South

A winter storm sweeping through the South, along with freezingtemperatures expected to last through the weekend in much of theU.S. from the Rockies eastward, resulted in rising prices at nearlyall points Friday.

Meridian Resource Corp. announced last week its intentions tosell certain non-strategic oil and gas properties located in SouthLouisiana, Southeast Texas and offshore Louisiana.

Central and South West Corp. of Dallas filed with the PublicUtility Commission of Texas (PUCT) its business separation planrequired by Texas Senate Bill 7 on Electric Restructuring. The plandescribes the approach proposed by CSW to unbundle the activitiesof each of its Texas electric operating companies into threeentities. While the plan is directed to meet the requirements ofthe Texas restructuring legislation, the separation plan shouldalso meet restructuring requirements anticipated in Arkansas,Louisiana and Oklahoma, the company said.

Sonat issued an OFO Type 3, effective today until furthernotice, for four segments: Atlanta Group, South Main Zone 3, Eastof Wrens Group and Savannah Line.

Ingleside Cogeneration, L.P., a joint venture subsidiary ofOccidental Petroleum Corp. and Conoco, has completed a $200million, 440 MW cogeneration facility in South Texas. The plant hasstarted providing power for the adjacent OxyChem and DuPontchemical facilities, officials for the joint venture saidyesterday. In addition, enough excess electrical power will be soldinto the newly deregulated Texas grid for 75,000 homes andbusinesses.

South Carolina Electric & Gas will replace coal-burninggenerating equipment at its oldest fossil fuel facility in Aiken,SC, with two natural gas-fired turbines generating 150 MW each. The$180 million project at the Urquhart station will be designed andbuilt by Duke/Fluor Daniel for completion in June, 2002.

Costilla Energy Inc., a Texas-based producer with assets inSouth Texas and the Permian Basin, reported last week it has filedfor Chapter 11 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Midland, TX. Thecompany said despite this setback, its oil and gas operations willcontinue without interruption. The company did not return phonecalls by press time.

A second merchant underground natural gas storage field inCalifornia proposed for a depleted gas field 20 miles south ofSacramento is awaiting a draft environmental report from stateregulators in September to stay on its current timetable forstart-up next Spring.

A second merchant underground natural gas storage field inCalifornia proposed for a depleted gas field 20 miles south ofSacramento is awaiting a draft environmental report from stateregulators in September to stay on its current timetable forstart-up next Spring.