Daily News Energy Headlines from May 16, 2016

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News highlights gathered by Industrial Info and IIR Energy (Sugar Land, Texas) dealing with the energy markets.

FINANCIAL
Range Resources to Purchase Natural Gas Producer Memorial - Range Resources Corporation (NYSE:RRC) (Fort Worth, Texas) announced on Monday that it will buy natural gas producer Memorial Resource Development Corporation (NASDAQ:MRD) (Houston, Texas) for about $3.3 billion in stock.

SandRidge, Breitburn File for Bankruptcy Protection - Oil and gas companies SandRidge Energy Incorporated (Oklahoma, City, Oklahoma) and Breitburn Energy Partners LP (NASDAQ:BBEP) (Los Angeles, California) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday.

POWER
North Carolina Regulators Approve Duke Solar Projects - The North Carolina Utilities Commission has approved the construction of two solar facilities by Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina): the 60-megawatt (MW) Monroe Solar Facility in Union County and the 15.4-MW Mocksville Solar Facility in Davie County.

PIPELINES
Williams Partners Announces Open Season for Transco Northeast Supply Enhancement - Williams Partners LP (NYSE:WPZ) (Tulsa, Oklahoma) on Monday announced the commencement of open season for its Northeast Supply Enhancement project on its Transco natural gas line. The project is designed to deliver 400,000 dekatherms per day of natural gas from Pennsylvania to an interconnection in New York.

It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over: Enbridge Presses on with Proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Despite Obstacles - All things considered, Enbridge Incorporated (NYSE:ENB) (Calgary, Alberta) Chief Executive Officer Al Monaco seemed remarkably chipper last week regarding the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. The project, which would move up to 525,000 barrels per day of crude oil from Alberta to British Columbia's North Coast, continues to face substantial hurdles, including opposition by indigenous tribes and a potential ban on oil tanker traffic along the North Coast.

TERMINALS
Alberta Wildfire Nears Enbridge Tank Farm - On Monday, officials said that the wildfire in Alberta was about 1 kilometer from Enbridge Energy Incorporated's Cheecham crude oil tank farm, but is under control.

CRUDE OIL
East Libya to Resume Crude Oil Exports - Bloomberg reports that the competing western and eastern administrations of Libya's National Oil Corporation have agreed to resume crude oil exports from the country's eastern Hariga port to help revive the country's crude oil production.

PRODUCTION
Efficiency Improvements Keep Deepwater Afloat, Reducing Costs Bit by Bit - As oil prices remain low halfway into the second year since the price dropped, it would seem a wonder that multibillion-dollar offshore oil projects would still be anything more than the ravings of a mad man. However, one of the things that this lean time is proving is that the market is adept at trimming fat. With prices not permitting waste, offshore operators and service providers are looking at ways to improve efficiency.

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About IIR Energy
Energy asset information on power plants, oil refineries and natural gas infrastructure is now more important than ever. A unit of Industrial Info Resources, IIR Energy provides infrastructure information on these assets, as well as real-time tracking of planned and unplanned interruptions affecting the trading, logistics and marketing communities. We are the number one source for information about electricity outages, refinery turnarounds and midstream natural gas disruptions.

About Industrial Info
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.