Swell

Lawyers for the Western States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litigation published a legal notice Monday seeking to swell their plaintiffs’ rolls with commercial/industrial customers who bought natural gas during 1999 through 2002 for electric generation or for resale. A proposed $11.3 million settlement is pending with at least six of the defendants, subject to a fairness hearing Sept. 5 before a federal judge in Las Vegas, NV.

On the heels of record financial results for the fourth quarter,Anadarko Petroleum Corp. is channeling $2.8 billion more into itscapital budget this year, a 65% increase. More than half of theswollen budget is for ongoing development drilling to increaseproduction from existing fields in Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, theRockies, Western Canada, the North Slope of Alaska and Algeria.

Christopher Helms, president of CMS Panhandle Pipe Line Co.,estimated that LNG use will swell to take up 3.5% of the predicted30 Tcf of gas demand by 2010. In an interview with NGI, Helms saidPanhandle is working toward building LNG trade to the same level ascrude oil trading, complete with a futures and financial market,with Lake Charles serving as the hub for all operations.

Christopher Helms, president of CMS Panhandle Pipe Line Co.,estimated that LNG use will swell to take up 3.5% of the predicted30 Tcf gas demand by 2010. In an interview with NGI, Helms saidPanhandle is working toward building LNG trade to the same level ascrude oil trading, complete with a futures and financial market,with Lake Charles serving as the hub for all operations.