Shelf

Encana Corp.’s long awaited Deep Panuke project, 155 miles southeast of Halifax on the Nova Scotian Shelf, will begin shipping its first natural gas by the end of March, officials said last week.

W&T Offshore Inc. has made a “transformative acquisition” to grow reserves and production by agreeing to acquire about 21,900 gross leasehold acres (21,500 net acres) for $366 million in the West Texas Permian Basin in Gaines, Dawson, Andrews and Martin counties, the company said Tuesday.

ExxonMobil Corp. subsidiary XTO Energy Corp. is selling some operated and nonoperated assets in the Gulf of Mexico Shelf, according to the Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse, the transaction adviser. Projected net production in August 2011 for the package of assets is 30 MMcf/d of natural gas and 4,200 b/d of oil, with cash flow of $13 million (90% operated). The blocks to be sold include 154 producing wells and 74 platforms at Main Pass/Breton Sound/South Pass; South Marsh Island/Vermilion; East and West Cameron; Eugene Island; Ship Shoal; and High Island. Operators also include Apache Corp. and Eni U.S. Operating Co. Inc. The data room opens May 10, with bids due June 2. Contact Heather Adamson at hadamson@ogclearinghouse.com or (832) 601-7679; or Verna Ray at vray@ogclearinghouse.com or (832) 601-7662.

A new report on the merits of developing Alaska’s Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) states the move would create “significant economic effects,” and would generate thousands of jobs and billions in payroll and tax revenue.

In keeping with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar’s pledge to separate the functions of the agency overseeing activity in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), the department said Friday it has established the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget.

Texas is suing the federal government over its deepwater drilling moratorium, alleging that under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) affected states must be consulted by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) before such a measure is taken.

Texas is suing the federal government over its deepwater drilling moratorium, alleging that under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) affected states must be consulted by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) before such a measure is taken.

Both the House and Senate Tuesday rolled out legislation aimed at increasing federal regulation and inspection of oil and natural gas operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Jones has slammed Congress’ attempt to usurp the states’ authority over oil and natural gas exploration and production activities on private and state lands.