Nebraska’s Department of Environmental Quality said on Dec. 29 that it has identified areas it considers part of the Sandhills region, and has forwarded the information to TransCanada Corp. as the company selects a new route for its proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline across the state.

A federal district court in California blocked California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) after declaring the regulation unconstitutional.

Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin expressed thanks to the government of Turkey for granting permission to OAO Gazprom for the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline in Turkish waters of the Black Sea.

Repsol YPF SA said it agreed to acquire explorer Eurotek for $230 million, and will incorporate Eurotek’s assets in western Siberia into its new Russian venture with Alliance Oil Co. (OGJ Online, Dec. 22, 2011).

There were small-change gains in oil commodities Dec. 29, but front-month crude failed to rise above the $100/bbl barrier in the New York market. Natural gas prices continued to decline.

From the perspective of the oil and gas business, campaigns by liberal commentators to make President Barack Obama look politically conservative seem otherworldly.

Petroplus Holdings AG reported Dec. 30 it will start the temporary shutdown of three of its refineries in Europe next month after lenders froze a $1 billion credit facility.

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management completed a draft environmental impact statement regarding 10 oil and gas lease sales it has tentatively scheduled in the central and western Gulf of Mexico under the proposed 2012-17 US Outer Continental Shelf program. Five sales are planned for each of the two planning areas, BOEM indicated.