Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has arranged for another state agency to finance construction of an $11.8 million water main in Susquehanna County for residents whose water supplies the agency says were fouled by methane migrating from Cabot Oil & Gas Corp.’s wells in the area, DEP Sec. John Hanger said.

R. Allen Bradley, chief executive of Questar Pipeline Co., Salt Lake City, was elected 2011 chairman of the Interstate Gas Association of America on Oct. 19.

The American Petroleum Institute board has elected several new members, including John S. Watson, chairman and chief executive officer of Chevron Corp., who was elected API chairman, effective Jan. 1, 2011.

Occidental Petroleum Corp. reported that Ray R. Irani will step down from the position of chief executive officer, effective May 2011, but will continue as full-time executive chairman.

Speakers at the 2010 Marcellus Summit continued to emphasize the importance of steady and open communications will all interested parties as the conference at Penn State University moved into its second and final day.

ConocoPhillips reported several executive management changes, effective immediately.

Colombia’s Ecopetrol SA appointed Hector Manosalva Rojas as executive vice-president of exploration and production.

The oil and gas industry is climbing technical, geological, operational, and political learning curves in tackling the numerous US unconventional gas and oil drilling plays, speakers told PennWell Corp.’s Unconventional Gas International Conference & Exhibition in Fort Worth on Oct. 5.

BP PLC announced it is creating a safety and operational risk unit that will have authority to intervene in all aspects of BP's technical activities.

CAMAC Energy Inc., Hartsdale, NY, appointed Byron A. Dunn as president, chief executive officer, and member of the company’s board, effective Oct. 1.

Endeavour International Corp. reported that John G. Williams, executive vice-president, exploration, will retire effective Sept. 30.