Unveils

Shell Exploration & Production Co. (SEPCo) announced that it is developing a subsea production system in the Gulf of Mexico to produce more than 30 Bcf of natural gas over the course of its life. Project Einset’s peak production rates may reach up to 60 MMcf/d.

In response to consumer concerns, the staff of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) released a 32-page report titled “Natural Gas Price Issues in Ohio” to explain why gas prices increased this past winter and to provide possible ways to avoid a recurrence in the future. The study also explained the current problems the competitive gas choice programs are facing in the state and what can be done to right the ship.

Shell Exploration & Production Co. (SEPCo) announced Tuesday that it is developing a subsea production system in the Gulf of Mexico expected to produce in excess of 30 Bcf of natural gas over the course of its life. SEPCo said that Project Einset’s peak production rates may reach up to 60 MMcf/d.

A unit of Williams last Monday announced a 15-year, full requirements power agreement with Georgia-based Jackson Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) to manage Jackson Electric’s existing power resources and load obligation, representing requirements of 1,100 MW in Georgia.

A unit of Williams Monday announced a 15-year, full requirements power agreement with Georgia-based Jackson Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) to manage Jackson Electric’s existing power resources and load obligation, representing requirements of 1,100 MW in Georgia.

Strengthened by its merger with The Coastal Corp. earlier thismonth that made it the fourth largest U.S. energy company, theformer El Paso Energy Corp. unveiled an impressive show of strengthlast week as it began a two-day analysts’ conference in Houston,showcasing a new energy trading floor, new corporate identify anddetails to grow earnings at least 25% in the coming year.

Responding to tight energy supplies in the Pacific Northwest and California, PG&E Corp.’s National Energy Group revealed plans last week to begin an open season early next year, kicking off a five-year expansion effort. The first phase would add 200 MMcf/d of firm transportation capacity out of western Canada on its Gas Transmission-Northwest (GTN) pipeline system. The PG&E GTN group expects the phase one expansion to be in service by November 2002 at the latest.

Frustrated by the inability of El Paso Natural Gas and itsshippers to resolve the capacity-allocation problems on thepipeline, FERC yesterday unveiled its own “multi-step” solutionthat requires El Paso to make a one-time assignment of primary firmcapacity rights based on shipper elections to alleviate thecongestion surrounding gas shipments to the Southern CaliforniaGas/Topock point and the other three Topock points.

Banking on a growing customer base in the upper Midwest,Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Energy Corp. this week unveiled a broad10-year, $6 billion manifesto to construct new power generationunits, refurbish or replace old facilities, improve itsdistribution system, cut its quarterly common stock dividend by50%, and double its share repurchase program.