Catch up News Links

Here's some dibs and dabs of Alaska gas pipeline related links:

Cook Inlet needs $2.8B Transition into an IMPORTER of LNG - OUCH



The Concerned misses AGIA (HA!)

And this from Dermot Cole (LINK)

Big honking LNG deal somewhere other than Alaska (LINK) China spends $60B on LNG - Beats buying worthless US Bonds.

Rena Delbridge's take on Alaska losing the LNG game (LINK)

Every time I see an In-State gasline story I hear the faint sound of a bong bubbling (LINK). If an in state line solves in state gas needs that's nice - but the big money is in winning the game as a global competitor. To quote Kenny Powers "I do SPORTS. Not try to be the best at exercising"

Alaska: Confronting the Prospect of 6 Billion Barrels of Stranded Gas by Steve LeVine. Denali make the case against LNG.

Geopolitics of oil. You guessed it - China

Exxon-XTO, One step closer to tying the knot. There's gas in them there shales.

Delays for the Mac-D pipeline.

BP goes for the North Slope Heavy oil (The best use for stranded gas?)

Some hope for a gas powered future - Nuke Plant Delayed.

Alaskan Advocate - Bookmark this guy.

AGIA a FLOP?

Say it ain't so! AGIA a FLOP? Ted Stevens thinks the big pipeline to Canada is a no-go. (LINK). He favors the line to Valdez and LNG for the global market. Sometimes it's tough to see how big oil get get a decent rate of return on the big line to Alberta.

“I have now changed that position and now support the bullet line, but I think it should go to Kenai and I support the construction of the line to Valdez. I asked for the privilege of speaking to you to try to explain to Alaskans why I have so drastically changed my position. I think that these lines are needed not only for the needs of Alaska but I think we need to concentrate on processing as much of our gas as possible into LNG.”

I've made the point before that big oil needs gas for Canada to fuel tar sand projects, but marketing LNG to the Asian market is not a bad "Plan B".

In terms of scale and level of project difficulty think Trans Alaska Pipeline + Exxon's Papua New Guinea LNG Project.

In terms of global finance wouldn't be nice to reverse the flood of dollars headed to China? Instead of Canadians with a hand out for taxpayer AGIA cash why not do business with end users with funds to invest?

Now that Uncle Ted has said it - will anybody listen?

Proposed Regulations for Alaska Gas

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas have published regulations aimed at setting values on Alaska gas for royalty purposes. See below:

The Proposed Regulation LINKS:

(11 AAC Royalty Election Under Alaska Gasline Inducement Act.)

(Gas 15 AAC Gas Production Tax Exemption under Alaska Gasline Inducement Act)

Quote:

This chapter applies only to a person that qualifies for royalty inducements provided in AS 43.90.300, AS 43.90.310, AS 43.90.330 and this chapter, by acquiring firm transportation capacity in the first binding open season of the project described in 11 AAC 25.020, or that holds a voucher issued by the commissioners under AS 43.90.330 and this chapter. For these persons, it: (1) establishes a method that the person, if qualified, may elect to use in calculating the monthly value of the state’s royalty share of gas shipped in firm transportation capacity acquired through a commitment made as provided in 11 AAC 25.020(b); and (2) establishes terms that a person, if qualified, may elect to govern the state’s exercise of its right to switch between taking its royalty-in-value or in-kind for gas to be shipped in firm transportation capacity acquired through a commitment made as provided in 11 AAC 25.020(b).

More information available at the DNR DOG website (LINK)

Flurry of FERC Filings

This week a number of firms filed motions or comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Active engagement from the producers and affected parties is a good sign. Remember FERC matters - FERC issues permits for pipelines. That other four letter acronym AGIA - (Alaska Gas Inducement Act) does not.

ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. Comment on Filing Motion/Notice of Intervention

The State of Alaska Motion/Notice of Intervention

Notice of request for approval of plan for conducting an open season re TransCanada Alaska Company LLC

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. Comment on Filing

ExxonMobil Gas & Power Marketing Company, a division of ExxonMobil Corporation (as Agent) Comment on Filing

Motion to Intervene and Comments of BG Alaska E&P, Inc. (LNG?)

FYI - The FERC elibrary site is not one of the best. It only works about 50% of the time on the weekend. Update - Sunday morning - FERC website and these links are O-tay.

Another bite at the apple

From Petroleum News:

Point Thomson case on ice: Judge grants state’s call for timeout as it appeals ruling to Alaska Supreme Court, Wesley Loy

A judge has ordered a temporary halt to the Point Thomson case pending the state’s appeal of a recent unfavorable ruling to the Alaska Supreme Court.

The one-page order from state Superior Court Judge Sharon Gleason of Anchorage, issued Feb. 11, came over the objections of ExxonMobil and other oil companies with a stake in the rich Point Thomson oil and gas field on Alaska’s eastern North Slope.

Fresh off a significant victory in Gleason’s court, the companies had opposed the State of Alaska’s request for a timeout in a case that’s not yet run its course.

Gleason granted the state’s motion to stay the Superior Court proceedings until the Supreme Court either rejects the state’s petition, or accepts and acts upon it.

(Court Case Info Link)

Enough already - Stick a fork in it - It's done!

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. files Motion/Notice of Intervention

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. filed a Motion/Notice of Intervention with FERC concerning the TransCanada/ExxonMobil open season (LINK)

LINKS of the Week

ConocoPhillips Alaska boss killed in avalanche

Chinese Seen As Potential Alaska Gas Customer (Investing in AK gas/LNG makes more sense then buying 0.01% US Govt. Bonds)

ACES has put many Alaskans out of work

South Korea to begin gas hydrate and continental shelf development in 2010 (Huh?)

Gas market goes global - Shale's impact felt around the world

Denali's January 2010 FERC report

The Development of a Global LNG Market Is it Likely? If so, When?