Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. will invest $35 million (Can). to acquire controlling interest in CGX Energy Inc. Both are Toronto oil and gas companies.

ConocoPhillips is planning to sell some of its interest in the Australia Pacific LNG project and in the Canadian oil sands in a strategy to devote more cash to US shale plays, ConocoPhilips Chief Executive Ryan Lance said during a Feb. 28 investor and analyst meeting.

Chevron Corp. has disclosed that it flow-tested the initial development well in St. Malo field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico last year at an equipment-constrained rate of more than 13,000 b/d of oil.

Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) issued four high-risk enforcement actions against Plains Midstream Canada in relation to an Apr. 28, 2011, spill of 28,000 bbl crude oil from Plains’ Rainbow Pipeline in Northern Sunrise County, Alta., roughly 95 km northeast of Peace River.

The front-month crude contract recovered 0.1% Feb. 27 in the New York futures market on a smaller-than-expected gain in US inventory, but petroleum products were down while the new front-month natural gas contract continued to decline.

The automatic budget cuts under the impending federal budget sequestration will adversely affect federal energy activities, warned Heather Zichal, US President Barack Obama’s chief energy and environmental policy advisor.

Crane operators, technicians and engineers practiced lifting and stacking techniques this week as they moved a 6-ton replica escape rocket called the LAS, for Launch Abort System, from a trailer to the top of a mockup Orion capsule.

Air travelers of the future could have quieter, greener and more fuel-efficient airliners because of NASA research efforts that are moving into further development and testing.

Red Moon Potash Inc., St. John’s, is conducting predrill planning, permitting, and procurement work towards a 2013 drill program for potash/salt in the Bay St. George basin onshore southwestern Newfoundland.