The Oil and Gas Journal articles from June 2002

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from June 2002

FACTS: China's petroleum product import woes. (Market Movement).(World Trade Organization demands open Chinese markets)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Earlier excitement among international marketers over China's promise to open its market to more imports of lighter petroleum products besides fuel oil--as its price for membership in the World Trade Organization--is fading after a slow start...

US still faces less supply, more demand for natural gas. (Market Movement).(U.S. gas storage reports may use faulty data, methodology of analysis)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... Reports that weather-adjusted US demand for natural gas declined by 5-10 bcfd as prices recently climbed above $3.5 $3.50/Mcf "don't pass the smell test," said a Houston-based financial analyst with a reputation for being bullish on that...

Merger and Acquisition. (Industry Trends).(New report on oil service and supply sector)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... MERGER AND ACQUISITION activity within the oil service and supply sector will likely continue apace over the next 2 years. That word comes in a report from Houston-based Simmons & Co. International. Over the last few years, M&A activity...

US Senate. (Government Development).(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission vacancy)(Government Activity)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... US SENATE Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) has asked President George W. Bush to nominate Suedeen Kelly (D-NM) to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Congressional sources predicted the White House would...

Eurasia Group. (Government Developments).(Caspian Sea boundary dispute involves Azerbaijan and Iran)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... INTERNATIONALLY, prospects appear to be improving for a resolution to the Caspian Sea boundary dispute. US officials and foreign policy analysts said May 23 that the odds are getting better that industry soon will see a satisfactory...

Talisman Energy Inc. (Exploration).(Viet Nam government must approve offshore oil and gas award)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... A CONSORTIUM including units of Calgary-based Talisman Energy Inc., Malaysia's Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd., and Hanoi-based Viet Nam Oil & Gas Corp. (Petrovietnam) has been awarded Block 46/02 off Viet Nam. Talisman Vietnam Ltd. and...

Pertamina. (Quick Takes).(Indonesian natural gas reserves)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... Elsewhere on the exploration front, Indonesian state oil firm Pertamina discovered 1.07 tcf of natural gas reserves with its latest appraisal well on the Senoro-Toili Block in central Sulawesi, the Indonesian province between Borneo and the...

Coastal Petroleum Co. (Quick Takes).(Gulf of Mexico drilling permit denial prompts lawsuit)(Legal Beat)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Coastal Petroleum Co., Apalachicola, Fla., has sued Florida alleging that the state is taking the company's property without compensation by denying it a drilling permit in the Gulf of Mexico. The lawsuit concerning Lease 224-B follows a...

Nexen Inc. (Quick Takes).(Will jointly explore Gulf of Mexico natural gas reservoirs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... Nexen Inc., Calgary, and Shell Exploration & Production Co. (Sepco), New Orleans, have agreed to jointly explore a 1,044 sq mile area of the US Gulf of Mexico for natural gas in Miocene reservoirs. The agreement's focus of mutual interest...

Canadian Imperial Venture Corp. (Production).(Newfoundland oil and natural gas production to start)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... CANADIAN IMPERIAL VENTURE CORP., St. John's, Newf., has completed the commissioning of existing facilities and was granted all necessary approvals and permits to begin production of oil and natural gas from its Garden Hill field in western...

Teton Petroleum Co. (Quick Takes).(Oil field production in western Siberia rose to 4,080 b/d of oil)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... In other producction happenings, Teton Petroleum Co., Steamboat Springs, Cob., announced that its field production in western Siberia has increased to 4,080 b/d of oil, with 1,020 b/d net to Teton. Teton has produced oil from Egurayk field...

Reef International LLC. (Pipelines).(Natural gas pipeline to connect El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico.)(Government Activity)(International Pages)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... REEF INTERNATIONAL LLC, a subsidiary of Tidelands Oil & Gas Corp., Corpus Christi, Tex., has commenced its permitting process to obtain state, federal, and international permits for a large-diameter, natural gas pipeline crossing from El Paso,...

Horizon Pipeline Co. (Quick Takes).(New $80 mn natural gas pipeline in Illinois)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... In other pipeline news, Horizon Pipeline Co., Houston, has put into service its new $80 million natural gas pipeline in northern Illinois. Construction began in November 2001 on gas compression facilities in Joliet, Ill., and 28 miles of 36-in,...

El Paso Corp. (Quick Takes).(Proposed Seafarer natural gas pipeline)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... El Paso Corp., Houston, has announced new open seasons through June 12 for its proposed Seafarer natural gas pipeline system, which will transport natural gas from the Bahamas to southern Florida. The 162 mile, 26-in. system- formerly called...

Canadian Superior Energy Inc. (Drilling).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... CANADIAN SUPERIOR ENERGY INC., Calgary, and El Paso Oil & Gas Canada Inc., an indirect subsidiary of El Paso Corp. contracted for the Rowan Gorilla V. owned and operated by Rowan Cos. Inc., Houston, to drill the first well on the Marquis...

Unocal Corp. (Development).(Will developing 3 natural gas fields in southwestern Vietnam)(International Pages)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... UNOCAL CORP. said its subsidiaries have filed a declaration of commercial discovery with Petrovietnam in order to proceed with the development of three natural gas fields off southwestern Viet Nam. The declaration follows 10 successful...

Power station conversion supports Tasmanian gas project. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... The conversion of Hydro Tasmania's Bell Bay power station from oil-fired to natural gas operation is a key factor in the $400 million (Aus.) Tasmanian gas project to be put into operation this year. The project involves bringing gas to Tasmania...

Two centuries, one history Russia, the US, and oil. (Journally Speaking Editorial).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Oil & Gas Journal changed more than its look in May 2000: With one of those design changes, OGJ formalized recognition of its regular coverage of all modes of hydrocarbon transportation, not just pipelines. Hence this week's special report on...

US company earnings slide on lower prices, drilling activity. (General Interest).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Many US oil and gas firms recorded greatly reduced financial results for first quarter 2002. Substantially lower oil and gas realizations suppressed earnings from upstream operations as warm winter weather and a sagging economy decreased...

Energy traders acknowledge 'round-trip' power deals. (Company News).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Tulsa-based Williams Cos. Inc. has become the latest in a growing number of US energy marketers and traders having to step forward to defend its electricity trading practices to the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other government...

Dynegy chairman, CEO Watson steps down, new management team appointed. (Personnel Moves and Promotions).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... The board of Houston-based Dynegy Inc. announced early last week that it has accepted the resignation of company Chairman and CEO Charles L. "Chuck" Watson. At the unanimous request of the company's independent directors, Glenn F. Tilton --...

M&A activity heats up among majors, service firms. (Company News).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Merger and acquisition activity among major oil and gas firms and service and supply companies continues apace. Some recently announced deals include: * Independent directors will recommend that Gulf Indonesia Resources Ltd.'s full board...

Deep Knox gas play grows in Black Warrior basin. (Exploration & Development).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Interest has been intermittent in the Knox and other objectives in the deeper portions of the Black Warrior basin for several years. It was not until completion of the Sanders-1 well in 1998 by Fina Oil & Chemical Co. in Maben field for an...

Gel controls fluid loss in gravel-packed completions. (Production).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... A carbonate-laden gel pill, placed inside a sand-control screen and optimized for particle size distribution of the bridging particles for specific sand-control screens, minimizes fluid loss and potential damage to a gravel pack and formation....

Logging tool deployment technology sets record in Alaskan well. (Drilling).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Forest Oil Corp., Denver, successfully completed openhole logging operations with drill pipe-conveyed memory logging tools to a depth of 20,203 ft MD in its Redoubt No. 4 delineation well in Alaska's Cook Inlet. Crews deployed the logging...

Alaska North Slope LNG Project considers various [CO.sub.2] removal processes. (Gas Processing).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Several technologies are available for treating Prudhoe Bay gas for LNG production. Considering the huge capital investment involved with such projects, Parsons Energy & Chemicals Inc. conducted a comprehensive process selection study of new...

Complex, redundant AST regulations require thorough monitoring by facility operator. (Storage).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... New laws and regulations governing storage and transportation of liquid petroleum often result from incidents so dramatic they draw the attention of the general public. This has been especially true in the US; the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989...

Use of Panamax tankers ready to surge. (Tankers).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Prospects in the spot trade for an often overlooked segment of the tanker market--Panamax tankers--are looking up. This was the verdict of a study released earlier this spring by Poten & Partners Inc., New York, for the 60-80,000 dwt...

OGJ gasoline prices. (Statistics).(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... OGJ GASOLINE PRICES Price Pump Pump ex tax price * price 5-22-02 5-22-02 5-23-01 ...

Baker hughes rig count. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT 5-24-02 5-25-01 Alabama 4 5 Alaska 11 13 Arkansas 0 1 California 26 43 Land ...

OGJ production report. (Statistics).(crude oil and lease condensate)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT 5-24-02 (1) 5-25-01 (2) 1,000 b/d (Crude oil and lease condensate) Alabama 25 26 Alaska...

Refined product prices. (Statistics).(spot market)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... REFINED PRODUCT PRICES Spot market product prices 5-17-02 cents/gal Motor gasoline (Convontional-regular) New York Harbor ...

US natural gas storage. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... US NATURAL GAS STORAGE (1) 5-17-02 5-10-02 Change Bcf Producing region 653 625 28 Consuming region east 813 779 34 Consuming...

Smith rig count. (Statistics).(Smith International)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... SMITH RIG COUNT 5-24-02 5-25-01 Proposed depth, Rig Percent Rig Percent ft count footage count footage * 0-2,500 44 2.2 47 ...

US crude prices. (Statistics).(May 24, 2002)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... US CRUDE PRICES $/bbl * 5-24-02 Alaska-North Slope 27[degrees] 18.10 Southern Louisiana Light 25.00 California-Kern River 13[degrees] 21.75 Lost Hills 30[degrees] 24.10...

World crude prices. (Statistics).(May 17, 2002)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... WORLD CRUDE PRICES $/bbl (1) 5-17-02 United Kingdom-Brent 38[degrees] 25.43 Russia-Urals 32[degrees] 24.26 Saudi Light 34[degrees] 23.89 Dubai Fateh 32[degrees]...

Pace refining margins. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... PACE REFINING MARGINS Mar. Apr. May May 2002 2002 2002 2001 Change $/bbl US Gulf Coast West Texas...

Worldwide NGL production. (Statistics).(January, February)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... WORLDWIDE NGL PRODUCTION 2 month average Feb. Jan. Production ...

US natural gas balance demand/supply scoreboard. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... US NATURAL GAS BALANCE DEMAND/ SUPPLY SCOREBOARD Feb. Feb. Jan. Feb. change 2002 2002 2001 2002-2001...

US heating degree days. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... US HEATING DEGREE DAYS (1) 2002 % change Total degree days Mar....

Oxygenates. (Statistics).(production and stocks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... OXYGENATES Mar. Mar. YTD YTD 2002 2001 Change 2002 2001 Change 1,000 bbl Feel ethanol Production 3,996 ...

Flow-activated circulating tool aids offshore wellbore cleanup. (Equipment/Software).(from UWG Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
June 3, 2002... Here's the new flow-activated circulating tool (FACT), which is designed to improve the cost-effectiveness of offshore wellbore cleanup operations. FACT provides an alternative to the traditional ball drop and weight set tooling options....

New framework imports, exports data quickly. (Equipment/Software).(Wellogix Synchrion interoperability framework)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... An enhanced technology architecture recently introduced is designed to improve the speed and efficiency of integration with customer legacy applications, compatible with most common integration frameworks. The new Synchrion interoperability...

New oil field control value. (Equipment/Software).(FisherExpress D2 FloPro control valve)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... The new D2 FloPro control valve is a member of the new FisherExpress family of oil and gas patch control products. These features come standard: 1-in. NPT end connections, ASME Class 900 (2,250 psig) pressure rating, FloPro field-selectable...

New remote monitor for cathodic protection. (Equipment/Software).(advertisement)
June 3, 2002... This new LaBarge Inc. ScadaNET Network is a wireless remote monitoring system for cathodic protection operations. It uses control channels of the existing cellular network to monitor status and alarm conditions at cathodic protection...

Caterpillar Inc. (Services/Suppliers).(Jim Bielenberg named global petroleum manager and related appointments)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Peoria, Ill., has appointed Jim Bielenberg as global petroleum manager, to lead its power systems petroleum business worldwide. Other appointments to the group include Bob Tyson as regional manager for North and Latin America; Dave Blessin as...

Collarini Engineering. (Services/Suppliers).(Dennis Jordan named president)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Houston, has announced the appointment of Dennis Jordan as president. Jordan has been with the company for more than 10 years, and has managed the technical operations for the past 7 years. Collarini Engineering, a unit of Collarini Corp.,...

Pall Corp. (Services/Suppliers).(acuires Filterite and other USFilter divisions)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... East Hills, NY, has completed acquisition of Maryland-based Filterite, and other divisions of the Filtration and Separations Group from USFilter Corp., a subsidiary of Vivendi Environment. The other divisions are Fluid Dynamics,...

Penspen Ltd. (Services/Suppliers).(names David Stanley as chief executive officer)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... London, has named David Stanley as chief executive officer, Stanley will be returning to Penspen's London headquarters after spending 3 years in Houston as president of Penspen Inc. Stanley holds a degree in mechanical engineering, and...

Maag Pump Systems Textron. (Services/Suppliers).(Jurg De Pietro named global sales director)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Zurich, Switzerland, has named Jurg De Pietro as global sales director for the Maag Textron group. De Pietro, a chemical engineering graduate of the Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, earned his doctorate at the University of Zurich,...

Schlumberger Oilfield Services. (Services/Suppliers).(acquires A. Comeau and Associates Ltd.)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... Houston, has acquired Canadian-based A. Comeau and Associates Ltd. (ACA), a leading provider of electrical engineering products and services for artificially lifted wells. ACA will continue its operations in Edmonton, Alta. The addition of...

Uniqema. (Services/Suppliers).(appointed Delfino Lares as manager of its oilfield and fiber finish businesses in the Americas)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... New Castle, Del., has appointed Delfino Lares as manager of its oilfield and fiber finish businesses in the Americas. Lares holds a BS degree in chemistry from Loyola University, Chicago, and an MBA in marketing and economics from the...

Who believes what about energy prices, terrorism warnings? (The Editor's Perspective).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
June 3, 2002... Preparing for terrorist attack is like forecasting oil and gas prices. Receptivity of the audience is as important as the message. Politicians scrounging for poll paints are second-guessing Bush administration handling of early intelligence...

OPEC restraint sowing seeds of market share war. (Market Hotline).(in the crude oil market)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 3, 2002... It is an inevitability of sustained higher oil prices that talk of market share war soon rears its ugly head. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has been applauded by markets for engineering, together with some key non-OPEC...

Ranchers and oilmen. (Watching Government).(complaints about environmental damage from oil wells)(Brief Article)
June 3, 2002... US Sen Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was scheduled to preside over a field hearing in Bloomfield, NM, May 31 that should be of interest to US oil producers within and outside New Mexico....

Market Movement. (News Letter).(oil and gas market)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... Analyst: E&P, service stocks remain promising The oil and gas industry is in the early stages of a cyclical upturn, with "significant upside" remaining for investors in exploration and production companies and oil field service firms, says...

Industry Scoreboard.(for gasoline and oil)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... US INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD -- 6/10 4 wk. 4 wk. avg. Change, YTD Latest week 5/31 average year ago (1) % average (1) Demand, 1,000 b/d Motor gasoline 9,026 8,718 ...

Gasoline retailers didn't see windfall profits during the 3-day Memorial Day holiday weekend in the US. (Industry Trends).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... GASOLINE RETAILERS didn't see windfall profits during the 3-day Memorial Day holiday weekend in the US, but the business of selling gasoline returned to profitability in the second quarter after many chain retailers and refiners experienced...

Canadian refiners. (Industry Trends).(refining technology)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... CANADIAN REFINERS are introducing technologies and changing manufacturing processes to reduce gasoline sulfur content to 30 ppm before 2005, the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute (CPPI) reported. CPPI member refiners--representing 80% of...

The International Energy Agency. (Government Developments).(gives review of national energy policy by US president George W. Bush)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY gave a generally favorable review of the National Energy Policy proposed by President George W. Bush in May 2001. The IEA said the US government's efforts will influence energy policy worldwide. Robert...

India is reviewing its hydrocarbon supply security. (Government Developments).(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... INDIA is reviewing its hydrocarbon supply security. The Indian Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has revived an earlier plan to build strategic petroleum reserves as a way to protect the country from possible oil supply disruptions. The move...

Statoil ASA. (Quick Takes).(contract with Fred Olsen Energy ASA)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... STATOIL ASA has terminated its charter with a unit of Fred Olsen Energy ASA for the Byford Dolphin semisubmersible drilling rig, citing inadequate safety measures. The contract for the rig, which was owned by Dolphin AS, was originally to run...

Apache Corp. (Quick Takes).(oil and gas discovery in Egypt)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... HOUSTON-BASED Apache Corp. last month announced two oil and gas finds in Egypt, marking that company's eighth and ninth discoveries worldwide this year. First, Apache made an oil discovery in its Khalda concession in Egypt's Western...

Horizon Energy Development BV. (Quick Takes).(contract with Acea)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... HORIZON ENERGY DEVELOPMENT BV, a unit of National Fuel Gas Co., Buffalo, NY, has signed a joint development agreement with ACEA SPA, Rome's public electric utility, to build a 400 Mw combined-cycle, natural gas-fired power plant. The plant...

The US Department of justice and the US Environmental Protection Agency sued Olympic Pipe Line Co. and Shell Pipeline Co. LP. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE and the US Environmental Protection Agency sued Olympic Pipe Line Co. and Shell Pipeline Co. LP in connection with a June 1999 gasoline pipeline rupture near Bellingham, Wash. The companies are negotiating with...

Columbia Gas Transmission Corp. (Quick Takes).(appeals block of Hudson River pipeline project)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... In other pipeline news, Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., Fairfax, Va., will file an appeal with the US Department of Commerce before June 10, contesting a move by the New York Department of State (DOS) to block construction of the proposed...

BP Pipelines Vietnam BY and BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. let contract to BJ Process & Pipeline Services. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... BP Pipelines Vietnam BY and BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. let contract to BJ Process & Pipeline Services (BJPPS) to provide pipeline commissioning and testing services for the BP Nam Con Son gas project in Viet Nam. BP serves as operator of...

Royal Dutch/Shell Group. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... A UNIT OF Royal Dutch/Shell Group has finalized an agreement to purchase up to a total of 3.7 million tonnes of LNG during 2004-09 from partners in the Australian North West Shelf venture, said project participant BHP Billiton Ltd. This...

Cabinda Gulf Oil Co. (Quick Takes).(awards offshore contract to consortium)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... CABINDA GULF OIL CO. (CABGOC), a unit of ChevronTexaco Corp., awarded a $660 million contract to a consortium of Stolt Offshore SA and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. (DSME) for its Sanha gas-condensate fields development...

National Industrial Gases Co. (Quick Takes).(contracts Linde AG to build air separation unit)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL GASES CO. (GAS), a unit of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), let a $93 million lump sum contract to Germany's Linde AG for the construction of an air separation unit at SABIC's Al Jubail petrochemical complex at Riyadh....

Letters.
June 10, 2002... The men chosen They don't make Democrats like this anymore. Shortly after World War II, in choosing members to serve in an advisory capacity at deliberations of the Reparations Commission to determine the part Germany must accept in...

OTC follies. (Journally Speaking).(various Offshorre Technology Conference exhibits)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... The Offshore Technology Conference in Houston each spring is a celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit of the oil patch. Every scientific paper, every commercial exhibit at every OTC for the last 34 years started with someone saying at...

A global warming tumble. (Editorial).(link between carbon dioxide emissions and global warming may be flimsy)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... The politics of global warming tumbled in the US but landed upright last week. First the Environmental Protection Agency provoked media delirium with a boilerplate report to the United Nations. Then President George W. Bush pointed out the...

In situ projects gaining ground in Canadian oil sands development boom. (Special Report: Canada's Oil Sands Revival).
June 10, 2002... Operators are turning increasingly to sophisticated in situ techniques to tap deeper formations in the oil sands regions of northern Alberta. But surface mining operations still account for the largest share of investment dollars and growing...

Syncrude's Newell: managing growth, Kyoto top worries. (Special Report: Canada's Oil Sands Revival).(Eric Newell)
June 10, 2002... Managing explosive growth at the technical, financial, and human level is the biggest challenge facing companies in developing a 300 billion resource in Canada's northern Alberta oil sands industry. Eric Newell, chairman and CEO of...

US companies upbeat on possible return to Libya. (General Interest).(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... US companies with languishing interests in Libya said late last month that they are growing increasingly hopeful that international and US sanctions against the North African nation will be lifted as soon as first quarter 2003. Driving...

UN faces big challenges under new Iraq sanctions plan, GAO says. (General Interest).(United Nations, General Accounting Office)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... The United Nations' updated Iraq sanctions regime has no provisions to deter oil smuggling and illicit trade or to reintroduce weapons inspectors, according to an analysis by the General Accounting Office. "Until these issues are resolved,...

CGES: European gas amenable to commodity trade.(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... There is no "intrinsic reason" why Europe can't develop into a natural gas commodity market like the US, instead of remaining tied to long-term contracts and pricing formulas linked to oil, said authorities at the Centre for Global Energy...

FTC refining way it tracks gasoline price spikes. (General Interest).(Federal Trade Commission)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... The Federal Trade Commission said it plans to be more sophisticated in the way it monitors gasoline price spikes. FTC Chairman Timothy Muris late last month said that the commission's monitoring efforts will include the use of a...

Building bridges. (Watching Government).(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... An environmental group and a multinational oil company have teamed up to start a new Washington, DC-based think tank on transportation issues. The World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Shell Foundation May 29 announced a new $7.5 million...

Newfield Exploration to buy EEX for $640 million. (Company News).(Statistical Data Included)
June 10, 2002... Newfield Exploration Co. has signed an agreement to acquire EEX Corp. in a deal valued at $640 million. The transaction--which will include the assumption of debt, net of cash, in addition to other existing obligations--is expected to close in...

Lundin Petroleum, Canadian 88 name new top executives. (Personnel Moves and Promotions).(Lundin Petroleum AB, executive appointments)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... Ian Lundin, president of Swedish oil and gas exploration company Lundin Petroleum AB, also has been named chairman of the company. Lundin succeeds Adolf Lundin, who is relinquishing his top spot after serving in the position for 22 years. ...

Upstream moves. (Personnel Moves and Promotions).(Bob D. Brady Jr. joins Double Eagle Petroleum and Mining Co.)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... Bob D. Brady Jr. has joined Double Eagle Petroleum Co., Casper, Wyo., as vice-president, engineering and operations. Brady comes to Double Eagle with 13 years of experience in coalbed methane development. Most recently, he served as...

Downstream moves. (Personnel Moves and Promotions).(David Pirret joins Shell Oil Co.)(Brief Article)
June 10, 2002... David Pirret, currently executive vice-president, global businesses; for Shell International Petroleum Co Ltd., was named vice-president, lubricants, for Shell Oil Products US, effective June 1. In his new position, Pirret will oversee the...