The Oil and Gas Journal articles from March 1997

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from March 1997

Concerns over ethical and employment practices continue to bedevil major petroleum companies.(Pennzoil Co. and Coastal Oil and Gas Corp. sued for racial discrimination)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Concerns over ethical and employment practices continue to bedevil major petroleum companies. In the wake of Texaco's recent $176 million settlement of racial discrimination charges (OGJ, Jan. 6, 1997, Newsletter), two more large oil and...

FERC gave green light to the proposed merger of Enron and Portland General.(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Portland General Electric Co.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Major legal and regulatory developments left a big imprint on the U.S. energy industry last week. FERC gave a green light to the proposed merger of Enron and Portland General, in a decision that could pave the wave for speedier action on...

Amoco Corp. and Belgian electric/gas utility Tractebel have agreed with Jordan to build, own and operate a natural gas grid in that country.(Compagnies Reunies Electrobel et Tractionel S.A.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Amoco Corp. and Belgian electric/gas utility Tractebel have agreed with Jordan to build, own, and operate a natural gas grid in that country. The companies will be responsible for buying, transporting, distributing, and marketing gas...

Strategic alliance activity continues to proliferate.(Amoco Corp. and Shell Oil Co. form Altura Energy Ltd. to develop West Texas and Southeast New Mexico assets)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Strategic alliance activity continues to proliferate. Amoco and Shell Oil reached final agreement last week to join forces in a new limited partnership called Altura Energy Ltd., based in Houston. The combined company will operate the...

More European oil taxes.(European Commission to increase taxes on oil products)(Editorial)
March 3, 1997... Incredible as this may seem, Europe wants to raise its astronomical taxes on petroleum fuels. Already, taxes account for as much as 80% of the retail price of oil products in parts of Europe and, in many countries, more than half. And the...

East Texas Cotton Valley pinnacle reef E&D emerging as hot gas play.(exploration and development)
March 3, 1997... Operators attach many labels to the intensely competitive upper Jurassic Cotton Valley reef natural gas exploration play in East Texas. An "impact play," a "3D seismic play," "an expensive play," and "a dangerous play" are all terms that...

TRI E&P exclusion tops IPAA agenda. (exploration and production operation exclusion from Toxic Release Inventory program; Independent Petroleum Association of America)
March 3, 1997... The Independent Petroleum Association of America expects the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to decide within 2 months whether to include exploration and production operations in the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program. Last year,...

Fina, contractors settle in record wetlands penalty.(Fina Oil and Chemical Co., oil contractors liability for water pollution case at Laguna Madre near Corpus Christi, Texas)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Fina Oil & Chemical Co. and four contractors have agreed to spend more than $6 million to settle allegations that they damaged more than 37 acres of marine habitat while moving a drilling rig in the Laguna Madre near Corpus Christi, Tex. ...

DOT: Colonial must improve safety.(Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration report on Colonial Pipeline Co.'s safety and environmental record)
March 3, 1997... The U.S. Department of Transportation's Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) has urged Colonial Pipeline Co. to improve its safety and environmental performance. After one of Colonial's main lines ruptured June 26, 1996,...

ANR, Transco propose eastern U.S. gas line.(ANR Pipeline Co. and Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp. form Independence Pipeline Co. joint venture)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Units of Coastal Corp.'s ANR Pipeline Co., Detroit, and Williams Cos.' Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp., Houston, plan a 50-50 joint venture to link their pipeline systems to ease supply bottlenecks in the eastern U.S. The new venture,...

Conoco eyes floater for Banff field.(Conoco (U.K.) Ltd. receives approval to develop Banff field in North Sea)
March 3, 1997... Conoco (U.K.) Ltd. has received U.K. Department of Trade and Industry approval to develop Banff oil field, which is currently undergoing a 6-month production test. Banff lies in 100 m of water on U.K. North Sea Blocks 29/2a and 22/27a and...

Asian ascent.(Asia to overtake North America as world's largest oil consuming region in 1997)(Watching Government)(Column)
March 3, 1997... Asia should overtake North America as the world's largest oil consuming region by yearend. Cambridge Energy Research Associates, which has launched a new publication, Asia Pacific Energy Watch, made that prediction last week. Joseph...

Statoil opts for big riser base for Aasgard gas.(awards contract to ABB Offshore Technology A/S to develop subsea riser bas for gas exports from Aasgard field in North Sea)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Norway's Den norske stats oljeselskap AS (Statoil) has let contract to ABB Offshore Technology AS, Sandnes, Norway, to develop a giant subsea riser base for gas exports from Aasgard field in the Norwegian Sea. The base will connect risers...

Oil supply, demand surge continued in 1996.(includes related article on petroleum industry)
March 3, 1997... Significant new oil supplies have come on stream worldwide as global oil demand continues to surge, according to the latest review of world oil trends by Cambridge Energy Research Associates and Arthur Andersen LLP. But critical challenges...

U.S. E&P sector growth seen as robust in 1997.(US oil and gas exploration and production companies)
March 3, 1997... Ul.S. exploration and production companies expect their sector of the industry to sustain robust growth in 1997. That can be seen in the results of an annual survey of expectations among U.S. oil and gas companies by Arthur Andersen LLP....

BP to share process secret.(British Petroleum Company PLC's Topnir analyzer to help petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants better control their production and boost profitability)(Column)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Want to know how to increase profitability of your refinery or petrochemical plant by more than $1 million/year? British Petroleum Co. plc has developed an analyzer to characterize feed and product streams of plants almost instantaneously....

Baker Hughes Inc.(to purchase Petrolite Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Baker Hughes Inc., Houston, signed a definitive agreement with Petrolite Corp., St. Louis, and its principal shareholder, Wm. S. Barnickel & Co., to acquire Petrolite in a stock swap valued at about $692 million. Terms call for a tax-free...

British Gas plc.(dissolved on Feb. 17, 1997)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... British Gas plc effectively ceased to exist Feb. 17 when London's Stock Exchange began trading shares in its demerged companies. British Gas disclosed late in 1996 it would split into BG plc and Centrica plc, the former to handle lucrative U.K....

Cultus Petroleum NL.(reports on Shell Australia Ltd.'s oil well discovery off Australia's western coast)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Cultus Petroleum NL, Gordon, N.S.W., disclosed Shell Australia Ltd.-operated 2 Cornea wildcat on WA-241-P off Australia's western coast is possibly a 100 million bbl discovery. The well is adjacent acreage up for bid in Australia's next...

Arrow Exploration Co.(reports oil and gas field exploration southeast of La Grange, TX)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Arrow Exploration Co., Austin, is producing 1 Maximus, a downdip Giddings field extension, 3 miles southeast of La Grange, Tex. Originally drilled to 12,208-ft TVD to Cretaceous Edwards, the well was plugged back and drilled as an Austin...

Mobil Corp.'s.(South Horseshoe Bayou gas well discovery in St. Mary Parish, LA)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Mobil Corp.'s South Horseshoe Bayou discovery in St. Mary Parish, La., is testing directly into a sales pipeline after reaching 19,000 ft TD and being completed below 17,300 ft, reported interest owner St. Mary Land & Exploration Co.,...

Belco Oil & Gas Corp.(report on oil and gas well drilling in St. Landry Parish, LA)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Belco Oil & Gas Corp., New York, is drilling a 3,000-ft second horizontal lateral downdip in the Belco-operated 22-1 Turner in St. Landry Parish in the Louisiana Austin chalk trend (OGJ, Dec. 23, 1996, p. 21 ). The first lateral, drilled 2,700...

Amoco Norway Oil Co.(signs contract with ABB Global Engineering AS and Heerema Toensberg AS for compressor module for gas well exploration platform)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Amoco Norway Oil Co. issued a letter of intent to ABB Global Engineering AS, Asker, Norway, and Heerema Toensberg AS, Toensberg, Norway, for a compressor module to be installed on the new Valhall wellhead platform. Under a $14 million...

Ural Petroleum Corp.(purchases 22.3% interest in Chernogorskoye LLC)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Ural Petroleum Corp., New York, acquired a 22.3% interest in Chernogorskoye LLC, an oil production joint venture in western Siberia, from St. Mary Land & Exploration Co. in a deal valued at $22 million. The interest will be held through a...

International Finance Corp.(finances Cias. Asociadas Petroleras SA's secondary recovery of oil field in Chubut, Argentina)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... International Finance Corp. completed a $70 million financing package to enable Cias. Asociadas Petroleras SA of Argentina to implement a secondary recovery program in Diadema oil field in Argentina's Chubut province. The waterflood will nearly...

BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd.(to develop Kakatua and Elang oil fields in Timor Sea)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... BHP Petroleum Pty. Ltd., Melbourne, received approval from the Australian Indonesian Joint Authority to develop Elang and Kakatua oil fields on Timor Sea Zone of Cooperation Block 91-12. Fields, holding an estimated 15 million bbl of reserves,...

Imperial Oil Ltd.(plans expansion of oil-sands complex in Cold Lake, Alberta)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Imperial Oil Ltd., Calgary, applied to Alberta Energy and Utilities Board to expand its Cold Lake, Alta., oilsands complex, including constructing the new Mahkeses complex to produce an additional 30,000 b/d of bitumen and a 220-MW cogeneration...

Mobil Oil Australia Ltd.(resumes construction of Altona refinery fluid cat cracker, Australia)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Mobil Oil Australia Ltd., Melbourne, resumed construction of its $250 million (Australian) Altona refinery fluid cat cracker after settling a dispute involving alleged cost overruns. The project was originally due on stream early in 1997. New...

Reliance Petroleum Ltd.(signs contract with Linde AG for construction of hydrogen plant in India)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... RBeliance Petroleum Ltd., Bombay, let a $60 million contract to Linde AG, Wiesbaden, Germany, to build a new 235 MMcfd hydrogen plant, largest of its kind in India, which will supply hydrogen for a new grassroots refinery at Jamnagar in Gujarat...

Deutsche Shell AG.(signs contract with Fluor Daniel Ltd. for upgrade of Grasbrook lube oil blending plant in Hamburg, Germany)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Deutsche Shell AG let a $6 million contract to Fluor Daniel Ltd., Camberley, U.K., for upgrading its Grasbrook lube oil blending plant at Hamburg. Fluor will be responsible for detailed engineering, procurement, and production management....

Star Enterprise.(signs contract with Chevron Research & Technology Co. for catalyst for lubricating base oil complex at Port Arthur, TX, refinery)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Star Enterprise, a joint venture of units of Texaco Inc. and Saudi Aramco, selected Chevron Research & Technology Co. to provide technology and catalyst for Star's new 15,000 b/cd lubricating base oil complex at its Port Arthur, Tex., refinery....

Chevron Corp.(signs contract with Ghana National Petroleum Corp. for Nigerian gas supply to Ghana)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Chevron Corp. signed a letter of intent with Ghana National Petroleum Corp. (GNPC) to supply Nigerian gas to Ghana via Benin and Togo, aimed at demonstrating commerciality of the proposed West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP), the first...

TransColorado Gas Transmission Co.(plans gas pipeline construction)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... TransColorado Gas Transmission Co., Lakewood, Colo., in a project to link northern San Juan, Piceance, Green River, Uinta, and Paradox basin output with a New Mexico hub, started deliveries in the La Maquina lateral and established a...

TransCanada Pipelines Ltd.(plans expansion)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... TransCanada Pipelines Ltd., Calgary, in a planned system expansion, issued precedent agreements for about 1.4 bcfd of new capacity to its Canadian Mainline system in 1998-99, stemming from its summer 1996 Nexus project open season and capacity...

Norway's.(Statoil to install T-piece in Europipe II gas pipeline to transport gas to Denmark)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Den norske stats oljeselskap AS (Statoil) will install a T-piece in its Europipe II gas pipeline to accommodate a spur connection to move gas to Denmark. Europipe II will run from Kaarsto, Norway, to Eraden, Germany. Deliveries are expected in...

Mobil Producing Nigeria Ltd.(and Nigeria LNG Ltd. sign contract with Dredging International NV to improve gas carriers' access to Nigeria's Bonny River)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Mobil Producing Nigeria Ltd. and Nigeria LNG Ltd. let contract to Dredging International NV, Zwijndrecht, Belgium, to improve access to Nigeria's Bonny River. Dredging will enable large gas carriers to load at the complex under construction....

Fina Oil & Chemical Co.(signs contract with Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. for polypropylene train at LaPorte, TX, complex)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Fina Oil & Chemical Co., Dallas, let an engineering and procurement contract to Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Houston, for a ninth, 550-million lb/year polypropylene train at its LaPorte, Tex., complex. Engineering now under way will increase...

Virtual rheology and hydraulics improve use of oil and synthetic-based muds.(Practical Drilling Technology)
March 3, 1997... Two evolutionary concepts, virtual hydraulics and virtual rheology, have significantly improved the understanding and application of drilling fluid rheology and the hydraulics of oil-based and synthetic-based muds. When combined to form...

Integrating surface systems with downhole data improves underbalanced drilling.(oil well drilling)(Practical Drilling Technology)
March 3, 1997... An integrated approach of using special downhole sensors and transmission capabilities in conjunction with a surface drilling optimization system has improved the management and understanding of the underbalanced drilling environment within a...

Closed surface system allows accurate monitoring of drilling returns.(oil well drilling)(Practical Drilling Technology)
March 3, 1997... Acquiring production data and monitoring material balance through closed surface systems enhances underbalanced drilling operations by allowing real-time interpretation of the reservoir as it is drilled. One of the most important aspects of...

Review of tank measurement errors reveals techniques for greater accuracy.(Part 1)
March 3, 1997... Tank gauging is a common source of error in custody-transfer measurements of crude oil and petroleum products. Although the accuracy of tank gauging has improved markedly over the last century, several sources of error still exist. This...

Oil industry experience may explain TWA air disaster.(TWA Flight 800)
March 3, 1997... The oil industry has long been aware of the potential dangers of static electricity in the storage and movement of petroleum products. If this phenomenon caused the downing of TWA Flight 800 off Long Island, N.Y., last summer, Stanford...

Downhole probes evaluate cavern integrity.(Cavern Gas Storage, Part 1)(includes related article on the McAllister Unitized Multi-Probe)
March 3, 1997... Obtaining natural-gas storage caverns' pressures and temperatures with downhole probes has allowed TransGas Ltd., Regina, to monitor and evaluate cavern integrity. TransGas has more than 5 years' experience with the devices. The acquired...

Geo-Con Inc.(names Brian H. Jasperse chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Geo-Con Inc., the construction subsidiary of the Woodward-Clyde Group, Inc., has named Brian H. Jasperse chief operating officer and executive vice president. Previously the executive director of construction for OHM Remediation Services,...

Petrocon Engineering, and Alliance Engineering Associates, have announced their merger.(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Petrocon Engineering, and Alliance Engineering Associates, have announced their merger. Petrocon had completed two mergers/acquisitions in 1996 prior to the merger with Alliance-Triangle Engineers and Constructors, Beaumont, Tex., and...

3DX Technologies Inc.(agreement to increase its interest in three projects by Esenjay Petroleum Corp.)
March 3, 1997... 3DX Technologies Inc., Houston, Tex., has reached an agreement with Esenjay Petroleum Corp., one of 3DX's active partners, to increase the 3DX working interest in several trends. 3DX will increase its interest in three projects in the Texas...

Why aren't more U.S. companies replacing oil and gas reserves?(U.S. Reserves Replacement, Part 1)
March 3, 1997... Success in oil and gas exploration and production sounds deceptively simple: Produce and replace reserves so as to maximize the wealth of the company. Recent performance of the U.S. industry, however, demonstrates a tension between replacing...

Central Texas coast gas search bears fruit.(drilling project led by American Exploration Co.)
March 3, 1997... A group led by American Exploration Co., Houston, plans to drill 40 wells this year on its Yoakum Gorge property in Lavaca County, Tex., where it is completing acquisition of a 152 sq mile 3D seismic survey. The companies planned to spud...

U.K.(Phillips Petroleum Company U.K. Ltd.'s North Sea Block 30/2c)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... A Phillips Petroleum Co. U.K. Ltd. group tested a significant discovery on central North Sea Block 30/2c. The 30/2c-4 well encountered a hydrocarbon column more than 1,300 ft thick with no water contact. TD is 16,867 ft. Phillips said the...

Gulf of Mexico.(Coastal Corp.'s production plans)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Coastal Corp. units plan to set eight structures in the gulf this year, up from two in 1996. Coastal hiked its overall gulf production during the year to a net 145 MMcfd of gas and 4,200 b/d of oil and condensate from 47 MMcfd and 3,760...

Kansas.(Hugoton Energy Corp.'s drilling plans for Southwest Kansas area)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Hugoton Energy Corp., Wichita, is running two rigs and plans more 3D seismic this year in a Southwest Kansas area where it acquired 34 sq miles of 3D data. Ten more locations are to be drilled in first quarter. Eleven of the 16 wells...

Louisiana.(Aminex PLC acquires Windrush Productions Co.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Aminex plc, Dublin, has bought Windrush Production Co. for more than $4 million from owners Gaylord Resources Inc. of Texas and Diamond D Operating Inc. of Louisiana. Windrush produces 360 b/d of oil from giant Vinton field, Calcasieu...

Montana.(Molen Drilling Co.'s wildcat project in northeastern Montana)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Molen Drilling Co., Billings, Mont., staked a wildcat to Mississippian Lodgepole in far northeastern Montana. The 1 Gendreau, in 24-34n-47e, Daniels County, is projected to 7,500 ft, PI reported. It is about 200 miles northeast of U.S....

Texas: North.(Magnum Petroleum Inc. expands Fargo West oil field in Wilbarger County through Gruy Petroleum Management Co. unit)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... North Magnum Petroleum Inc., Irving, Tex., is revitalizing and expanding its 95% owned Fargo West oil field in Wilbarger County. Magnum's Gruy Petroleum Management Co. unit has hiked field production to 150 b/d from 70 b/d in September...

Texas: Panhandle.(Mortimer Exploration Co.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Panhandle Mortimer Exploration Co., San Antonio, will offset to the southwest its 1996 Rehm North discovery well in the Dalhart basin. The 3 Walker Ranch, in Hartley County 12 miles southwest of Hartley, is projected to Pennsylvanian...

Texas: Gulf Coast.(Vastar Resources Inc.'s drilling plans)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Gulf Coast Vastar Resources Inc., Houston, plans to drill 10-15 wells this year, all supported by 3D seismic data, along the Central and Lower Gulf Coast. Its 1 Christensen, in Clay West field, Live Oak County, flowed 7 MMcfd of gas...

Wyoming.(Barrett Resources Corp. plans production tests for Natrona County project)(Brief Article)
March 3, 1997... Barrett Resources Corp., Denver, plans to start production tests soon at its 16 Cave Gulch, in 32-37n-86w, Natrona County, TD 19,106 ft, in the Wind River basin. Barrett set casing to TD based on mud log shows of gas and data obtained from...

U.S. DOE, M-C Power, and San Diego Gas & Electric started a 1-year test run of the world's first cogeneration molten carbonate fuel cell power plant.(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... U.S. DOE, M-C Power, and San Diego Gas & Electric started a 1-year test run of the world's first cogeneration molten carbonate fuel cell power plant, which will provide electric power and steam at Miramar Naval Air Station, north of San Diego....

Another significant gas find near giant Gorgon gas field off Western Australia is fueling efforts to establish new grassroots LNG projects on the North West Shelf.(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Another significant gas find near giant Gorgon gas field off Western Australia is fueling efforts to establish new grassroots LNG projects on the North West Shelf based on Gorgon area reserves. Chevron and Texaco disclosed 1 Dionysus, an...

The Japanese wholesale electric power market, created as part of deregulation measures last April, is set to expand strongly in fiscal 1997 beginning this month. (March, 1997)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... The Japanese wholesale electric power market, created as part of deregulation measures last April, is set to expand strongly in fiscal 1997 beginning this month. The number of tenders is expected to increase in fiscal 1997, especially from...

A bad idea, not forgotten.(government intervention in heating-oil shortage avoided, with good results)(Editorial)
March 10, 1997... Politicians who monger bad ideas need to be reminded of their errors. Otherwise, what's to keep them from erring again? Back in October, with cool autumn giving way to cold winter in the U.S. Northeast, worries arose over inventories of...

Hostile operating climate augurs further closures for U.S. refiners.
March 10, 1997... Almost 30 U.S. refineries have shut down since 1990. Most of these refineries were small plants with limited operating flexibility. Refiners who have idled plants cite low margins and strict environmental regulations as the main driving...

British Gas marks end of restructuring. (includes information on spinoff, Centrica)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Publication of the 1996 financial results of British Gas plc has revealed the cost of splitting the company into two separate firms, BG plc and Centrica plc. The company unveiled the demerger plan last year. It was seen as a way of...

Triton to settle SEC's Indonesia bribery charges.(Triton Indonesia; Securities and Exchange Commission)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Triton Energy Ltd., Dallas, has agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve charges that a subsidiary bribed Indonesian government officials in 1989-90 in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act....

Tight squeeze for Texaco's Erskine. (Texaco North Sea UK Co.)(Column)
March 10, 1997... Texaco North Sea U.K. Co. aims to begin production in October from the North Sea's first high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) field development, but this milestone project almost did not happen. Erskine lies in 90 m of water on U.K....

FERC upholds key rulings in flurry of action.(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
March 10, 1997... The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has reaffirmed its decision to allow natural gas pipelines to recover 100% of their gas supply realignment costs caused by industry restructuring. FERC also reaffirmed the core elements of its open...

Central gulf OCS sale 166 another sizzler.(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... A Central Gulf of Mexico lease sale last week in New Orleans drew strong industry interest and high bids totaling $824,055,489. Oil firms exposed $1,241,942,374 at the sale, No. 166, which offered 5,059 tracts totaling 27.2 million acres...

Politics and barbecues.(EPA smog and soot rules criticized)(Column)
March 10, 1997... Signals are replete in Washington that the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed smog and soot rule is in deep trouble. U.S. industry has mounted a vigorous opposition to the regulations, which would significantly toughen the ozone an4...

BP discloses new West of Shetland strike. (BP Exploration Operating Co. Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd. has made the first public disclosure of a discovery in U.K.'s West of Shetland area since it revealed results of the well drilled in October 1993 that found Schiehallion. Details revealed to date are...

Pennzoil settles pipeline spill suit. (Pennzoil Products Co.)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Pennzoil Products Co. and its Eureka Pipe Line Co. subsidiary have agreed to pay $867,000 in penalties for 106 small oil pipeline spills in West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. The Justice Department said the proposed settlement also...

3D seismic propels Cotton Valley reef play. (reef well exploration in East Texas)(includes related article on Cotton Valley infrastructure)
March 10, 1997... Operators are gaining an edge on the complexities of drilling and completing Cotton Valley reef wells because of 3D seismic technology. East Texas leasing action has been heavy because of the successful wells being drilled, and 3D survey...

Iogcc survey: U.S. idle wells up by a third.(Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission reported there are 285,000 idle wells in the U.S., up 70,000 from its original survey in 1992. The study also examined programs states are using to return idle wells to production and to fund...

Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co.(contract)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co., a unit of Saudi Basic Industries Corp., let a $400 million contract to Tecnimont SpA, Milan, to construct a 500,000-metric ton/year ammonia plant and a 600,000-ton/year urea plant at Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia, (OGJ,...

ABB Lummus Global Inc.(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... ABB Lummus Global Inc. and Texaco Inc. formed an alliance aimed at capturing a significant share of the growing European market for gasification technologies and facilities. The companies will work together to find opportunities to develop,...

Novus Petroleum Ltd. (stake in Australian gas field)(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Novus Petroleum Ltd., Sydney, paid $183 million (Australian) for Melbourne-based Western Mining Corp.'s 30% stake in the East Spar gas field off Western Australia. East Spar is the third major WMC asset to be sold after the Thevenard island oil...

Plains Resources Inc. (buys interest in California field)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Plains Resources Inc., Houston, signed a definitive agreement to pay $25 million for all of Chevron Corp.'s interest in Montebello field in California's Los Angeles basin. The field now produces about 800 b/d of oil and 800 MMcfd of gas from 55...

BG plc. (sold stake in subsidiaries in Northern Ireland)(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... BG plc, one of two companies created from the defunct British Gas plc, sold a 24.5% stake in its Northern Ireland subsidiaries to Brooklyn Union Gas Co., New York. BG's Phoenix Natural Gas Ltd. unit has an exclusive license to bring natural gas...

Ocelot Energy Inc. (sold gas properties in Canada)(Companies)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Ocelot Energy Inc., Calgary, closed the sale of gas properties in British Columbia and Saskatchewan for about $88 million (Canadian), plus a prepayment of $31 million for terminating or restructuring certain long-term gas contracts, which...

U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. (clears Texaco and Mapco plans for Gulf of Mexico gas pipeline)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission cleared plans by Texaco Inc. and Mapco Inc. to build the $300 million Discovery gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. Completion is due late this year. FERC aisc reaffirmed its jurisdiction over a gas...

Conoco (U.K.) Ltd. (contract)(Exports-imports)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Conoco (U.K.) Ltd. signed a contract with Belgium's Distrigaz SA for delivery of gas from the U.K. to Germany. Conoco was the first shareholder in the Interconnector pipeline--which will link the U.K. to Zeebrugge, Belgium--to secure a deal to...

Hunt Oil Co.(signed exploration and production contract with Ghana National Petroleum Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Hunt Oil Co., Dallas, units signed an exclusive agreement with state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corp.(GNPC) for exploration and production in the western Cape Three Points area of Ghana's Tano and Saltpond basins. The area is just south of...

Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd. (buys interest in oil and gas production)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd., Calgary, acquired a 47.5% interest in the oil and gas production contract covering the 240,000-acre Karang Besar block, as well as a 10% interest in the 1.66-million acre Maratua block in the Tarakart basin...

Union Texas Petroleum Holdings Inc. (interest in offshore oil)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Union Texas Petroleum Holdings Inc., Houston, will acquire a 40% working interest in Contract Area 11/05 off China in Bohai Bay from Phillips China Inc. Phillips retains 60% and operatorship. Phillips made one noncommercial find in the block...

Elf Petroland BV. (discovery in North Sea)(Brief Article)
March 10, 1997... Elf Petroland BV disclosed two gas discoveries on North Sea Blocks K1a and K4a off the Netherlands. K1-3 discovery has a potential production rate of about 9.84 MMcfd from Lower Permian sands. K4-10 discovery in Carboniferous strata has...