Energy Central Daily Gas News

Message-ID: <11947130.1075861764802.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Thu, 22 Nov 2001 16:57:38 -0800 (PST) From: gasnews@mail.energycentral.com To: khyatt@enron.com Subject: Daily Gas News - 11/23/01 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: gasnews@mail.energycentral.com X-To: khyatt@enron.com X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \KHYATT (Non-Privileged)\Hyatt, Kevin\Deleted Items X-Origin: Hyatt-K X-FileName: KHYATT (Non-Privileged).pst Energy Central Daily Gas News

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2001

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TOP STORIES

Duke says gets a key Canada ok in Westcoast deal
NEW YORK, Nov. 21 (Reuters) Duke Energy Corp. on Wednesday said it had received approval from Canada's British Columbia Utilities Commission to gain indirect control of the public utilities owned wholly or in part by Westcoast Energy Inc.

FERC rule on natgas shipping needs more work-industry
By Chris Baltimore, WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) proposal to loosen scheduling rules for natural gas pipeline shippers, meant to boost competition and supplies, could have the opposite effect, some companies and industry groups told the agency this week.

Missouri Utilities Win Round in Legal Battle against Regulators
By Steve Everly, The Kansas City Star, Mo., Nov. 22 Missouri Gas Energy continued its fight Wednesday against an emergency state rule meant to make it easier for disconnected gas customers to regain service.

Centrica expands gas field interests
LONDON, Nov. 22 (Reuters) - UK gas and home services group Centrica Plc said on Thursday it was expanding its gas assets, buying stakes in fields in the North and Irish seas

Press Release

Atlantic Electric And Gas Underpins Market Expansion With Powerful Billing System From SPL WorldGroup
Morristown, New Jersey - November 21st, 2001 Atlantic Electric and Gas, one of the UK?s few non-aligned energy suppliers which offers a ?fresh new approach? for Britain?s residential and commercial energy users, has invested in a new multi-million pound customer billing system to reinforce its customer service commitment.

Caminus Corporation Completes Acquisition of Altra Energy Technologies? Software Business
New York, NY ? November 20, 2001 Caminus Corporation, the energy industry?s leading provider of software and strategic consulting for energy trading and risk management in North America and Europe, today announced that it has closed its acquisition of the software operations of Altra Energy Technologies, Inc. The acquisition is being financed with 1.975 million shares of Caminus common stock and $25 million in cash. Based on Caminus? closing share price of $17.91 on November 19, 2001, the total purchase price for the acquisition is approximately $60 million.

California Crisis

California Consumer Advocates Fear State Slash of Utility Aid Program
By Dana Hull, San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Nov. 22 Consumer advocates are worried that state legislators may slash nearly $84 million dollars from CARE, the program that gives low-income customers a 20 percent discount on their gas and electric bills.

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National Energy Policy

Bush Energy Plan Enlists Hispanic Support
Nov 20, 2001 - United Press International Interior Secretary Gale Norton hosted Hispanic business leaders Tuesday in a show of support for the Bush administration's energy plan, which includes a controversial Arctic oil exploration measure.

Competition & Deregulation
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Ohio Public Utilities Officials Adopt Rules for Natural Gas Competition
By Dave Truman, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio, Nov. 20 The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio adopted rules for governing competitive retail natural gas providers Tuesday as outlined in March by state legislation.

Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures

Dynegy says seeking to speed up Enron acquisition
HOUSTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) Dynegy Inc. said on Wednesday it was seeking to speed up the planned acquisition of beleaguered energy trading company Enron Corp.

WestLB makes a grab for pounds 1bn Wessex Water
Nov 21 - The Sunday Telegraph - London WESTLB, the German state-owned bank, is in talks to buy Wessex Water from its troubled US parent, Enron.

Enron Continues to Implode; Will the Dynegy Deal Proceed?
By Will McNamara, IssueAlert, Nov. 21 (Scientech) Enron Corp. shares fell sharply in opening trade on Nov. 20 after the humbled energy giant warned it could be forced to pay by next week $690 million in debt triggered by a credit downgrade last week.
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Gas Pricing/Hubs

Holiday weekend sends U.S. spot gas sharply lower
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 21 (Reuters) U.S. spot natural gas prices were sent tumbling Wednesday as demand was expected to dry up due to the U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday, dealers said.

Canada gas drops ahead of weak U.S. holiday demand
NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) Canadian spot natural gas prices fell dramatically Wednesday in tandem with weak U.S. prices as traders looked for weak demand during the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, industry sources said.

NYMEX gas ends down only slightly despite bearish AGA
NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) NYMEX Hub gas, pressured lightly early Wednesday despite a sinking cash market, ended down only slightly even after the late release of a bearish weekly inventory report, industry sources said.

Alberta natgas prices jump with weather, outages
CALGARY, Alberta, Nov 22 (Reuters) Spot natural gas prices in Alberta, one of the few Canadian markets not shut down because of the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, rallied Thursday on cool weather and minor production outages, sources said.

Drilling/Exploration

Key Algerian oil, gas tenders attract world majors
ALGIERS, Nov 22 (Reuters) An Algerian tender for the development of five key oil and gas projects has attracted the interest of 14 international firms, including world oil majors such as BP Amoco and TotalElfFina, officials said on Thursday.

Futures

Natural gas weaker on bearish AGA report
Nov 23, 2001 (TradeSignals via COMTEX) -- Natural gas futures reversed back in a southerly direction in Wednesday's session as bearish AGA increase weighs on trade.

Nymex Natural Gas Review: Softer After Aga Injection
Nov 21, 2001 - FWN Financial News Natural gas futures closed lower after a report from the American Gas Association (AGA) showing that has been described as "doubly bearish."

Dec Futures Sinks Despite Support from Thin Trade, Enron Woes
Nov. 21 (Btu's Daily Gas Wire) December natural gas futures settled 3.9 cents lower at $2.813 as the market posted a minor sell-off following the release of a bearish American Gas Association storage report, said traders.
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Pipelines

CRE Blames Tejas Gas For Incompletion Of Pipeline Project
MEXICO CITY, Nov 21, 2001 (Reforma/Corporate Mexico by Internet Securities, Inc. via COMTEX) -- Tejas Gas' incompletion of a project to build a natural gas pipeline between Palmillas and Toluca, in the state of Mexico, is a result of a lack of "efficiency," said Raul Monteforte of the Energy Regulation Commission.

Gas Pipeline Project Clears Its Final Hurdle
Nov 20, 2001 - Australasian Business Intelligence The Esk Water Authority has discontinued its appeal against stage two of Duke Energy International's $A450m Bass Strait gas pipeline.

New Gas Pipeline to Link with Gove
Nov 21, 2001 - Australasian Business Intelligence Nabalco is looking for Timor Sea gas to fuel a $A billion expansion program at its Nhulunbuy alumina refinery.

Rates
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Regulators Tell Oklahoma Natural Gas Firm to Stop Recouping Fees
By Russell Ray, Tulsa World, Okla., Nov. 21 Oklahoma Natural Gas Co. was officially ordered by state regulators Tuesday to halt its collection of last winter's gas costs from customers beginning Dec. 1.

Hampton Roads, Va.-Area Consumers to See Lower Heating Bills This Year
By Michael Davis, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va., Nov. 20 One year after runaway heating costs busted budgets and ignited tempers, Hampton Roads consumers may be in luck.

Rigs

Drilling Activity Down in Western Canada
Nov 21, 2001 - Resource News International The number of Canadian oil and gas rigs active as of Tuesday, November 20, totaled 314, down slightly from the previous week's 319, according to the Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC).

Oil and Gas Rig Count Down by 7
Nov 21 - Associated Press The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the United States this week was down seven to 986.

Storage

AGA says U.S. weekly natgas stocks rose 15 bcf
WASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) The American Gas Association's estimate of working gas in storage (in bcf):

General

Georgia Regulators Seek Solution for Natural Gas Customers Without Service
By Matthew C. Quinn, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Nov. 21 State regulators mulled over several proposals Tuesday to provide a safety net for tens of thousands of natural gas consumers who are currently without service, but an easy solution remains elusive.

Joint Ventures & Alliances

CNOOC, ALNG ink JV agreement
Nov 22 - China Daily - North American Edition China National Offshore Oil Company Ltd (CNOOC Ltd), the nation's largest offshore oil and gas producer, said it has agreed with Australia LNG (ALNG) to establish a joint venture to develop natural gas in Australia.

Trading/Marketing

U.S. energy traders scale back deals with Enron
NEW YORK, Nov 21 (Reuters) U.S. natural gas and electricity firms have further scaled back trading with Enron Corp. this week, as fears mounted about the humbled energy giant's credit standing, industry sources said on Wednesday.

Reliant launches U.S. natgas consumption index
HOUSTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) Houston-based energy company Reliant Resources Inc. said on Tuesday it had launched a new index of U.S. natural gas consumption and a related risk management tool for natural gas traders.

New gas marketplace to be set up in north-west Europe
Nov 22, 2001 (NORDIC BUSINESS REPORT via COMTEX) -- The Norwegian oil and gas group Statoil has partnered with the German gas companies Ruhrgas and BEB to establish a trading centre for natural gas.

Legal

Employee sues Enron, alleging $400,000 stock loss
HOUSTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) An Enron Corp. employee whose retirement savings were heavily invested in Enron stock has sued the company after losing $400,000 because of the sharp fall in the Houston-based energy giant's stock, his attorneys said.

People

Constellation president Grubman resigns
BALTIMORE, Nov 20 (Reuters) Constellation Energy Group Inc., owner of Baltimore Gas and Electric, on Tuesday said Co-President Eric Grubman has resigned, effective Dec. 1, following the company's decision not split into two.

Financial

Enron Tries to Pacify Worries as More Investors Decide to Sell Shares
By Charlene Oldham, The Dallas Morning News, Nov. 22 Faltering Houston energy trader Enron Corp. tried to calm investors' worries Wednesday, announcing progress in relieving its debt situation, but its stock lost a quarter of its value for the second day in a row.

Investors Push Shares of Phillips, Conoco Higher after Merger Announcement
By Russell Ray, Tulsa World, Okla., Nov. 21 Shares of Phillips Petroleum Co. and Conoco Inc. continued to trek upward Tuesday, as the two prepare to merge to create the nation's leading refiner and retailer of gasoline.

Accounts board to eye peer reviews amid Enron furor
By Kevin Drawbaugh, WASHINGTON, Nov 20 (Reuters) The regulatory panel that oversees big U.S. accounting firms plans to discuss concerns about its "peer review" process and other issues at its next meeting in December, the panel's chairman said on Tuesday.

Enron crisis poses threat to Oregon utility
By Nigel Hunt, LOS ANGELES, Nov 21 (Reuters) Oregon's largest utility, Portland General Electric, faces an uncertain future as its parent Enron Corp. fights for its life amid a deepening financial crisis, industry experts said on Wednesday.

International

Japan AOC to expand US natural gas business
TOKYO, Nov. 21 (Reuters) Japan's leading oil producer, Arabian Oil Co Ltd (AOC), said on Wednesday it would spend about 5.0 billion yen ($40.78 million) to expand its natural gas exploration business in the United States.

Brazil: Petrobras to penetrate in energy market
Brazil, Nov 21, 2001 (O Estado de Sao Paulo/SABI via COMTEX) -- The Brazilian state owned oil and gas company Petrobras starts in December a new chapter of its story when the thermal electric power plant Piratininga starts up.

Gas Is a Seven-Way Business in Spain
Nov 21, 2001 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex After fiercely resisting the liberalisation of their markets, Spanish energy companies have changed their strategy virtually overnight to become multi-utilities, announcing huge investments to operate and compete in the different energy markets.

Chinese Oil Giant Takes Stake in NW Shelf
Nov 21, 2001 - Australasian Business Intelligence A major Chinese oil company is to take an equity stake in the North West (NW) Shelf gas project.

Gdf Plans to Expand in Italy
Nov 22, 2001 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex French group Gaz de France (GdF) has announced that it is interested in expanding on the Italian energy market and that it is in contact with Italian gas distribution group Snam and a number of other groups in Italy.

ENI should sell gas storage ops to free up gas mkt - antitrust body
Nov 20 - AFX ENI SpA should dispose of its gas storage business as well as its transport activities in order to obtain a full liberalisation of the gas market, said Giuseppe Tesauro, chairman of the antitrust authority.

Ferngas Nordbayern Must Open Network to Natgas
Nov 21, 2001 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex Ferngas Nordbayern GmbH, the German regional gas supplier, must allow fellow German gas supplier Natgas AG to use its network for the piping of gas from Austria to a Natgas customer, following a court ruling.

Wintershall Aims for Alliance on The Gas Market
Nov 21, 2001 - FT World Media Abstracts via Comtex Wintershall AG, the German energy group, is aiming to get in on the act while the rest of the market continues to bind closer together

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