Coal mines eye ARID technology

Several Powder River Basin coal producers have expressed interest in applying Big Cat Energy Corp.'s ARID water handling process and technology to their open pit mining operations, according to the company.

Big Cat said it has begun modifying the ARID tool to re-inject water below the pit floor. The company is also developing an application for handling water in the Raton Basin of New Mexico, in response to interest by a major coal-bed methane operator in that area.

Big Cat CEO and President Tim Barritt said, "water handling is an increasing concern of the energy industry, and the ARID process and technology is increasingly becoming an accepted solution to handling water problems because it is cost effective and environmentally friendly and has regulatory approval."

Double Eagle to merge with Petrosearch

Casper-based Double Eagle Petroleum Co. (Nasdaq: {M3DBLE) recently announced it had entered into a merger agreement with Petrosearch Energy Corp.

Petrosearch will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Double Eagle, according to the companies. The transaction was expected to provide Double Eagle with approximately $8.75 million of working capital and an early stage water-flood project in the Texas Panhandle.

Following the merger, Double Eagle will continue to be listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market, and Richard Dole will continue to serve as chairman of the board, president and CEO of Double Eagle.

BP earns OSHA safety honor

BP America's Overthrust Team recently joined the Wyoming Cowboy "Star" Voluntary Protection Program, joining just 11 other Wyoming workplaces that have earned the honor for excellent safety and health practices.

The honor is given out by Wyoming OSHA and a team from Wyoming Workers' Safety and Compensation Division, which operates the federal-OSHA-approved VPP program.

"Successful workplace safety and health programs demonstrate a commitment from BP, its employees and contractors at its Overthrust operations here in the Evanston area," Gov. Dave Freudenthal said, after presenting the VPP flag and plaque to company officials and workers in a ceremony in April.

Requirements for application to the program include a high degree of management support and employee and contractor involvement; a high-quality worksite hazard analysis; prevention and control programs; and comprehensive safety and health training.

BP America employs close to 300 men and women in Wyoming who work at its natural gas operations throughout the state, primarily along the Rawlins to Pinedale corridor.

NAMES IN ENERGY

Kevin R. Collins will retire from his position of president and chief executive officer of Evergreen Energy on June 1, but will remain on the board of directors. Thomas H. Stoner Jr., former Econergy International PLC CEO, will serve as Evergreen's interim CEO.

EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. appointed John Schmidt as its Wind River Basin operations field leader. Before joining EnCana in 2004, Schmidt was the production manager for Tom Brown Inc. Schmidt replaces Eddie Carpenter, who joined EnCana's drilling and completion team in the Texas Mid-Continent business unit.

Jackie Dymond recently became national director of field training and safety for Universal Well Site Solutions, which offers full-service automated and wireless well-site production solutions for coal-bed methane, shale gas and low-pressure traditional gas projects.