News

Xcel Energy said operators returned the 600 MW Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant near Monticello, Minn., and the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Unit 1, to full power August 20 after shutting them down the week prior. The Monticello plant was returned to full power after workers repaired a gasket on a pipe flange.

The rig tapped to embark on Shell's Arctic drilling programme set sail for the Beaufort Sea this week, as the Anglo-Dutch supermajor moved a step closer to launching its exploration plan off Alaska. The Conical Drilling Unit Kulluk departed on its two-week journey from Dutch Harbour on Monday, but delays related to lingering sea ice and permitting issues have already forced Shell to scale back its plans for the year in the Arctic. Shell is now reportedly planning to drill just two wells this summer. At the forefront of the delays is the completion of a containment system in the case of Shell losing control of one of its wells.

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago announced a deepwater competitive bid round for six offshore blocks in the East Coast Marine Area and Trinidad and Tobago Deep Atlantic Area earlier this year.

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP (BWP) and its general partner have agreed to acquire PL Midstream LLC from PL Logistics LLC for USD 625 million in cash.

   Southern Co. said testing has begun on a component in the construction of two new 1,100MW AP1000 nuclear units at Plant Vogtle 3 and 4 – a 560-foot tall heavy lift derrick, one of the biggest cranes in the world.

Canadian nuclear regulators have issued a site preparation licence for proposed new reactors at the Darlington site in Ontario.

Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás (QGOG) and Sete Brasil signed charter and service agreements for three semisubmersible drilling rigs to be built at the BrasFels shipyard in Brazil.

PCL Industrial Construction Co. (PCL) and a Black & Veatch subsidiary said they were awarded a contract from Louisville Gas & Electric Co.

We Energies announced plans to convert the 280 MW Valley cogeneration power plant from coal to natural gas. The Valley plant located in Milwaukee and generates electricity for the grid and produces steam for heating hundreds of downtown Milwaukee buildings.The conversion is expected to cost between USD 60 and 65M and the capacity is expected to remain at 280MW.

Standard Exploration Ltd. and Canadian Energy Exploration Inc. announced they have entered into an arrangement agreement with respect to a combination of both companies.