Vice

Westar Energy’s former CEO, David C. Wittig, and former executive vice president, Douglas T. Lake, were convicted of corporate fraud Monday in a federal court in Kansas.

Centrica is dangling a big carrot in front of liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers: its top market position in the U.S. and UK retail energy markets. Mike Hogan, senior vice president of upstream gas and power for Centrica subsidiary Direct Energy, said the company is actively seeking substantial new gas and power supply arrangements, including a stake in the LNG business, because of its rapid retail demand growth.

Centrica is dangling a big carrot in front of liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers: its top market position in the U.S. and UK retail energy markets. Mike Hogan, senior vice president of upstream gas and power for Centrica subsidiary Direct Energy, said the company is actively seeking substantial new gas and power supply arrangements, including a stake in the LNG business, because of its rapid retail demand growth.

A former Duke Energy trader, who was indicted last year along with two former vice presidents, pleaded guilty in Houston on Thursday to falsifying the company books so that he could increase his bonus. Brian Lavielle, 34, also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

A former Duke Energy trader, who was indicted last year along with two former vice presidents, pleaded guilty in Houston last Thursday to falsifying the company books so that he could increase his bonus. Brian Lavielle, 34, also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Certain employees of El Paso Corp. used “unsupportable methods” over a four-year period, which resulted in a 41% overbooking of oil and natural gas reserves, according to an independent review released last week. No current or former employees were named in a statement by the company.

Alliance Pipeline Ltd. said late afternoon Monday that Paul Belliveau has relinquished his positions as vice president of Finance and CFO, effective immediately. The company reported that Clint White, Alliance Pipeline controller and former treasurer, will assume Belliveau’s responsibilities until a permanent decision is made on the positions. The company did not disclose the reason behind the change. “Alliance is fortunate to have a strong management team which will allow us to manage this transition effectively,” said Al Edgeworth, CEO of Alliance Pipeline Ltd. The pipeline is a 2,307 mile pipeline system that extends from northeastern British Columbia and northwestern Alberta to the Chicago market hub. The system is designed to transport 1.325 Bcf/d of high-pressure and high-energy natural gas on a firm basis. Alliance Pipeline Ltd. is a joint partnership of Enbridge Inc. and Fort Chicago Energy Partners LP.

Imperial Oil Senior Vice President K.C. Williams said last week that a strong response to a preliminary auction of transportation service on the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline has prompted the sponsors to increase the size of the pipeline. The proposal now calls for an initial 1.2 Bcf/d on a 30″ line being designed to have built-in capacity for raising deliveries to 1.9 Bcf/d with additional compression.

Former Westar Energy CEO David C. Wittig and Douglas T. Lake, ex-executive vice president, were indicted last Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Topeka, KS, on 40 counts of conspiracy, fraud and related criminal charges.