday that it has separated the roles of chairman and CEO to strengthen its corporate governance structure. McMoRan named Glenn A. Kleinert president and CEO, noting that James R. Moffett and Richard C. Adkerson will continue to serve as co-chairmen of the board. McMoRan will be managed through an office of the chairman consisting of Messrs. Moffett, Adkerson and Kleinert. The company said that the office of the chairman will direct the business activities of McMoRan, with Moffett continuing to focus on exploration activities and business strategy including McMoRan’s efforts to develop an LNG facility at its Main Pass Energy Hub offshore Louisiana. Adkerson will focus on financial and administrative activities and financial strategy including the commercial and financing activities for the LNG facility and Kleinert will be responsible for executive management functions including acreage development and production activities. In other McMoRan mangement news, B. M. Rankin, Jr. will continue on as vice chairman of McMoRan’s board, while C. Howard Murrish, executive vice president, will continue in his role in McMoRan’s oil and gas exploration activities. The independent oil and gas E&P company operates offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and onshore in the Gulf Coast area.

In addition to moving around some of its executives and appointing a few new ones (see related brief), Richmond, VA-based Dominion also has separated two operating functions overseen by its Dominion Energy operating unit. Under the new organizational structure, the former Dominion Energy operating unit is divided into two separate business segments — Dominion Generation and Dominion Energy. Dominion Generation will manage the company’s portfolio of more than 24,000 MW of generation. Dominion Energy will manage the company’s electric transmission, marketing and natural gas pipeline and storage businesses. This change was effective Jan. 1. “We’re seeking to place our top talent and energy in positions where they can maximize their contribution to shareholder value. As a matter of ongoing policy, we also seek to streamline our organizational structure. The personnel and organizational changes announced today advance these goals,” CEO Thos. E. Capps said.

The cash market separated on a rough geographical split in Friday’s trading for the weekend, with eastern points tending to range from flat to 20 cents higher, while flat to barely lower numbers in the unusually sultry Pacific Northwest belied overall western softness in which losses went as high as about half a dollar.

Pipeline safety legislation, separated out from the wreckage of the broad energy bill, made it through the Senate Wednesday night as stand-alone legislation (H.R. 3609). Proponents of the legislation were expecting the House also would vote it out before winding up its session Thursday night.

Marathon Oil Co., not long separated from USX Corp., said Thursday bigger isn’t necessarily better, and plans to gain shareholder value by defining unique niches that promote growth. To that end, Marathon plans to host a trade auction this spring to swap its entire portfolio of oil and gas properties in the San Juan Basin, southwestern Wyoming, south-central and eastern Texas and Louisiana for properties in the Powder River and Permian basins.

What once was separated now is back together. Kansas City, MO-based UtiliCorp United has completed its previously announced short-form merger of its Aquila Inc. subsidiary with a UtiliCorp subsidiary. In November 2001, UtiliCorp unveiled its plans to buy back the 20% of its trading and risk management arm, Aquila, that it sold to the public earlier in 2001 and adopt Aquila as its corporate name (see NGI, Nov. 12, 2001; Nov. 19, 2001).

Two preliminary underground natural gas storage projects in theWest, separated by more than 1,000 miles, are textbook examples ofthe fact that demand and market location alone are only part of thestrategic considerations for making new merchant storageeconomically viable.

Two preliminary underground natural gas storage projects in theWest, separated by more than 1,000 miles, are textbook examples ofthe fact that demand and market location alone are only part of thestrategic considerations for making new merchant storageeconomically viable.