The Oil and Gas Journal articles from February 1996

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from February 1996

Refiner/marketers grapple with fiscal and environmental woes while petrochemical producers enjoy strong demand for their products.(U.S. refining margins will improve in 1996)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Refiner/marketers grapple with fiscal and environmental woes while petrochemical producers enjoy strong demand for their products. Things are bound to get better for U.S: refiners in 1996 after a dismal 1995. Wholesale refining margins on the...

The risk posed by leaks from U.S. underground petroleum storage tanks (USTs) may be vastly overstated.(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... "The risk posed by leaks from U.S. underground petroleum storage tanks (USTs) may be vastly overstated, concludes a major study by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the University of California at Berkeley under a contract with the...

Chem Systems Inc. predicts global ethylene demand will grow at an average 4.9%/year through 2000.(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Chem Systems Inc. predicts global ethylene demand will grow at an average 4.9%/year through 2000. East Asia will generate 30% of increased consumption and an even larger share of the expected 27 million metric ton/year capacity expansion....

Joint ventures in Europe's petrochemical industry are becoming more common.(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Joint ventures in Europe's petrochemical industry are becoming more common. Shell Chemicals Europe and BASF soon will disclose the European site for a planned 50-50 venture styrene monomer/propylene oxide (SM/PO) plant. The $580 million...

Amoco is setting a high target for operating results the rest of the decade.(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Amoco is setting in high target for operating results the rest of the decade. Chairman Lawrence H. Fuller says the company aims to increase worldwide oil and gas production 25% by 2000 to 1.725 million bbl of oil equivalent (BOE)/day, while...

The value of U.S. oil and gas assets bought and sold in 1995 is estimated at $5-7 billion, well within the range of activity in the 1990s.(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... The value of U.S. oil and gas assets bought and sold in 1995 is estimated at $5-7 billion, well within the range of activity in the 1990s. So says Randall & Dewey, Houston, despite the anomaly in fourth quarter 1995 when the value of 157...

The House commerce committee staff has circulated a proposed Superfund reauthorization bill, hoping to get the stalled legislation moving. (Michael Oxley's bill would provide companies with 50% rebate for cleanup costs)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... The House commerce committee staff has circulated a proposed Superfund reauthorization bill, hoping to get the stalled legislation moving. The bill by Rep. Michael Oxley (R-Ohio) drops a Controversial provision that would allow companies...

While Conoco has beaten British Gas. (British Gas negotiating gas price cuts with British Petroleum Company, Shell Exploration & Production)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... While Conoco has beaten British Gas---chief interest holder in the Interconnector project linking U.K. gas supplies with continental Europe--to the first supply contract tied to Interconnector (see Industry Briefs, p. 32), news for the U.K.'s...

BP plans to jump capacity at its Forties oil pipeline by 15% to handle output from the Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) and other future Central North Sea developments. (British Petroleum Company)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... BG recently disclosed plans-to split into two companies, With the smaller firm to be assigned long term gas purchase contracts under which BG stands to lose about $2.25 billion (OGJ, Feb. 12, p. 33). BG's main gas suppliers BP and Shell...

Don't send flowers.(oil, gas industry's contribution to world's economy is overlooked)(Editorial)
February 26, 1996... In recent years the energy industry, particularly oil and gas, has had a hard time getting popular recognition for the contribution it makes to the health and wealth of the world economy. Newspapers and TV newscasts have accented projects...

The trade-security link.(import dependency no longer a valid measure of energy security)(Editorial)
February 26, 1996... Recent behavior of oil inventories tells much about the changing dimensions of energy security. The revelation applies not just to the U.S., which has special difficulties in these areas, but also to any country with a vigorous economy and,...

Industry's 1996 U.S. budgets rise for second year in a row.(petroleum industry)
February 26, 1996... Robert J. Beck Associate Managing Editor-Economics Domestic spending by U.S. oil and gas companies will increase upstream and downstream in '1996 for the second consecutive year. Oil & Gas Journal's annual survey of capital and...

Canadian industry budgets slip for 1996.(petroleum industry)
February 26, 1996... Canadian petroleum industry capital and exploration spending will show an 8.8% decline to $10.5 billion (U.S.) for 1996 after moving up 11.9% to $11.6 billion for 1995. The significant increase last year was due mainly to increased...

1998 seen peak year for NW Europe oil flow.
February 26, 1996... Northwest Europe's oil production will peak at 314 million metric tons/year in 1998, and gas production will grow more than 20% before 2000. That forecast by Mackay Consultants, Inverness, Scotland, contrasts with recent International Energy...

Crude line poised for start-up in Gulf of Mexico.
February 26, 1996... A new pipeline system is preparing to begin shipping crude oil to shore from deepwater and subsalt fields in the Central Gulf of Mexico. Phase 1 of the Poseidon pipeline system is to be ready next month to start moving crude 117 miles from...

Sea Empress strikes thrice.(Watching the World)(Column)
February 26, 1996... Lightning is not supposed to strike the same place twice, but the U.K.'s latest oil spill has shown that tankers can. On Feb. 15 the 147,000 metric ton Sea Empress hit rocks at the mouth of the estuary leading to Milford Haven harbor, South...

Grounded tanker may cause U.K.'s largest oil spill.(Sea Empress)
February 26, 1996... Attempts last week to refloat an oil tanker grounded on the South Wales coast took on an air of desperation. The stricken Sea Empress vessel had been refloated twice only to be beached again soon afterward. By the morning of Feb. 22 the...

Severe winter hikes U.S. petroleum demand.(American Petroleum Institute report)
February 26, 1996... Severe winter weather in January put a spike in U.S. demand for petroleum products. Data compiled by the American Petroleum Institute peg petroleum products supplied to the market at 18.079 million b/d, up 5.3% from January 1995. The...

GRI cuts budget, slates restructuring program.(Gas Research Institute)
February 26, 1996... The Gas Research Institute, Chicago, has reduced its 1996 budget about 20%, cutting staff and restructuring the research, development, and commercialization (RD&C) programs it opera ares for the U.S. gas industry and gas consumers. GRI's...

Limited sale of Iraqi crude oil still at issue.
February 26, 1996... There has been no decision on limited sales of Iraqi oil to pay for humanitarian supplies in the wake of 2 weeks of talks between Iraqi officials and United Nations negotiators. The two sides began talks Feb. 6 at U.N. headquarters in New...

Iran moves to beef up downstream operations.
February 26, 1996... Bob Tippee Managing Editor-Economics and Exploration Iran's campaign to restore its petroleum industry includes addition of gas processing and refining capacity. Two project proposals by National Iranian Oil Co. (NIOC) call for...

New battle over MMT.(Watching Government)(Column)
February 26, 1996... Now that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finally lost its battle in the courts to ban the manganese-based gasoline additive MMT, environmental groups have taken up the cause. Thirty-seven environmental and health groups recently...

Certain facility, equipment designs lesses environmental costs. (oil and gas industry; Sound Environmental Solutions Inc.)
February 26, 1996... Companies in the oil and gas industry can lessen the burden of environmental rules and regulations by changing the design and size of a facility or equipment. Detailed knowledge of environmental rules and regulations can be turned into a...

Proper choice of O2 supply enhances enrichment benefits. (fluid catalytic cracking unit oxygen enrichment, part 1)
February 26, 1996... Regenerator oxygen enrichment on fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCUs) can be a powerful debottlenecking option. Oxygen enrichment also increases operating flexibility in the longer term. A properly chosen oxygen-production process can...

Tandem motors increase well bore penetration rate.
February 26, 1996... Running a positive displacement downhole motor with tandem power sections and the proper bit significantly increases the rate of penetration and reduces stalling problems. The use of positive displacement mud motors (PDMs) with two power...

Upgraded gas plant anchors reconfigured gathering system.
February 26, 1996... Modifications at GPM Gas Corp.'s Linam Ranch gas plant, near Hobbs, N.M., were completed late last year, and the plant has been restarted. The company bought the plant from an Enron Corp. subsidiary at the end of 1994 (when it was processing...

Energy Alloys, Inc. (steel service center formed)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Energy Alloys, Inc., Houston, Tex., has been formed as a steel service center offering mechanical and oilfield tubulars to manufacturers serving the oil and gas industry. Energy Alloys is led by its founders Dave Warren and Ralph Mullens....

Foster Wheeler International Corp., Tecnica Nacional de Engenharia S.A. (TENENGE), (joint venture alliance)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Foster Wheeler International Corp. and Tecnica Nacional de Engenharia S,A. (TENENGE) of Brazil have formed a strategic alliance to jointly pursue process industry engineering, procurement and construction projects in that country. The...

Nonseismic methods can provide many views of a drillsite. (oil and gas exploration)
February 26, 1996... In a world of low oil and gas prices it is well to keep in mind other advanced exploration techniques that have the ability to quickly focus on promising targets that can then be defined in detail by the ever improving but more expensive...

NW gulf's Perdido fold belt due deep exploratory test. (Gulf of Mexico)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... A four company group appears close to drilling a deep well on the untested Perdido fold belt in the Gulf of Mexico. The site likely will be in 6,000-9,000 ft of water east of Brownsville, Tex., in the Alaminos Canyon area and near Mexican...

David J. Hall. (named president of Excalibur Interpretation Co.)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... David J. Hall has been hired as president of Excalibur Interpretation Co., Houston. Hall worked previously for TGS-Calibre Geophysical Co. Also hired from TGS-Calibre are Kenneth J. Thies, chief geologist, and Rashel N. Rosen, chief financial...

Irvine J. (Irv) Koop. (becomes president of field services division of Westcoast Energy)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Irvine J. (Irv) Koop has been appointed president of Westcoast Energy's field services division, Calgary. Most recently, Koop was chief executive officer of Numac Energy Inc.

A. Hearne Williford. (named president and chief operating officer of Williford Energy Co.)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... A. Hearne Williford has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of Williford Energy Co., Tulsa. Williford served previously as executive vice-president.

James A. Middleton. (becomes chairman and chief executive officer of Crown Energy Corp.)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... James A. Middleton has joined Crown Energy Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah, as chairman and chief executive officer. Middleton is the former president of ARCO Oil and Gas Inc.

Stanley C. Horton. (becomes cochair and chief executive office, Enron Operations Corp.)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Stanley C. Horton has been promoted to the new positions of cochairman and chief executive officer of Enron Operations Corp., Enron Corp.'s largest business unit. He is formerly EOC's president and chief operating officer. Horton will share...

George M. Rootes. (becomes president of Shell Pipe Line)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... George M. Rootes has been named president of Shell Pipe Line, Houston. Rootes has worked in management at Shell for 28 years.

Dwight L. Wiggins. (named president of Tosco Refining Co.)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Dwight L. Wiggins has been appointed president of Tosco Refining Co., a division of Tosco Corp., Stamford, Conn. Wiggins was president of the Bayway refinery.

Lee R. Carlson. (becomes vice president and chief operating officer of Farstad Gas and Oil division)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Lee R. Carlson has been named vice-president and chief operating officer for Farstad Gas and Oil, a division of Farstad Oil Inc., Minot, N.D. Carlson worked formerly for Cimarron Gas.

Richard Giordano. (will become chief executive of British Gas PLC)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... Richard Giordano will assume the role of chief executive for British Gas upon the retirement of Cedric Brown later this year. Giordano will continue in his present role as chairman.

David R. Martin. (becomes president and chief executive officer of Occidental Oil and Gas Corp.)(Personals)(Brief Article)
February 26, 1996... David R. Martin has been named president and chief executive officer of Occidental Oil and Gas Corp., Bakersfield, Calif. This announcement follows the reorganization of Occidental International Exploration and Production Co., Bakersfield, Oxy...

Correction. (to article in issue of February 19, 1996; Peter I. Bijur becomes chairman and chief executive officer of Texaco Inc., not Conoco Inc.)(Correction Notice)
February 26, 1996... Oil & Gas Journal incorrectly reported that Peter I. Bijur was elected chairman and chief executive officer of Conoco Inc. (OGJ, Feb. 19, p. 59). Bijur has been elected chairman and chief executive officer of Texaco Inc., White Plains, N.Y. He...

Oil markets are volatile even without results from the Iraq-U.N. talks.
February 19, 1996... No details at presstime last week had emerged of secret talks that began Feb. 6 between Iraqi and U.N. officials over limited sales of Iraqi oil to fund humanitarian aid. There were few details of progress at a Feb. 14 press briefing, although...

OPEC will have to cut output to avoid a price slump if Iraqi oil sales resume.(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) pins most of the jump on Iran, which hiked output by 685,000 b/d to an average 4.04 million b/d, about 400,000 b/d over quota. MEES says about 200,000 b/d of Iran's monthly average increase could be blamed an...

The first licensee for Haldor Topsoe's breakthrough alkylation technology will sign up this year. (1996)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... The first licensee for Haldor Topsoe's break-through alkylation technology will sign up this year, says Topsoe's Phil Geren. Refiners worry about hazards posed by traditional alkylation catalysts of hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids. Geren told...

That while petrochemical profits in 1996 will be about half that of 1995, this does not mean the sector is headed for another cyclical downturn. (Chem Systems analysts)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Warnings of a downturn in profits for petrochemicals producers have made financial analysts think of downgrading their rating of expected company performances. Some analysts are nervous about impending profit disclosures, but London's Chem...

Falklands Islands exploration is likely to be high cost, with risk offset by potential for discovery of significant volumes of hydrocarbons.(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Falklands Islands exploration is likely to be high cost, with risk offset by potential for discovery of significant volumes of hydrocarbons, says Smith Rea Energy Analysts, Canterbury, U.K. Sea conditions around the Falklands are less harsh...

Following the recent disclosure that British Gas plans to split into two companies by spring 1997, a price dispute with gas industry regulator Ofgas appears inevitable.(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Following the recent disclosure that British Gas plans to split into two companies by spring 1997, a price dispute with gas industry regulator Ofgas appears inevitable. Ofgas is working on changes to the price formula used in charging for third...

Amoco and Conoco plan to build a 75 mile, 50,000 b/d crude oil pipeline from Billings, Mont., to Elk Basin, Wyo., in Montana to compete with the $530 million, 170,000 b/d Express export pipeline.(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Amoco and Conoco plan to build a 75 mile, 50,000 b/d crude oil pipeline from Billings, Mont., to Elk Basin, Wyo., in Montana to compete with the $530 million, 170,000 bid Express export pipeline (see map, OGJ, Sept. 25, 1995, p. 47). Amoco...

MMS has given itself more flexibility in bidding systems it uses to sell offshore oil and gas leases. (Minerals Management Service)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... In a new rule, MMS has given itself more flexibility in bidding systems it uses to sell offshore oil and gas leases. The regulation will allow MMS in future lease sales (see related story, p. 24) to set a minimum royalty lower than the usual...

Now that President Clinton has signed a bill allowing the government to sell its 78% interest in Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve in California, DOE will begin efforts to assess its value and schedule an offering.(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Now that President Clinton has signed a bill allowing the government to sell its 78% interest in Elk Hills Naval Petroleum Reserve in California, DOE will begin efforts to assess its value and schedule an offering. Congressional Budget...

More letters from Lagos. (financial scam approach by Nigerians)(Column)
February 19, 1996... It's sometimes hard to believe the variety of mail that arrives at Oil & Gas Journal offices every day. Here in Tulsa, for example, we can count on a steady crop of press releases, invoices, inquiries, and other sorts of business...

Fuel politics in France. (government's efforts to reduce motor vehicle air pollution by forcing use of oxygenated additives foreseen backfiring)(Editorial)
February 19, 1996... The politics of vehicle fuel strikes again, this time in France. Prime Minister Alain Juppe says a cleanair draft law due next month will require that gasoline and diesel fuel contain oxygenates from agricultural sources. The mandate, he...

Iran seeking help in regaining prerevolution oil and gas flow.
February 19, 1996... Bob Tippee Managing Editor-Economics and Exploration Despite U.S. isolation efforts, Iran is asking international companies for financial and technical help with 11 large oil and gas projects. Several of the projects would revive...

U.S., Canadian pipeline projects advancing.
February 19, 1996... Plans for gas pipeline construction programs are moving ahead on the U.S.Canadian East Coast and in the U.S. Rocky Mountains. Here are the latest developments: * A group of companies asked the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to...

NOVA gas shipments climb. (NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd., 1995)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... NOVA Corp.'s Alberta pipeline system delivered record volumes of gas for the ninth straight year in 1995. Its NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) unit shipped about 4.3 tcf last year, up 4.9% from 1994. Daily deliveries for 1995 averaged 11.6...

Study details gulf gas pipeline competition. (Foster Associates Inc. study, Gulf of Mexico)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... The Gulf of Mexico is home to spirited competition among natural gas pipelines. That's the major finding in a study conducted by Foster Associates Inc. for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Foundation. Foster found that...

FERC offers pipeline rate flexibility. (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has offered U.S. interstate gas pipelines that lack market power more flexibility to charge transportation rates other than those based on traditional cost of Service. FERC approved a policy statement...

Stop global warming - but not just yet.(Column)
February 19, 1996... I can't remember which biblical character was supposed to have said, while lamenting his sinful ways, "Make me good, Lord, but not just yet." I remember that plea when global warming is mentioned. The biblical sinner came to mind recently...

MMS leaves intact proposed schedule of OCS leasing. (Minerals Management Service, US Outer Continental Shelf)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... The Minerals Management Service has made no changes in its proposed 5 year oil and gas leasing program for the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The program, which covers July 1997-June 2002, is the same as the draft proposed program issued last...

Mobil drops California extended reach project. (Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc.)
February 19, 1996... Mobil Exploration & Producing U.S. Inc. has canceled a $1.8 billion project to tap Offshore California oil reserves via extended reach drilling from shore. Mobil's controversial Clearview project was heraided as a way for industry to finally...

Gulf Canada Resources sets gas development in Sumatra.(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Gulf Canada Resources Ltd., Calgary, is stepping up its gas development campaign in Sumatra. The company's wholly owned Asamera Oil (Indonesia) Ltd. has received approval in principle from Indonesia's Pertamina to develop gas reserves in the...

Federal royalties to decline for U.S. heavy crude.(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has issued a final rule for reduced royalties on heavy oil produced from federal leases. BLM said the action should encourage operators to return marginal or uneconomical shut-in wells back to production,...

EIA sees return to vigorous U.S. oil, gas demand. (Energy Information Administration)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... The Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts U.S. demand for petroleum and natural gas will reach levels in 1996 and 1997 not seen since the 1970s...... EIA's latest short term energy outlook assumes that a return to normal weather...

Dispute near settlement in Tabasco blockade. (Democratic Revolution Party demonstration cuts oil production in Tabasco state, Mexico)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Mexico's government and protestors who had blockaded 59 wells for more than 2 weeks in Mexico's Tabasco state were near a settlement of their dispute at presstime last week. The blockade had cut Mexico's oil production by as much as 130,000...

Latin privatizations. (Bolivia, Brazil, and Mexico continuing efforts to privatize their oil industries)(Column)
February 19, 1996... Mexico, Brazil, and Bolivia took steps last week to continue opening their oil industries to foreign firms. President Ernesto Zedillo announced a plan that calls for nearly $34 billion of investments in the Mexican energy sector by 2000,...

Mobil Oil Corp. (successful test of processing Orinoco heavy crude in joint project with Venezuela's Lagoven SA)(Refining)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Mobil Oil Corp. and Venezuela's Lagoven SA successfully processed 265,000 bbl of Orinoco belt extra heavy crude in a test at Mobil's 170,000 b/d Chalmette, La., refinery. The test run is in preparation for a proposed strategic association...

Cairn Energy plc. (first offshore gas discovery for Offshore Bangladesh and Holland Sea Search Bangladesh BV)(Exploration)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Cairn Energy plc, Edinburgh, found Offshore Bangladesh's first gas. Its 1 Sangu wildcat on Block 16 flowed on drill stem test at a maximum stabilized rate of 50 MMcfd of gas through a 1 in. choke with flowing wellhead pressure of 2,405 psig....

Celsius Energy Co. (agreement with Marathon Oil Co. to explore Vermilion basin in Colorado and Wyoming)(Exploration)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Celsius Energy Co., a unit of Salt Lake City's Questar Corp., agreed with Marathon Oil Co. to explore about 70,000 net acres in the Vermilion basin of Wyoming and Colorado. Marathon will conduct 3D seismic surveys in 1996 on leaseholds owned...

Apache Corp. (acquisition of 50% interest in the Egyptian East Beni Suef concession held by Global Natural Resources Inc.)(Exploration)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Apache Corp. acquired a 50% interest from Global Natural Resources Inc. in the East Beni Suef concession in Egypt's western desert. If approved by Egyptian General Petroleum Corp., the deal would give Apache the option of becoming operator of...

Seminole Pipeline Co. (company and codefendants pursuing new trial after jury in civil suit renders guilty verdict)(Courts)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Seminole Pipeline Co., Tulsa, and codefendants will seek a new trial after a Houston jury found against them in civil suits arising from the Apr. 7, 1992, explosion that killed three people at Seminole's liquefied petroleum gas storage cavern...

Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty. Ltd. (acquisition bid on Ampolex Ltd.)(Companies)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty. Ltd. proposed acquiring Ampolex Ltd., Sydney, for at least $1.24 billion (Australian). After acquiring a substantial stake in Ampolex, Mobil offered $4.25 (Australian)/share for all Ampolex ordinary...

Elf Petroleum U.K. plc. (acquires remaining share of Associated Gas Supplies Ltd.)(Companies)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Elf Petroleum U.K. plc acquired the other 50% share in joint venture independent gas supplier Associated Gas Supplies Ltd. (AGAS) held by Energy & Technical Services Group plc, London. AGAS has supplied gas to industrial and commercial...

TransTexas Gas Corp. (contract with First Union Corp. and Jefferies & Company Inc. for help in selling its noncore assets)(Companies)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... TransTexas Gas Corp., Houston, hired Jefferies & Co. Inc. and First Union Corp. of North Carolina to assist it in sale of certain noncore assets. Jefferies will assist in the sale-leaseback of its 1,100 mile pipeline in South Texas, and talks...

Arch Petroleum Inc. (acquisition of Trax Petroleums Ltd.)(Companies)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Arch Petroleum Inc., Fort Worth, is acquiring Trax Petroleums Ltd., Calgary, for about $10 million (Canadian) cash. Trax's Nov. 30, 1995, proved and probable reserves were estimated at 964,000 bbl of oil and 1.38 bcf of natural gas.

Southern Natural Gas Co. (seeking authorization for extending pipeline system from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)(Pipelines)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Southern Natural Gas Co. (SNG) unit of Sonat Inc., Birmingham, Ala, asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to extend its pipeline system to serve firm gas transportation customers in northern Alabama. The proposed $53...

Phillips Petroleum Co. (appraisal well starts production in Timor Sea)(Drilling-production)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Phillips Petroleum Co. 2 Bayu appraisal well on Timor Sea Block ZOCA 91-13 flowed 35 MMcfd of gas and 2,100 b/d of condensate from mid to late Jurassic sandstone at 9,787-10,279 ft, reported block interest holder Hardy Oil & Gas plc. The well...

ARCO Qatar Consortium. (production from oil well off Qatar)(Drilling-production)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... ARCO Qatar Consortium gauged a flow rate of 9,655 b/d from the Arab 3 formation in the 2,200 ft QMB horizontal appraisal well on the Arab B structure off Qatar. The test rate was limited by pump and flare capacities, and indications are the...

Clyde Petroleum plc. (acquires Marathon Petroleum Indonesia Ltd. resulting in 31.25% interest in Kakap Natuna offshore operation in Indonesia)(Drilling-production)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Clyde Petroleum plc, Ledbury, U.K., bought Marathon Petroleum Indonesia Ltd. for $51.04 million. This gives Clyde a 31.25% interest and operatorship of Kakap production sharing contract, which covers four producing oil fields and three...

International Petroleum Corp. (agreement with Petronas for development and marketing of gas and oil produced off Malaysia)(Drilling-production)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... International Petroleum Corp., Vancouver, B.C., agreed with Malaysia's state owned Petronas on terms to develop and market oil and gas produced from fields on Block PM-3 off Malaysia. IPC will deliver 250 MMcfd of gas to Petronas beginning in...

Phillips Petroleum Co. U.K. Ltd. (contract)(Drilling-production)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Phillips Petroleum Co. U.K. Ltd. and Mobil North Sea Ltd. let a 5 year operations and maintenance services support contract to Grootcon (U.K.) Ltd., Aberdeen. The contractor will work on Phillips' Hewett area platforms in the southern U.K....

Texaco Exploration & Production Inc. (Shasta field, Gulf of Mexico)(Drilling-production)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Texaco Exploration & Production Inc. and partners' Shasta field is producing 58 MMcfd of gas and 800 b/d of condensate from two subsea wells equipped with horizontal trees in 850-1,040 ft of water on Green Canyon Blocks 92, 136, and 137, about...

Enron Oil & Gas India Ltd. (contracts)(Drilling-production)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Enron Oil & Gas India Ltd. let firm 18 month contracts to Reading & Bates Corp., Houston, valued at about $34.9 million for two 300 ft rated cantilever jack ups to conduct development drilling in the Bombay High area off India. J.T. Angel and...

Oil Spill Response Ltd. (contract)(Spills)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... Oil Spill Response Ltd. (OSRL), Southampton, U.K., let contract to Hunting Aviation Ltd., Windsor, U.K., for use of a Hercules transport aircraft to support oil spill cleanup operations. OSRL is a worldwide spill response network owned by 22...

CMS Gas & Electric Marketing.(Gas marketing)(Brief Article)
February 19, 1996... CMS Gas & Electric Marketing, a unit of CMS Energy Corp., Dearborn, Mich., signed a joint marketing agreement with Marine Coal Sales Co., Indianapolis, to cooperate in marketing natural gas and/or coal in the East Central U.S. Under the deal...