Oil & Gas Financial Journal Articles, September 2008

Table of Contents

Editor's Comment

Escalating standoff with Russia threatens oil and gas supplies

The Russian bear has awakened and is again threatening the US and its allies. Flush with petrodollars and under the de facto leadership of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, a former KGB commander, the Kremlin seems determined to extend its authority ? if not its sovereignty ? over its neighbors in direct confl ict with US and European interests.

Capital Perspectives

Moving from AIM to the Main Market

Two attorneys on the capital markets team of law firm Charles Russell LLP weigh the pros and cons of an AIM company considering a move to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange and why this has been so popular for oil and gas companies.

NewsBits

Regional banks may be in for rocky ride

Local and regional banks are not immune to the financial meltdown affecting Wall Street institutions and could be the next to feel the impact, says Bill Gross, chief investment officer at Pimco.

Upstream News

Chesapeake, BP sign $1.75B contract for interests in Arkoma Basin Woodford Shale

Chesapeake Energy Corp. and BP America Inc. have signed an agreement in which BP will acquire all of Chesapeake’s interests in roughly 90,000 net acres of leasehold and producing natural gas properties in the Arkoma Basin Woodford Shale play for $1.75 billion in cash.

Cover Story

Is it time to regulate short selling?

EDITOR’S NOTE: In researching this story, Oil & Gas Financial Journal contacted numerous E&P companies, mostly small- and mid-cap, in an effort to learn if naked short selling was a problem for energy companies.

Features

Private equity funding empowers Kosmos Energy

Dallas-based company’s efforts in West Africa are helping to bring energy wealth, economic security to the Republic of Ghana.

Part 1 of 2 Parts: Insurance coverage disputes arising from well blowouts

Advances in drilling operations have made possible exploration and extraction of oil and gas from remote areas and severe climates. However, well blowouts with potentially catastrophic damages remain a risk.

Energy sector faces greater FCPA scrutiny

Regulatory officials are putting oil and gas companies and service firms under a microscope as they examine overseas energy deals, particularly those involving government licenses.

High impact value chain simulations at BG Group

Teams compete against each other to see which team can create the most value for its shareholders.

Connecting the spokes at Newfield Exploration

In 2003 the systems utilized by the different business units at Newfield Exploration Co., would have been characterized as the spokes of a wheel, none of which were attached to its hub.

Boomer retirement and the looming talent shortage

Tips to attract and keep talented employees engaged and committed.

Industry Briefs

Heerema Marine bags $1 billion contract for BP Angolan project

Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC) has been awarded the URF-1 Risers and Production Flowlines contract for the first project in the BP Angolan program.

Energy Players

Loss of John W. Nichols, Devon’s chairman emeritus

Devon Energy’s co-founder, John W. Nichols, passed away on August 3, 2008.

Beyond the Well

Marquez duo create DSF, invest in student potential

Timothy Marquez is founder, CEO and chairman of the board of Venoco Inc., a public, Denver-based energy company with a focus on producing property acquisitions in California.

This Issue

Volume 5
Issue 9
September 2008