05.07.2009
Rocks that were laid 245 to 65 million years ago
Mergers and acquisitions in the energy industry remained robust even during the financial turmoil in the second half of 2007, but activity for some types of deal is likely to be weaker in 2008. Takeovers by companies from emerging markets such as China and India slowed in 2007 and most of the biggest deals involved financial buyers or significant debt financing. Both of those factors are likely to be less evident in 2008 because of tighter credit conditions
Combining two business entities under common ownership
Natural gas is almost odorless as it comes from the well or processing facility. If the gas is destined for use as a fuel in homes or industry, a chemical called a mercaptan is added to give the gas a distinctive odor so that people can easily smell it when its concentration in air reaches 1%. Gas and air mixed in this concentration are not hazardous, but a mixture containing 5% gas is explosive. The odorant makes leaks or other unburned discharges of the gas quite evident long before a real hazard exists. Odorants injected into the gas burned in homes or industry do not create odors while burning, nor do they leave troublesome residue. Odorants are usually not introduced into gas sent to petrochemical plants where the gas is used as a feedstock for producing other commodities such as plastics, since the mercaptan will frequently interfere with the chemical process.
One megawatt hour is equal to 1,000 kilowatt hours or 1 million watt-hours. Megawatt hours are the metering standard unit for the wholesale market. Amount of electricity needed to light ten thousand 100-watt light bulbs for a one-hour period. One million watts used for one hour.