Woodside buys into Scarborough gas field

Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Perth, has purchased a portion of BHP Billiton Ltd.’s interests on the Exmouth Plateau, offshore Western Australia, including the yet-to-be-developed Scarborough gas field, for $400 million. Source: News

Monroe Energy lets contract for Tier 3 project at Trainer refinery

Delta Air Lines Inc. subsidiary Monroe Energy LLC, through a contractor, has let a contract to a subsidiary of Matrix Service Co., Tulsa, for construction services related to the previously announced ultralow-sulfur gasoline (ULSG) project at its 185,000-b/d refinery in Trainer, Pa., near Philadelphia. Source: News

US Gulf Coast service firms resolve federal wage, hour violations

Two US Gulf Coast staffing agencies have agreed to paid 353 workers nearly $516,000 in back wages after US Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found the firms classified employees incorrectly as independent contractors and mislabeled wages as per-diem reimbursement for expenses never incurred. Source: News

Barclays: Global E&P spending to trend up 5% in 2017

Oil and gas companies are poised to increase spending on exploration and production globally by 5% in 2017, while offshore spending may continue to fall next year, based on Barclays’ midyear global spending survey of more than 200 companies. Source: News

Apache notes new resource play with Alpine High

After 2 years of extensive geologic and geophysical work, Apache Corp. estimates its southern Delaware basin Alpine High play to contain 75 tcf of rich gas and 3 billion bbl of oil in 4,000-5,000 ft of stacked pay in up to five distinct formations including Bone Springs, Wolfcamp, Pennsylvanian, Barnett, and Woodford. Source: News

Devon eyes tighter spacing in STACK play

Devon Energy Corp. sees potential for tighter spacing and increased drilling inventory in the overpressured oil window of Oklahoma’s STACK play, where it is increasing drilling and investment (OGJ Online, Aug. 2, 2016). Source: News