The Oil and Gas Journal articles from March 2002

The Oil and Gas Journal archives from March 2002

News letter.(outlook for the gasoline market)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Market Movement US gasoline markets likely to tighten Look for US gasoline markets to tighten in the weeks heading into the summer driving season. Despite all the gloom and doom over the state of oil demand in the US--wherein the...

Industry scoreboard.(oil production, oil products demand, and other petroleum industry statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Industry Scoreboard US INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD -- 3/4 4 wk. 4 wk. avg. Change YTD Latest week 2/22 average year ago (1) % average (1) Demand, 1,000 b/d Motor gasoline ...

The Oil Services Industry. (Industry Trends).(convertible bonds could lead to trouble)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... THE OIL SERVICES INDUSTRY may be set up for a "boomerang effect" from the convertible bonds that it has sought out in recent years, said Houston-based Simmons & Co. International. "Over the past few years, several oil service companies...

Offshore Drilling Contractor. (Industry Trends).(market demand)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... OFFSHORE DRILLING CONTRACTOR GlobalSantaFe Corp., Houston, reported that its worldwide Summary of Current Offshore Rig Economics (SCORE) for January dropped by 0.2% from the previous month. "Rig supply and demand remain in balance in the...

State and Federal Regulators. (Government Developments).(draft environmental impact statement for development of southern Montana's coalbed methane)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATORS have issued a draft environmental impact statement for coalbed methane development in south-central and southeastern Montana. The preferred alternative recommended by the Department of the Interior's Bureau of...

Oil Companies. (Government Developments).(mull appeal to U.S. Supreme Court over Minerals Management Service's "duty to market" gas royalty rules)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... OIL COMPANIES drilling on federal lands are mulling an appeal to the US Supreme Court following a recent decision by the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit that largely affirmed the Minerals Management Service's "duty to market" gas royalty...

Shell Exploration & Production Co. (Quick Takes).(Brutus production platform is closed for repairs)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... PRODUCTION from the Brutus tension leg platform has been shut in for repairs to the TLP. Shell Exploration & Production Co. said it shut down Brutus on Feb. 12 because of valve failures in the production processing system. During the...

Four New Power Plants. (Quick Takes).(Duke Energy North America awards contracts to Duke/Fluor Daniel)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... FOUR NEW POWER PLANTS are on the drawing boards for the US South. Duke Energy North America has awarded Duke/Fluor Daniel contracts to perform engineering, procurement, and construction services for four natural gas-fired, simple-cycle...

BP PLC and Nexen Petroleum USA Inc. (Quick Takes).(Aspen offshore development in the Gulf of Mexico)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... DEVELOPMENT PLANS are progressing for the Aspen deepwater discovery in the Gulf of Mexico. BP PLC and Nexen Petroleum USA Inc. signed a contract outlining the development of Green Canyon Block 243 about 150 miles south-southwest of New...

Harken Energy Corp. (Quick Takes).(regulatory drilling delays in Costa Rica)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... REGULATORY SNAGS in Costa Rica have created drilling delays there for Harken Energy Corp., Houston. The company said it does not expect to receive the permits needed to drill the Mom well any time soon. Consequently, Harken is fully...

A New PTT Plant. (Quick Takes).(Shell Chemicals Canada Ltd. forms limited partnership with SGF Chimie for polytrimethylene terepthalate plant)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... A NEW PTT PLANT leads petrochemical news. Shell Chemicals Canada Ltd., Montreal, has announced a contract with Ste. Generale de Financement du Quebec subsidiary SGF Chimie to form a 50:50 limited partnership to build and operate a...

Gaz de France. (Quick Takes).(orders LNG tanker from Chantiers de l'Atlantique)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... THE WORLD'S first diesel electric LNG carrier is on order. Gaz de France signed a contract with French shipbuilder Chantiers de l'Atlantique for the construction of a 74,000 cu m LNG carrier, GdF reported. The order includes an option for a...

Topping Pipeline News. (Quick Takes).(Guardian Pipeline contracts H.C. Price Co.)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... TOPPING PIPELINE NEWS, a contract was signed for construction of a 142 mile, 36-in, natural gas system that will carry as much as 750 MMcfd of natural gas from the Chicago hub near Joliet, Ill?., to Ixonia, Wis. Guardian Pipeline signed a...

Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Corp. (Quick Takes).(and partners contract with unit of Williams Companies Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... In other pipeline news, Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Corp., Oklahoma City, and partners have selected a unit of Williams Cos. Inc., Tulsa, to gather oil from Gunnison field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Other participants in Gunnison development are...

Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL). (Quick Takes).(forms Bhagyanagar Gas Ltd. joint venture with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd. (HPCL) signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture company--tentatively called Bhagyanagar Gas Ltd. (BGL)--for the distribution of natural gas, LPG, and...

Duke Energy Corp. (Quick Takes).(subisidiary East Tennessee Natural Gas releases Patriot pipeline study results)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Duke Energy Corp. subsidiary East Tennessee Natural Gas has released a study it commissioned regarding the proposed Patriot natural gas pipeline extension project. Energy consulting firm Merrimack Energy, Salem, NH, compiled the study. Future...

State of N. Appalachian oil. (Journally Speaking).(crude oil production and refining in the northern Appalachian basin)(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... A committee report from the Ohio Oil& Gas Association (QOGA) gives an interesting look at crude oil production and refining in the northern Appalachian basin in 2001-02. Two plants, the Ergon-West Virginia Inc. refinery at Newell, WVa.,...

Latin American leadership. (Editorial).(in Mexico and Venezuela and its effect on the oil industry)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Leadership makes a difference. Between Latin America's two most important oil producers, the difference is stark. In Mexico, enlightened leadership has raised hope for an overburdened and isolated oil and gas producing industry and, by...

New charter to govern international energy transit. (General Interest).(Energy Charter)
March 4, 2002... The Energy Charter, an intergovernmental organization devoted to promoting East-West energy cooperation among its 51 European and Asian member states-including all the countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU)-is currently developing a new...

After Enron, firms 'more receptive' to ethics, lawyers say. (General Interest).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... The financial fall of Enron Corp. and resulting legal scandal hasn't changed how oil and gas company corporate attorneys operate, but it does emphasize the fundamental basics "of what we've been doing all along," said a panel of six energy...

California deadline on MTBE ban set for next month. (General Interest).(methyl tert-butyl ether)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Industry and government sources said Feb. 25 that California Gov. Gray Davis (D) is "likely" to delay a proposed ban on the fuel oxygenate methyl tertiary butyl ether based on the recent results of a study commissioned by the California Energy...

Latin blues. (Watching Government).(political problems lead to questions about whether Latin America is a reliable oil supplier)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... A key part of the White House's energy strategy is to bolster ties with the US's own oil-rich neighbors, including Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Argentina. But that policy may be strained by ongoing political turmoil in...

El Paso Energy to buy midstream assets from El Paso Corp. (Company News).(gas gathering and transmission assets)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... El Paso Energy Partners LP--which is 28% owned by El Paso Corp. (EPC)--signed a letter of intent to acquire certain Texas midstream assets from EPC for $750 million, marking El Paso Energy's biggest acquisition to date. The acquired assets...

Venezuela names Parra new PDVSA head. (Personnel Moves and Promotions).(includes, Hugo Chavez appoints Gaston Luis Parra Luzardo president of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has appointed economist and banker Gaston Luis Parra Luzardo president of state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Parra, who is POVSA's fourth president in 3 years, was sworn in Feb. 13, succeeding General...

Western South Africa object of gas use study, offshore plays. (Exploration & Development).
March 4, 2002... Action is picking up on several fronts to discover, transport, and sell gas and oil in and off the western part of southern Africa. The South African government's Department of Minerals and Energy and Shell International Gas signed a letter...

Senate democrats file California-GOM oil lease swap bill. (Exploration & Development).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Senators from Louisiana and California introduced legislation in late February to close a decades-old, billion-dollar dispute between industry and California over offshore oil leases. The California Coastal Protection and Louisiana Energy...

Geopolitics face developing oil beyond 200-mile zone. (Exploration & Development).(in ocean waters outside of national exclusive economic zones)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Development of deep and very deep oil in waters beyond the 200-mile economic zone will raise some difficult geopolitical questions, the Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP) has been told. Jean-Francois Giannesini, advisor to the IFP...

PDVSA launches Deltan platform exploration program.(Petroleos de Venezuela S.A.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... Petroleos de Venezuela was to have spudded the first well in February in a $375 million, 2-year exploration program in the Orinoco Delta. The Pride Venezuela semi-submersible is to drill 12 exploration and appraisal wells in 150-1,500 ft...

Iran okays redevelopment of Masjid-i-Suleiman. (Exploration & Development).(oil field)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... The Iranian government approved Sheer Energy Cyprus Ltd. to redevelop Masjid-i-Suleiman oil field under a buy-back contract. Sheer, a unit of Sheer Energy Inc., Calgary, noted MIS field, discovered in 1908, was the first found in the Middle...

Saipem SPA and Bouygues Group. (Algeria).(get contract for development of oil reserves in the Berkine basin, Algeria)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Sonatrach let a $257 million contract to a joint venture of Saipem SPA and Bouygues Group for development of oil reserves in the Berkine basin. The contract involves development of Rhourde Oued Djemaa oil field and five nearby oil fields...

Roc Oil Ltd. (United Kingdom).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Roc Oil Ltd., Sydney, is gathering 400 sq km of 3D seismic data in January-April to delineate prospects adjacent to Saltfleetby gas-condensate field 10 km northwest of Theddlethorpe gas terminal in the South Humber basin. Positive results...

Young Oil Corp. (Kentucky).(Plans a multiwell drilling program)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Young Oil Corp., private Knob Lick, Ky., operator, plans a multiwell drilling program this year around a 1,000-acre lease in Metcalfe County, along the Cincinnati arch. Each of 8 wells on the lease is making 100 bo/d or more. The 4 Bell,...

Westfort Energy Ltd. (Mississippi).(Will purchase interests in Alabama and Mississippi fields)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Westfort Energy Ltd., Jackson, Miss., plans to purchase interests in and further develop Gilbertown and West Barrytown fields, Choctaw County, Ala., and Junction City field, Clarke County, Miss. Sellers are Field Management LLC, Cedarbill...

Magnum Hunter Resources Inc. (New Mexico).(Forms a joint venture for exploration)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Magnum Hunter Resources Inc., Irving, Tex., formed a joint venture to explore 49,000 gross mineral acres in Eddy and Lea counties around its existing leasehold. Magnum Hunter, Southwestern Energy Co., and Phillips Petroleum Co. will drill...

The Utah School & Institutional Trust Lands Administration. (Utah).(Report on oil shale leases)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... The area under lease for oil shale almost doubled during 2001 to nearly 87,000 acres, said the Utah School & Institutional Trust Lands Administration. The 2001 lessees are Morgan LP and Oil Tech Inc. Lessees through 2000 are Tosco Corp.,...

Technology application optimizes gas well completions in Saudi Arabia. (Drilling & Production).
March 4, 2002... Saudi Arabian Oil Co. (Saudi Aramco) has completed the, first phase of an accelerated project to develop Saudi Arabia's deep gas potential. The company has drilled and completed a large number of new gas producers, with many additional wells...

Indonesian LNG plant uses effectiveness study to optimize investment. (Processing).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Simulating the effectiveness of different design options can optimize investment and appraise reliability of a grassroots project or plant expansion. TotalFinaElf SA has developed a specific methodology that evaluates effectiveness for any...

Tariff accord clears way for Russian oil exports through med. (Transportation).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... By yearend, Russian crude oil may be moving out of a deepwater terminal on the Mediterranean Sea into world export markets, thanks to a tariff accord ratified in late 2001 by Ukraine. Russian Urals blend would flow 1,987 miles via the...

Independents, other companies find opportunity in basins off West Africa. (Special Report Action off West Africa).
March 4, 2002... Numerous independents have acquired sizable acreage in low producing or nonproducing countries in West Africa, and several have advanced to discovery and production stages. Many have found their prospects by studying seismic information...

Hybrid architecture provides solution for deepwater developments off West Africa. (Action off West Africa).
March 4, 2002... To develop their deepwater West Africa discoveries, several operators have opted for a hybrid architecture that includes a drytree floating structure, such as a tension leg platform (TLP), adjacent to a floating production, storage, offloading...

Attachments help prevent tubing wear. (Equipment/Software/Literature).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... This set of tubing wear prevention solutions is designed to allow producers to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs, and increase production. The set consists of ABI and RODEC tubing rotators, New Era and Patco rod guides, and...

Free brochure describes downhole systems. (Equipment/Software/Literature).
March 4, 2002... A new, free brochure describes the VELOX velocity and straddle system. As a velocity system, the new tool prevents water from cutting off gas production. As a straddle system, it can pack off damaged tubing. Both production problems...

Vibration monitor for oil field operations. (Equipment/Software/Literature).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... The new 4500-S (or small) on line vibration monitor offers an economical solution to the need for smaller continuous monitoring applications associated with rotating equipment in oil field production and processing operations. The monitor...

Tool measures sulfur in products. (Equipment/Software/Literature).
March 4, 2002... The EX-310S analyzer provides rapid and precise measurement of total sulfur in petroleum products as described in ASTM method D4294--sulfur in petrtoleum and and petroleum products by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. It...

Gas detector awarded intrinsic safety approval. (Equipment/Software/Literature).(Enmet Corp. product receives Canadian Standards Association approval)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... The Target Series portable gas detector has been awarded intrinsic safety approval by the Canadian Standard Association. This Class I, Division I, Group A, B, C, D approval allows its service in hazardous work environments. The...

Bostik Findley Inc. (Services/Suppliers).(Middleton, Mass., personnel)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Middleton, Mass., has appointed Greg Jones distribution group territory manager. Jones is a graduate of the University of Akron, and oversees sales and related marketing efforts from his base in Ohio. Bostik Findley Inc. is a leading global...

Howe-Baker International LLC. (Services/Suppliers).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... Tyler, Tex., has acquired the assets of TPA Inc. of Richardson, Tex. The acquired business, which will operate as TPA Howe-Baker Ltd., is a full-service engineering, procurement, and construction company specializing in sulfur removal and...

Hunting PLC. (Services/Suppliers).(international oil services company)(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... London, has announced the formation of Hunting Energy Services LP, combining the activities of Hunting Vinson Inc., Hunting Iberia Inc., and Hunting Oilfield Services Inc. in the US. Hunting Oilfield Services is a vertically integrated...

OGJ crack spread. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... OGJ CRACK SPREAD 2-22-02 (*) 2-23-01 (*) Change Change, % $/bbl SPOT PRICES Product value 22.80 32.20 -9.40 -29.2 Brent crude ...

API imports of crude and products. (Statistics).(American Petroleum Institute)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... API IMPORTS OF CRUDE AND PRODUCTS Districts 1-4 District 5 2-22 2-15 (1) 2-22 2002 2002 2002 ...

API crude and product stocks. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... API CRUDE AND PRODUCT STOCKS Motor gasoline Blending Crude oil Total comp. (2) ...

API refinery report--February 22, 2002. (Statistics).(American Petroleum Institute)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... API REFINERY REPORT--FEBRUARY 22, 2002 REFINERY OPERATIONS Total Input refinery Crude to crude Operable District ...

OGJ gasoline prices. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... OGJ GASOLINE PRICES (Approx. prices for self-service unleaded gasoline) Price Pump Pump ex tax price (*) price 2-20-02 2-20-02 2-21-01 ...

Refined product prices. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... REFINED PRODUCT PRICES Spot market product prices 2-15-02 Cents/gal Motor gasoline (Conventional-regular) Now York Harbor 57.40 Golf Coast ...

Baker hughes rig count. (Statistics).(Brief Article)
March 4, 2002... BAKER HUGHES RIG COUNT 2-22-02 2-23-01 Alabama 4 6 Alaska 15 11 Arkansas 1 1 California 20 28 Land ...

Smith rig count. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... SMITH RIG COUNT 2-22-02 2-23-01 Proposed depth, Rig Percent Rig Percent ft count footage (*) count footage (*) 0-2,500 47 2.1 ...

OGJ production report. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... OGJ PRODUCTION REPORT (Crude Oil and lease condensate) 2-22-02 (1) 2-23-01 (2) 1,000 b/d Alabama 26 26 Alaska 1,035 1,000 California ...

US crude prices. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... US CRUDE PRICES $/bbl (*) 2-22-02 Alaska-North Slope 27[degrees] 8.92 South Louisiana Sweet 20.50 California-Kern River 13[degrees] 14.75 Lost Hills 30[degrees] 18.10...

World crude prices. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... WORLD CRUDE PRICES $/bbl (1) 2-15-02 United Kingdom-Brent 38[degrees] 20.68 Russia-Urals 32[degrees] 19.68 Saudi Light 34[degrees] 18.71 Duhai Fateh 32[degrees]...

US natural gas storage.(includes data for February 15, 2002)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... US NATURAL GAS STORAGE (1) 2-15-02 2-3-02 Change Bcf Producing region 629 652 -23 Consuming region east 1,143 1,224 -81 Consuming...

Pace refinning margins. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... PACE REFINNING MARGINS Dec. Jan. Feb. Feb. 2001 2002 2002 2001 Change $/bbl US Gulf Coast West Texas...

US natural gas balance demand/supply scoreboard. (Statistics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... US NATURAL GAS BALANCE DEMAND/SUPPLY SCOREBOARD Total YTD Nov. change Nov. ...

US heating degree days. (Statistics).
March 4, 2002... US HEATING DEGREE DAYS (1) 2001 % change Dec. Dec. from 2001 ...

Worldwide NGL production. (Statistics).(natural gas liquids)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... WORLDWIDE NGL PRODUCTION 11 month average Production Nov. ...

Oxygenates. (Statistics).(fuel ethanol, methyl tertiary butyl ether, production, stocks)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
March 4, 2002... OXYGENATES Dec. Nov. YTD YTD 2001 2001 Change 2001 2000 Change 1,000 bbl Fuel ethanol Production 3,836 ...

OPEC heads meet with Russia. (Market Movement).(Organization of Petroleum Exporting States talks to Russia about oil production levels)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... Global oil prices continued their bullish run last week amid speculation that Russia will continue its oil production cut of 150,000 b/d through June. Ali Rodriguez Araque, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries secretary general,...

API numbers. (Market Movement).(American Petroleum Institute report says crude oil inventories are up but gasoline inventories are down)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Meanwhile, the latest American Petroleum Institute report "is likely to send mixed signals to the petroleum market," said Lehman Bros. in a recent report. "While crude oil prices may see some downward pressure, as supplies increased by 1.2...

Bulletin. (Market Movement).
March 11, 2002... Senators late last week settled into what could be a weeks-long debate over comprehensive energy bill legislation with several controversial items still undecided. The first round of debate at presstime centered on the government's possible...

US Industry Scoreboard -- 3/11.(oil and oil product production and statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... US INDUSTRY SCOREBOARD -- 3/11 4 wk. 4 wk. avg. Change, YTD Latest week 3/1 average year ago(1) % average(1) Demand, 1,000 b/d Motor gasoline 8,642 8,212 ...

Industry trends.
March 11, 2002... TREASURY FINANCINGS completed by Canadian oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in 2001 rose by more than $4 billion (Can.) to $7.9 billion vs. those completed in 2000, reported research firm Sayer Securities Inc., Calgary....

Government developments.
March 11, 2002... SENATE MAJORITY LEADER Tom Daschle (D-SD) late last month said he wants to direct North Slope producers and pipeline companies to build an arctic gas line paralleling the oil pipeline to Fairbanks and then the Alaska Highway to British...

Marathon Oil Co. (Quick Takes).(new pipeline planned)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... A MAJOR NEW North Sea gas pipeline is on the drawing board. Marathon Oil Co., Houston, wants to assure adequate gas supplies for the growing UK market for the next 20 years and wants to enhance the existing North Sea infrastructure,...

Phillips Petroleum Co. UK Ltd. (Quick Takes).(starts up Jade field in the North Sea, UK)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 11, 2002... THE UK NORTH SEA has another high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) field with the startup of Jade field. Phillips Petroleum Co. UK Ltd., a unit of Phillips Petroleum Co., said that production of 60 MMcfd of natural gas and 4,500 b/d of oil...

PanCanadian Energy Corp. Calgary, and MGV Energy Inc. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... In other production news, a coalbed methane joint venture in Canada has begun production sales. PanCanadian Energy Corp., Calgary, and MGV Energy Inc., the Canadian unit of Port Worth-based Quicksilver Resources Inc., said their coalbed methane...

A proposed LNG regasification plant in Mexico tops gas processing news. (Quick Takes).
March 11, 2002... A PROPOSED LNG regasification plant in Mexico tops gas processing news. Marathon Oil Co. and partners have announced plans for a proposed LNG regasification and power generation project near Tijuana in Baja California, Mexico. With a...

PTT PLC, formerly known as Petroleum Authority of Thailand. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Elsewhere in gas processing, PTT PLC, formerly known as Petroleum Authority of Thailand, has awarded a $6.68 million contract to Foster Wheeler International Corp. for engineering and consultancy services for a new natural gas processing...

Perupetro. (Quick Takes).
March 11, 2002... PERU LEADS the recent exploration news. The state-owned Perupetro said that it would auction concessions to four companies for Blocks 56, 57, and 58, which lie adjacent the Camisea natural gas fields. The four companies--TotalFinaElf...

Murphy Sarawak Oil Co. Ltd. (Quick Takes).
March 11, 2002... Elsewhere on the exploration front, a unit of Murphy Oil Co., El Dorado, Ark., confirmed the commerciality of an oil find off Sarawak, Malaysia. Murphy Sarawak Oil Co. Ltd. has completed a three-well exploration and appraisal drilling program...

Saxet Energy Ltd. (Quick Takes).
March 11, 2002... Oil has been found in Glen Rose reef, Maverick basin, Tex. Saxet Energy Ltd., Houston, and The Exploration Co. (TEC), San Antonio, experienced an unexpected oil flow in late February while drilling at about 6,500 ft at the Comanche 1-111 well...

El Paso Energy Partners LP. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... A NATURAL GAS storage facility expansion has been proposed in Mississippi. Petal Gas Storage LLC, a unit of El Paso Energy Partners LP, said it would hold a nonbinding open season through Mar. 20 for as much as 5 bcf of firm natural gas...

ExxonMobil Corp. (Quick Takes).(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... EXXONMOBIL CORP. has begun the process to enter the Taiwanese retail market, which was recently opened to foreign competitors. The company applied for a license to market its refined products in Taiwan and is negotiating with state-run...

Letters.(discusses the possibility that the U.S. will bomb Iraq)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Iraq and energy price crisis Washington editor Maureen Lorenzetti notes, "Unless the White House decides to bomb Iraq in the near future, it's likely the energy price 'crisis' is temporarily over for American consumers" (OGJ, Feb. 18,...

Scouting for the future. (Journal Speaking).(Gulfstream Natural Gas Systems L.L.C. to build a natural gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico)(Brief Article)
March 11, 2002... Gulfstream Natural Gas Systems LLC (GNGS) is building a major natural gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. Not satisfied with simply abiding by government regulations to minimize environmental impact during construction, GNGS went above and...

Refining damage mounts. (Editorial).(editorial about the EPA and also Premcor Inc.)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
March 11, 2002... Regulation of US refineries has claimed two new victims. One of them is an Environmental Protection Agency enforcer, the other an operating refinery. There will be other casualties, oil consumers among them. On his way out of the EPA, Eric...