Work

Canadian oilsands producers are being urged to go to work on “kicking the natural gas dependency” after an industry canvass turned up alarming demand projections. In a draft report scheduled for release early in 2004, the Alberta Chamber of Resources says that continuing present patterns would cause an “unthinkable” squeeze, with up to half of Canadian gas supplies needed to make the synthetic oil which is rapidly taking over from conventional production.

Canadian oilsands producers are being urged to go to work on “kicking the natural gas dependency” after an industry canvass turned up alarming demand projections. In a draft report scheduled for release early in 2004, the Alberta Chamber of Resources says that continuing present patterns would cause an “unthinkable” squeeze, with up to half of Canadian gas supplies needed to make the synthetic oil which is rapidly taking over from conventional production.

Capping off almost two weeks of work, TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. finished repairs on the second rupture point on its Nova system Thursday morning and put the stretch of pipe back into service. The company fixed the #1 rupture on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Although its higher profile energy scouting work these days involves potential wind generation sites, PPM Energy, the Portland, OR-based merchant energy operator in the United States for UK-based ScottishPower, is actively looking to buy or develop natural gas storage facilities. And the company is not confining its interest to the Pacific Northwest, according to company officials.

Although its higher profile energy scouting work these days involves potential wind generation sites, PPM Energy, the Portland, OR-based merchant energy operator in the United States for UK-based ScottishPower, is actively looking to buy or develop natural gas storage facilities. And the company is not confining its interest to the Pacific Northwest, according to company officials.

A pig is stuck in the 527A-700 Line due to a plug that formed in the line, Tennessee said Monday. It had hoped to work the pig free by last Friday. The plug must be dissolved and removed before the line can return to service; the outage is expected to last seven to 14 days. Until the pig is recovered, physical flow at the South Pass 57A, South Pass 77A and West Delta 109 meters offshore Louisiana has been suspended.

If natural gas prices remain in the “up cycle” for the next 12 months, free cash flow will not only help XTO Energy Inc. reduce its debt, but it also will fund the Fort Worth producer’s aggressive acquisition plan, Moody’s Investors Service analysts said Friday.

In the first public forum of the Rocky Mountain Energy Council (RMEC) last week, the Bush administration panel heard recommendations from industry, environmental and ranching groups on how to — or not to — streamline the permitting process to speed up drilling in the oil and gas-rich basins of the Rockies.

In the first public forum of the Rocky Mountain Energy Council (RMEC) on Wednesday, the Bush administration panel heard recommendations from industry, environmental and ranching groups on how to — or not to –streamline the permitting process to speed up drilling in the oil and gas-rich basins of the Rockies.