Natural gas producer XTO Energy’s (XTO) third quarter results came in better than expected, primarily due to rise in production volumes. Earnings per share, excluding non-cash derivative fair value loss, came in at 87 cents, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 84 cents.   XTO’s adjusted earnings per share fell 11.2% year over year, reflecting lower realized natural gas prices. However, revenues were up 7.7% to $2.3 billion, mainly on the back of the company’s attractive hedges. During the quarter, operating income was down 5.2% year over year to $919 million, but cash flow from operations was up 2.8% to $1.6 billion.   Volume Gains Continue   Production during the quarter increased 23.4% year over year and 1.9% sequentially to a record 2.9 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe) per day. Average daily gas production increased 24.2% year over year to 2.4 billion cubic feet (Bcf), daily oil ...

RFE/RL examines the viability of Hugo Chavez' gas OPEC idea - which, it suggests, will face obstacles in the form of pipeline infrastructure and the manifold differences between the oil and gas markets.  According to Bloomberg, the Oil Minister for Saudi Arabia says that oil prices will be influenced by economic growth rather than the volumes stockpiled.  Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin says Russia 'will bear' the criticism from OPEC regarding its implied lack of support.  Russia has made its first foray back into Iraq in six years: Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko has reportedly reached agreements on the building of two gas pipelines and on Russian involvement in the Yusifiyah and Dibis thermal power plants.  Gazprom's second quarter profits have fallen 45% with the drop in crude prices, as the price of Urals fell 50% to $58.41 a barrel.  ...

Quanta Services, Inc. (PWR) signed an agreement to acquire privately-held Price Gregory Services, Inc., an energy infrastructure services provider in North America that specializes in the construction of large diameter transmission pipelines.

This transaction, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2009, is valued at $350 million. Quanta will issue approximately 11.1 million shares of its common stock, valued at $250 million, and will pay approximately $100 million in cash, subject to adjustment, to the stockholders of Price Gregory.

This acquisition further strengthens Quanta's leadership position in the North American electric power transmission industry. The company said that Price Gregory will significantly expand the scale and scope of Quanta's existing natural gas operations and will position it to take advantage of the positive long-term outlook for the natural gas industry.

Quanta expects a substantial increase in revenues and earnings, strong margins, and significant free cash flows with the

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XTO Energy’s (XTO) second-quarter results came in better-than-expected, primarily due to rise in production volumes and lower cash costs. Earnings per share, excluding one-time items (non-cash derivative fair value loss and gain on debt extinguishment), came in at 88 cents, 7 cents above the Zacks Consensus Estimate. On a year-over-year basis, XTO’s adjusted earnings per share fell 17%, reflecting lower realized natural gas prices. However, revenues were up 17% to $2.3 billion, mainly on the back of the company’s attractive hedges. During the quarter, operating income was down 11% year over year to $898 million, while cash flow from operations was up 23% to $1.51 billion. Healthy Volume Increase Production during the quarter increased 32% year over year and 6% sequentially to a record 2.9 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe) per day. Average daily gas production increased 31% year over year to 2.4 billion cubic feet

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Energtek, Inc., leading developer of the revolutionary ANG (Adsorbed Natural Gas) process for the containment and transportation of natural gas, is expecting its Indian subsidiary, Moregastech India Private Limited, to report its first revenues during the final quarter of 2009. Some see it as just the first move into a profitable future for the company, based upon a huge anticipated demand for its proprietary technology.

The subsidiary is working closely with an Indian entity to augment the country’s pipeline infrastructure through the use of Energtek’s ANG system, which allows gas from the pipeline to be transported to industrial and commercial sites using low pressure bulk transportation. As a result, areas not served by pipelines can now enjoy the reduced cost and low pollution qualities of natural gas, without the expense of transporting high pressure compressed natural gas.

Conservative estimates of revenues for just these initial

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Energtek Inc., a leading developer of Adsorbed Natural Gas (ANG) technology, announced that its subsidiary Moregastech India Private Limited anticipates reporting its first revenues during the final quarter of this year.

Moregastech India has a preliminary agreement for joint activities with an Indian entity that receives and distributes natural gas via India’s existing pipeline infrastructure. Gas from the pipeline is to be transported to regional industrial and commercial consumers using Energtek’s proprietary Low-pressure Mobile Pipeline (LMP(TM)) bulk transportation technology. Revenues will be generated from the distribution and sale of natural gas.

Potential revenues, even for the relatively small projects foreseen by the companies, are substantial. According to the press release, initial joint distribution activities are expected to generate revenues of over $5,000,000 (USD) in 2010; over $12,000,000 (USD) in 2011; approximately $20,000,000 (USD) in 2012; and increasing amounts from then on.

Energtek believes the plans for joint activity

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(Adds Transneft comment in paragraphs 4-5)

By Robin Paxton and Vladimir Soldatkin

MOSCOW, Feb 17 (Reuters) – China has agreed to lend Russian oil companies $25 billion in return for supplies from huge new East Siberian oilfields that will power its economy for the next two decades.

Russia’s state oil champion Rosneft (ROSN.MM) and pipeline monopoly Transneft (TRNF_p.RTS) on Tuesday signed a long-delayed deal to borrow the money from China Development Bank during talks in Beijing, sources close to the deal told Reuters.

“We agreed on supplies of 15 million tonnes of oil every year over a period of 20 years,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin told state news channel Vesti 24. He said a separate loan deal was signed but gave no further details.

Transneft Vice-President Mikhail Barkov said his company would receive $10 billion of the

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As the saying goes in the investing world, “it’s only a profit when you take it”. Capital and quite a bit of sweat go into smaller cap companies. It is not until the product is on the shelves and selling that the profit actually begins to flow. From an ideal standpoint, finding a company that is just starting to see its products move is the place to be.

Platina Energy Corp., an oil and gas exploration company, works to acquire and exploit oil and gas properties primarily in Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas. Although the company operates with both gas and oil leases, it is currently finding great success with its gas ventures.

The company’s Kentucky leases are currently the bright spot for the company. It recently brought several gas wells online as pipeline infrastructure was completed. It expects that several more wells will be added to this production in the very near

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