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For years executives in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry have dreamed of fungibility, of market liquidity for LNG where tankers function as a sort of “movable pipeline.” But when will that happen?

For years executives in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry have dreamed of fungibility, of market liquidity for LNG where tankers function as a sort of “movable pipeline.” But when will that happen?

French producer Toreador Resources Corp. and ZaZa Energy LLC, a privately held oil and gas company based in Houston, have announced plans to merge in a cash and stock deal valued at approximately $294 million, creating a single company with significant shale holdings on two continents.

A ballot initiative sponsored by former natural gas industry executive Sheffield Nelson to raise Arkansas’ severance tax on natural gas production has passed the muster of the state attorney general and would go before voters next year if proponents can garner enough signatures.

June natural gas prices worked lower amid a frenzy of selling in other petroleum markets. Natural gas traders see a pervasive interest by funds and managed accounts in pursuing the short side of the market, but they caution that any surprises could send prices sharply higher.

Range Resources unit Range Production Co. may depose an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official on Tuesday (Jan. 25), a federal judge in Austin, TX, ruled last week. The agency has accused the company of contaminating water wells with its Barnett Shale drilling activities, a claim Range disputes.

There seemed to be some sameness in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s market patterns, but it was sort of like looking at the price table in a mirror. The locations that had taken most of the falls Tuesday were in rally mode Wednesday, while the small increases that had dominated the rest of the market Tuesday fell by mostly greater amounts Wednesday.

Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), who was edged out as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a sort of parting gift has been named chairman emeritus of the panel.

Seeking to sort out capacity assignment rules for intrastates and Hinshaw pipelines, FERC Thursday issued a notice of inquiry (NOI) asking for public comment on whether and how holders of firm interstate capacity on some intrastate pipelines can allow others to use their capacity, including to what extent buy/sell transactions should be permitted (RM11-1).