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Chesapeake Energy Corp. has named Robert Douglas Lawler as chief executive officer and a member of the board, effective June 17.

The front-month natural gas contract rallied May 17 in New York, reclaiming most of its loss from the previous session, after the Department of Energy authorized Freeport LNG Development LP to export 1.4 bcfd of LNG to countries that do not have free trade agreements with the US (OGJ Online, May 17, 2013).

Questar Pipeline Co. has started a binding open season to solicit support for an expansion of capacity out of the Uinta basin by extending its Jurisdictional Lateral 138 (JL138) to the Myton Yard.

The US Department of Energy conditionally approved Freeport LNG’s request to export domestically produced LNG from its Quintana Island, Tex., terminal to countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the US.

US Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) introduced legislation on May 16 aimed at correcting what they said was unintentional subsidization of foreign ethanol imports under the federal Renewable Fuels Standard.

Sinopec has begun storing natural gas in a depleted gas reservoir at a facility in central eastern China known as Zhongyuan Wen 96.

The US Federal Trade Commission has approved acquisition by Tesoro Corp. of BP PLC’s refining and marketing business in southern California.

The world’s Arctic nations formally agreed to cooperate on marine oil pollution preparedness and response at the Arctic Council’s May 15 meeting in Kiruna, Sweden.

Canada’s National Energy Board has approved toll methodology for the planned expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline between Edmonton, Alta., and Burnaby, BC, near Vancouver.

The US drilling rig count was unchanged during the week ended May 17, maintaining a total of 1,769 rotary rigs working, Baker Hughes Inc. reported.

Oil prices continued rising with the front-month crude contract up 0.9% in the New York futures market May 16 despite a report from the US Department of Labor showing a rise in claims for unemployment benefits, stimulating worries about economic recovery.

Tethys Petroleum Ltd. has signed a protocol of intent with the Uzbek state oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz for exploratory work on the Bayterek block in the North Ustyurt basin in northern Uzbekistan.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. LLC has signed a binding, 20-year firm transportation precedent agreement with Mitsubishi Corp. to ship 600,000 dekatherms/day of natural gas to the proposed Cameron LNG liquefaction plant at Hackberry, La.

Golden Pass Products LLC has taken its first step toward seeking US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission permission to build the 15.6 million-tonne/year LNG export terminal it plans at Sabine Pass, Tex. (OGJ Online, Aug. 27, 2012).

The US Department of the Interior released a revised proposal to regulate hydraulic fracturing on public and Indian lands that it said would maintain important safety standards, improve integration with existing state and tribal rules, and increase flexibility for oil and gas producers.

US Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced legislation to ensure states that normally receive half of federal onshore oil and gas royalties under the Mineral Leasing Act actually receive the money.

The US Bureau of Land Management’s Rock Springs, Wyo., field office began a 30-day public scoping period on May 6 before it prepares an environmental assessment of Devon Energy Production Co. LP’s proposal to develop up to 20 new oil and gas wells within the Horseshoe basin unit.

Front-month crude managed a minimal gain May 15 after four sessions of price declines in the New York market. Natural gas continued its increase, up 1%.

Brazil’s 11th bidding round for onshore and offshore exploration rights, its first in 5 years, auctioned 142 blocks and drew bids totaling a record $1.4 billion.

TC PipeLines LP (TCPL) has entered into agreements to acquire an additional 45% interest in each of Gas Transmission Northwest LLC (GTN) and Bison Pipeline LLC from TransCanada Corp. for an aggregate purchase price of $1.05 billion.

LNG exports could create at least 73,100-145,100 and up to 220,100-452,300 new US jobs over 20 years while having a minimal impact on US gas prices, a new ICF International study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute concluded.

Statoil has farmed into BP PLC’s four permits in the South Australian sector of the Great Australian Bight to earn a 30% interest overall.

Gazprom has started construction of the Kazachya compressor station in Krasnodar Territory, part of its Southern Corridor natural gas transmission system feeding the South Stream export pipeline to Europe (OGJ Online, Apr. 4, 2013).