Taking

Chesapeake Energy Corp. has begun operating its 850,000 net acre leasehold in the Mississippian Lime jointly with China’s Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration Corp. after the duo completed a $1 billion-plus joint venture (JV) agreement.

Williams Partners has begun taking stock of the damage at its Geismar, LA, olefins plant caused by an explosion and fire on June 13 that killed two workers and injured more than 70 others.

Physical natural gas prices nationally rose on average by 8 cents Tuesday with Gulf points taking the lead. Great Lakes and eastern points were also strong, and at the close of futures trading, July had advanced 3.0 cents to $3.905 and August was 3.0 cents higher as well to $3.927. July crude oil gained 67 cents to $98.44/bbl.

The UK’s leading energy retailer, Centrica, is taking a bet that shale gas resources in the country’s Bowland Basin are the real deal after making a hefty commitment in explorer Cuadrilla Resources Ltd.

Natural gas prices have moved higher in recent months, and some producers are taking the opportunity now to tweak their capital expenditures in preparation for better returns in 2014 and beyond, a Genscape Inc. executive said last week.

Randy L. Limbacher, former chairman, CEO and president of Rosetta Resources Inc., is taking the helm of Tulsa onshore operator Samson Resources Corp. Limbacher, who has 32 years in the exploration business, ran Rosetta from November 2007 until the end of February. He previously was president of exploration and production in the Americas for ConocoPhillips and worked at predecessor Burlington Resources Inc. for 20 years.

Randy L. Limbacher, former chairman, CEO and president of Rosetta Resources Inc., is taking the helm of Tulsa onshore operator Samson Resources Corp. Limbacher, who has 32 years in the exploration business, ran Rosetta from November 2007 until the end of February. He previously was president of exploration and production in the Americas for ConocoPhillips and worked at predecessor Burlington Resources Inc. for 20 years. “With positions in some of the best plays in North America, a dedicated team of talented executives, and the backing of leading energy investors, Samson is well positioned to begin its next phase of growth,” said Limbacher.

BP plc is taking some of the proceeds from the sale of its half-stake in TNK-BP and repurchasing shares valued at up to $8 billion, the operator said Friday.

LyondellBasell Industries, a worldwide chemical company based in the Netherlands, said it hopes to join other manufacturers in taking advantage of the abundance of natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) produced from shale formations as it begins construction this month on the first of several projects to expand ethylene capacity in the United States by about 20%.