The Arkansas Public Service Commisson began hearings yesterday October 13, 2012 on the proposal by SWEPCO and the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives to be allowed to charge ratepayers more than $400 million to retrofit their Flint Creek coal-burning generating plant so it can meet stricter air quality standards. Read more »

Quantum Energy Partners , a leading energy private equity firm, is pleased to announce the formation of Vitruvian Exploration II, LLC  with industry veteran Richard Lane. Supported by a $250 million equity commitment from Quantum, Vitruvian II will pursue a multi-faceted strategy to build a diversified portfolio of high quality, emerging and undeveloped oil and gas assets in North American unconventional resource plays. Read more »

Of all the problems to face in the oil and gas business, this is the one you want.

Chevron has $21.5 billion in cash burning a hole in its pocket. The supermajor’s total debt load is just $10.2 billion. No other oil giant even comes close to this gearing. And why would they? As Deutsche Bank’s Big Oil analyst Paul Sankey says “We think it makes no sense whatsoever to be cash positive in this interest rate environment.” Read more »

Southwestern Energy Co. of Houston on Thursday August 2, 2012 announced its second quarter 2012 financial results, and reported a spike in profits from its Fayetteville Shale activities.

Southwestern's midstream services, which include natural gas gathering and marketing, made $71.8 million for its second quarter, up 20 percent from $59.6 million in 2011.

"The increase in operating income was primarily due to increase gathering revenues related to the company's Fayetteville and Marcellus Shale properties," the release noted. Read more »