Texaco

Bridgeline Holdings LP, a partnership between Enron and Texaco, signed a deal to supply 165 Bcf of gas over five years to Occidental Chemical Corp.’s 778 MW cogeneration facilities in Taft, LA. Terms of the transaction were not released. Bridgeline operates 1,000 miles of pipeline from the Texas/Louisiana border to New Orleans, serving industrial and utility industry customers. It also has 13 Bcf of salt dome storage capacity in the region with broad access to significant Gulf of Mexico pipeline production and wellhead supply. Bridgeline said the deal is a key element in building on its strength to serve the new electrical generation demand throughout the region. This market requires firm, high-volume and deep-swing natural gas service to effectively meet the needs of this new class of merchant electricity generators. “We are eager to commence natural gas deliveries to the Taft facility and feel our unique combination of assets and merchant capabilities are well-positioned to serve this growing market,” stated Hugh H. Connett, vice president of marketing and supply for Bridgeline.

After having been told to drop dead by Texaco in a publicstatement released in June, Chevron now apparently is courtingPhillips Petroleum, a smaller prize but still a significantconsolation if accomplished. Reports surfaced over the weekend inthe British Sunday Times in London that Chevron was willing to paya 20% premium and that triggered a 5% spike in Phillips shareprices yesterday. The companies would neither confirm nor deny therumors, but Phillips shares closed up $2.81 yesterday at $56.56,well above its 52-week high. A 20% premium would put the purchaseprice near $17.2 billion. Chevron stock, meanwhile, took a slight88-cent dip yesterday to $92.12/share.

Texaco, operator of Sea Robin Processing Plant, has notified SeaRobin Pipeline that the plant will be out of service formaintenance for about six weeks starting April 1. The pipeline willnot generate LTA nominations during that period.