Texas

Unocal Windy Hill Gas Storage LLC has asked FERC to exempt from Section 7 requirements of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) “certain temporary acts and operations” that it plans to undertake to assess the feasibility of building a new natural gas storage facility in Colorado.

Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) told the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) on Thursday that a series of unusual events, some with unknown causes, led to the out-of-control gas leak and fire at cavern No. 1 at its Moss Bluff salt cavern storage facility in Liberty County, TX, on Aug. 19. The blaze lasted six-and-a-half days until all 6 Bcf of gas in the cavern was burned (see NGI, Aug. 23). The other two caverns were undamaged.

Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) told the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) on Thursday that a series of unusual events, some with unknown causes, led to the out-of-control gas leak and fire at cavern No. 1 at its Moss Bluff salt cavern storage facility in Liberty County, TX, on Aug. 19. The blaze lasted six-and-a-half days until all 6 Bcf of gas in the cavern was burned (see Daily GPI, Aug. 20, Aug. 24, Aug. 27). The other two caverns were undamaged.

Unocal Windy Hill Gas Storage LLC has asked FERC to exempt from Section 7 requirements of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) “certain temporary acts and operations” that it plans to undertake to assess the feasibility of building a new natural gas storage facility in Colorado.

Denver-based Whiting Petroleum Corp. said Wednesday it would buy 17 oil and natural gas fields in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico for $345 million. The private sellers were not disclosed.

Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP. (KMP) said Tuesday that service has begun on two new natural gas pipelines in Texas and Colorado, and CEO Richard Kinder said the companies remain on target to reach their earnings guidance for the year at $3.71 for KMI and $2.84 per KMP distribution unit.

In addition to the sale of some of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line’s gas transportation assets in Texas to Crosstex earlier this week (see related story), Williams also has agreed to sell three straddle plants in Western Canada to Inter Pipeline Fund of Calgary for C$715 million (US$540 million).

Two successful drilling programs in Texas and the Arkoma Basin have given Houston-based Southwestern Energy Co. impetus to revise upward its gas-rich production forecast for this year to a range of 48.5-50.5 Bcfe.

Looking to add significant West Texas oil and natural gas reserves, Midland, TX-based Clayton Williams Energy Inc. (CWEI) has entered into a $187.8 million all-cash merger agreement with Southwest Royalties Inc., a privately owned energy company that is also based in Midland.