Alaska Dispatch by Rena Delbridge.  A complex deal between the state and TransCanada Corp. to spur construction of a multibillion-dollar natural gas pipeline has done little to make the project more commercially viable and could put the state at financial risk, a former state petroleum economist says. Speaking at an oil industry gathering Thursday in Anchorage, Roger Marks (NGP Photo) said state leaders made faulty assessments in their quest to land the long-sought pipeline project. At issue is the state's $500 million subsidy and exclusive license to pipeline builder TransCanada -- a deal [...]

Biloxi Round-up, by Dave Harbour (NGP Photo, with Arnold Jackson of Danbury Resources).  The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission was born in an age of intense emotional and economic dissent over a half century ago, at the dawn of the modern American oil and gas industry.  Authorized by an act of Congress to help states better coordinate the efficient removal of energy resources, the IOGCC today carries on a proud tradition of coordinating best practices among its over three dozen oil and gas producing states' members.   Below, the Dallas News [...]

Yesterday morning in Buloxi, Mississippi, Governor Sean Parnell (see video) kept approval of Alaska OCS and implementation of an Alaska gas pipeline at the top of his priority list.  Parnell shared a morning podium with IOGCC Chairman Brad Henry of Oklahoma, Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant and Texas Governor Rick Perry (2009-10 Chairman).  (NGP Photo, Parnell-l and Bryant)     Silo Breaker, reprint of Tim Bradner article.  Rock-bottom prices for natural gas aside, there's a lot of worry that the new U.S. boom in gas production from shale in addition to [...]

Notes from the road commentary....   Last night, Governor Sean Parnell arrived in Mississippi, met with leaders of the Interstate Oil andGas Compact Commission (IOGCC) and attended a dinner in preparation for his formal appearance this morning.  (NGP Photo, with Lisa Ivshin, Executive Director of the hosting Mississippi State Oil and Gas Board.) The IOGCC is a Congressionally chartered non-profit organization of about 38 oil and gas producing states whose official members are governors of those states and their oil and gas conservation commissioners.  In Alaska's case, the Alaska Oil [...]

  ...without the Joint Federal-State Oil and Gas Beaufort Sea Lease Sale of 1979 thirty years ago?  What would Alaska be without the 30-year-old Alaska Support Industry Alliance whose first formal action was to support that 1979 lease sale?  Hit the Alliance website here today as an expression of appreciation for its Members' 30 years of service to the families of Alaska!  Where would we be, indeed; I don't know exactly, but Alaska's circumstances would be decidedly less prosperous.   Commentary: As the Alliance celebrates 30 years of success, we [...]

 Today, Mayor Dan Sullivan (NGP Photo) invited CEOs of the major Southcentral Alaska energy utilities to join him for a public briefing on actions his Administration is taking to successfully confront any possible energy shortages during peak use periods.  Those 'peak' periods generally occur before and after the normal work day when Alaska's winters are coldest and darkest.  That circumstance produces the biggest demand from business and residential customers for electric light and heat, and, for natural gas hot water and room heating.  Before and after work are generally the times in [...]