SM Energy Co., Denver, has agreed to acquire 61,000 net acres in Divide and Williams Counties, ND, from Baytex Energy Corp., Calgary, for $330.5 million, effective July 1. The deal is expected to close toward the end of the third quarter.

The US Department of Energy conditionally authorized LNG Development Co. LLC (Oregon LNG) to export the equivalent of up to 1.25 bcfd of US-produced LNG for 20 years to countries that do not have a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the US. The Oregon LNG terminal will be sited in Warrenton, Ore.

Drilling has begun on the Sidi Moussa block offshore Morocco, said joint-venture partner Serica Energy PLC. The Noble Paul Romano semisubmersible spudded the SM-1 well on July 30 about 60 km offshore in 990 m of water. Operations are expected to be completed in 60-90 days.

Gulfsands Petroleum PLC has successfully drilled the Lalla Yetou Updip-1well (LTU-1) in the Rharb Centre permit of northern Morocco.

Italy’s Eni SPA has made a natural gas and condensate discovery in the Nyonie Deep exploration prospect on Block D4 about 13 km offshore Gabon, 50 km from the capital city of Libreville.

CNOOC Ltd. reported that its Panyu 10-2/5/8 project has started oil production. The Panyu 10-2/5/8 project lies in 100 m of water in the Pearl River Mouth basin of the South China Sea.

Golden Pass Products LLC (GPP), a Houston-based joint venture of units of Qatar Petroleum International and ExxonMobil Corp., has let a front-end engineering design services contract to CB&I and partner Chiyoda Corp. for a proposed LNG export project at an existing import terminal in Sabine Pass, Tex.

Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPP) executed an additional long-term contract to provide ethane storage, transportation, refrigeration, and loading services from its 10,000-bbl/hr loading capacity ethane export terminal under construction at its Morgan’s Point site on the Houston Ship Channel. With the new agreement, EPP said it has long-term commitments for about 85% of the terminal’s capacity.