Sorts

How much radioactive contamination is too much? The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) will wrestle with that question over the next few months as it sorts out whether to allow producers to explore the natural gas-prone area near the nuclear blast site at Project Rulison.

Coming to a compromise of sorts with the attorney general (AG) of Massachusetts, Hampton, NH-based Unitil Corp. said last week that its Massachusetts utility operating subsidiary, Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Co., and the AG have filed a rate settlement agreement for the company’s gas division with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (MDTE).

Coming to a compromise of sorts with the attorney general (AG) of Massachusetts, Hampton, NH-based Unitil Corp. said Monday its Massachusetts utility operating subsidiary, Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Co., and the AG have filed a rate settlement agreement for the company’s gas division with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (MDTE).

Completing a triple-play of sorts, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission Tuesday decided three separate issues for Spokane, WA-based Avista Utilities — a retail natural gas rate net decrease, a retail electric rate net increase, and a 20-year purchased power agreement for up to 11.99 MW as a qualifying facility (QF) project, but at rates less than the published QF tariff. The utility will pay $58.50/MWh, rather than the PUC’s $61.60/MWh rate for most QF contracts. Avista wanted to pay $49/MWh.

How the energy wholesale marketplace sorts itself out in the wake of the past year’s stream of bad news remains to be seen, but regardless, there is a “tremendous” need to market the natural gas of producers, and the growing, underserved wholesale market presents a myriad of opportunities, energy executives believe.

Signifying a changing of the guard of sorts, BP plc’s board said Thursday that Tony Hayward, 45, will succeed Richard Olver , 56, as CEO of BP’s vast Exploration and Production unit. Hayward most recently held the position of COO for Exploration and Production. Olver will replace Rodney Chase, 59, in his duties as deputy chief executive. BP said Chase will retire from the company on April 23, 2003, but will relinquish his role as deputy chief executive “with immediate effect.” Chase will remain on the board as senior advisor to BP CEO John Browne. In his new position, Olver will hold accountability for health, safety and the environment, human resources management, marketing, technology and digital business. BP said he will have regional responsibility for Europe (including Russia), the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The board also announced that it intends to appoint Hayward, John Manzoni, 43, chief executive of Refining and Marketing, and David Allen , 48, group chief of staff, to the board as managing directors of BP, effective Feb. 1. The company said Allen will be accountable for economics and planning, corporate communications and senior management education.

Signifying a changing of the guard of sorts, BP plc’s board said Thursday that Tony Hayward, 45, will succeed Richard Olver, 56, as CEO of BP’s vast Exploration and Production unit. Hayward most recently held the position of COO for Exploration and Production. Olver will replace Rodney Chase, 59, in his duties as deputy chief executive. BP said Chase will retire from the company on April 23, 2003, but will relinquish his role as deputy chief executive “with immediate effect.” Chase will remain on the board as senior advisor to BP CEO John Browne. In his new position, Olver will hold accountability for health, safety and the environment, human resources management, marketing, technology and digital business. BP said he will have regional responsibility for Europe (including Russia), the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. The board also announced that it intends to appoint Hayward, John Manzoni, 43, chief executive of Refining and Marketing, and David Allen, 48, group chief of staff, to the board as managing directors of BP, effective Feb. 1. The company said Allen will be accountable for economics and planning, corporate communications and senior management education.

Category 2 Hurricane Isidore left the gas market playing all sorts of guessing games going into the weekend. However, most of the storm’s price-boosting impact appeared to have been spent in the eastern gains of nearly half a dollar over the previous two days. Friday’s small gains at Northeast citygates and some Gulf Coast points were greatly outweighed by flat to slightly lower numbers at other Gulf Coast points and larger losses throughout nearly all of the Midcontinent/Midwest and West.

In a double swap of sorts, XTO Energy Inc. purchased some Powder River Basin properties from CMS Oil and Gas Co. for $100 million, then exchanged those properties with Marathon Oil Co., paying $164 million for natural gas-rich assets in East Texas, Louisiana and the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. All said and done, XTO’s transactions, expected to close May 1, will increase its daily production by 37 MMcf, 1,050 bbl of natural gas liquids and 120 bbl crude oil.