TransCanada and Denali to File by 2012 - Southcentral Utilities Working on Winter Contingency Plan - New Tax and Royalty Structure for Brazil (Will Greed Discount the Opportunity As In Alaska?)- Praising John and Sammye Seawell

RIO DE JANEIRO -(Dow Jones), by Jeff Fick- Brazil's government is set to unveil a sweeping reform of regulations covering the oil and natural gas industries Monday, likely sparking a political fight that will reverberate for generations.     PNA by Alan Bailey (NGP Photo) Faced with the strong possibility of a shortfall in utility natural gas deliverability in the event of a severe cold snap in the coming Southcentral Alaska winter, gas and electric utilities around the region are completing a contingency plan, to try to avert the need for power cuts and to ensure that, if power cuts are required, the impact on power consumers is minimized.        *     UPI.  TransCanada and Denali are expected to file federal permits for their rival natural gas pipelines to the lower 48 by October 2012.  TransCanada and Denali, a joint venture between BP and ConocoPhillips, are competing to develop a natural gas pipeline from the Alaskan North Slope. TransCanada has state support for the project but lacks federal approval. Denali, for its part, is spending its own money to develop the pipeline.     *     Three points of personal privilege:  First, John Seawell (NGP Photo), passed away this week in Anchorage. A friend for nearly 40 years, and a generation ahead of me, he always took time to help the younger man trying to do well.  This photo of John and Sammye after a wonderful Thanksgiving 2008 dinner at Josephine’s in the Sheraton reflects very well the kind natures of this loving and dynamic duo. It was also a special dinner for Nancy, Billy and me at the next table with Mom (Bobbie Harbour), who passed away herself in February. Second, Nancy Harbour provided a great interview for Channel Two on the coming of Lion King.  Third, I briefly discussed oil industry tax policy with Dan Fagan and Jeff Jones (at 51 min 25 sec).