Signaling

Canadian exporters are signaling that National Energy Board Chairman Ken Vollman got it right earlier this month when he warned the United States against relying on Canadian production to satisfy growth in American demand for natural gas.

Alberta’s First Nation and Metis aboriginal groups are signaling a more active participation in Canada’s energy exploration and development, after signing an agreement Tuesday with Lakota Drilling to transfer the ownership and eventually the full operatorship of three heavy-duty drilling rigs. Collectively, the aboriginal groups will eventually invest a total of C$13.5 million toward the overall purchase cost of the rigs, and EnCana Corp. has made a minimum four-year drilling commitment at competitive rates to ensure that the rigs are fully engaged.

Signaling what may be a frequent question-and-answer in the industry in the near future, Sempra Energy’s CEO was hit Thursday with questions from financial analysts on the firm’s exposure to Enron Corp. in its future business dealings as part of a third-quarter earnings conference call.

Signaling the continuing ramp-up of natural gas production inthe country, Mexico’s Petròleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) lastweek awarded a $5 million engineering, procurement and constructioncontract to recommission and upgrade 10 sour gas sweetening plantsin Chiapas at the Cactus Petrochemical Complex.

Signaling what could become a trend among large producers, Shellyesterday said it is stepping into the independent power generationbusiness with partner Bechtel Enterprises.