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Denver-based Bill Barrett Corp., whose fortunes are tied to the natural gas transportation system out of its core Rocky Mountain operations, is seeing “improving infrastructure” for both gas and liquids, COO Joe Jaggers told financial analysts Tuesday.

Denver-based Bill Barrett Corp., whose fortunes are tied to the natural gas transportation system out of its core Rocky Mountain operations, is seeing “improving infrastructure” for both gas and liquids, COO Joe Jaggers told financial analysts Tuesday.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., whose year-ago output in the Marcellus Shale averaged 16 MMcf/d, was producing 100 MMcf/d gross there as of Feb. 19, and the natural gas play “will be the driving force for the company for years to come…it’s the real deal,” said CEO Dan Dinges Monday.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., whose year-ago output in the Marcellus Shale averaged 16 MMcf/d, was producing 100 MMcf/d gross there as of Feb. 19, and the natural gas play “will be the driving force for the company for years to come…it’s the real deal,” said CEO Dan Dinges Monday.

Questar Corp.’s exploration and production (E&P) unit, whose onshore development extends from the Haynesville Shale to the Pinedale Anticline, is ramping up curtailed and shut-in natural gas wells that it deferred earlier this year, the company said Tuesday.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, whose policies have been blamed for driving some producers out of the state, on Thursday told an industry crowd that the natural gas industry was “vital” to the state’s future. “Just so there’s no mistake, let me say this very clear: It is a permanent part of the new energy economy. It’s not a bridge fuel. It’s not a transition fuel. It is a mission-critical fuel for us to get to where we need to get to in meeting increasing energy demands and decreasing emissions at the same time.”

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, whose policies have been blamed for driving some producers out of the state, on Thursday told an industry crowd that the natural gas industry was “vital” to the state’s future. “Just so there’s no mistake, let me say this very clear: It is a permanent part of the new energy economy. It’s not a bridge fuel. It’s not a transition fuel. It is a mission-critical fuel for us to get to where we need to get to in meeting increasing energy demands and decreasing emissions at the same time.”

BP plc has chosen a new chairman whose expertise is in technology — as opposed to someone schooled in oil and natural gas — to take the helm when Peter Sutherland steps down at the end of this year. Carl-Henric Svanberg, now chairman and CEO of Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, will join the BP board as chairman-designate and become a nonexecutive director on Sept. 1. He officially will step down at year-end from Ericsson and succeed Sutherland as chairman of BP on Jan. 1. Based in London, Svanberg, 57, is expected to devote most of his time to BP business. “Following such a distinguished predecessor is quite a challenge but I’m hugely excited about joining the energy industry, which is so much at the heart of the global economy. I look forward to it with relish,” Svanberg said. Sutherland, 63, has been chairman of BP since 1997. He was scheduled to step down in April, but earlier this year he agreed to remain in his post because of the difficult market conditions that had delayed the search for a replacement. BP CEO Tony Hayward said Sutherland “will be a hard act to follow. But I am sure Carl-Henric will be a worthy successor. He is a businessman of international stature who is recognized for his transformation of Ericsson. Our shared views on many aspects of global business give me great confidence that we will work very effectively together on the next phase of BP’s progress.”

BP plc has chosen a new chairman whose expertise is in technology — as opposed to someone schooled in oil and natural gas — to take the helm when Peter Sutherland steps down, the London-based energy giant said Thursday.