Whose

Williams, whose exploration assets are weighted 99% to natural gas, last year saw its U.S. proved reserves grow by 9.5%, and it replaced 216% of its wellhead production of 276 Bcfe. In the final three months of 2006, domestic output jumped 28% to 826 MMcf/d.

Kansas City, MO-based Aquila Inc. struck two deals last week that, if completed, will bring an end to the 90-year-old company whose fortunes rose and then fell as deregulation swept through the energy patch in the late 1990s. At its peak in 2001, Aquila raked in $36 billion in revenues. But following the collapse of Enron Corp. the company, once known as UtiliCorp United (see NGI, Nov. 12, 2001), was forced to retreat to its utility roots as it sold diversified energy assets to repay debt.

Dominion, whose diversified portfolio includes about 6.6 Tcfe of proved natural gas reserves, plans to sell nearly all of its highly profitable North American exploration and production (E&P) assets to focus on its less risky utility businesses. Only the company’s Appalachian Basin properties, with 17% of Dominion’s total proved reserves and 8% of average daily production, will be retained.

Dominion, whose diversified portfolio includes about 6.6 Tcfe of proved natural gas reserves, announced Wednesday it will sell nearly all of its highly profitable North American exploration and production (E&P) assets to focus on its less risky utility businesses. Only the company’s Appalachian Basin properties, with 17% of Dominion’s total proved reserves and 8% of average daily production, will be retained.

In a state whose political and economic history has been shaped by water more than any other resource, California Public Utilities Commission member Dian Grueneich last week used her power as the regulatory panel’s assigned commissioner on the issue to order the state’s four major private-sector energy utilities to develop one-year pilot programs for stepping up water conservation aimed at cutting the large energy volumes used to produce, transport and treat water.

In a state whose political and economic history has been shaped by water more than any other resource, California Public Utilities Commission member Dian Grueneich Monday used her power as the regulatory panel’s assigned commissioner on the issue to order the state’s four major private-sector energy utilities to develop one-year pilot programs for stepping up water conservation aimed at cutting the large energy volumes used to produce, transport and treat water.

Houston-based independent Swift Energy Co., whose core operations are focused onshore Louisiana and Texas, said Monday it will purchase the interests in five oil and gas properties in South Louisiana from BP America Production Co. for $175 million. Production is about 75% natural gas, with proved reserves estimated at 58.2 Bcfe and probable reserves estimated at 28.1 Bcfe.

Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI), whose management in May made an ambitious bid to take the company private (see NGI, June 5), reported 2Q2006 income from continuing operations rose 11% from a year ago to $141.7 million ($1.05/share) from $117.3 million ($0.95), before special items. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP), the master limited partnership owned by KMI, also reported strong quarterly growth, up 8% to $242.2 million ($0.50/unit), ahead of $224.8 million ($0.51) reported a year ago.

Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI), whose management in May made an ambitious bid to take the company private (see Daily GPI, May 31), reported Wednesday 2Q2006 income from continuing operations rose 11% from a year ago to $141.7 million ($1.05/share) from $117.3 million ($0.95), before special items. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP), the master limited partnership owned by KMI, also reported strong quarterly growth, up 8% to $242.2 million ($.50/unit), ahead of $224.8 million ($0.51) reported a year ago.