3 - 2017 - Canadian Energy News, Top Headlines, Commentaries, Features & Events

Total Energy Services Inc. Announces Take-Up of Savanna Common Shares and Extension of Period for Tender of Additional Savanna Common Shares under its Offer

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: TOTAL ENERGY SERVICES INC.
TSX SYMBOL: TOT

Date issue: March 25, 2017
Time in: 3:26 AM e

Attention:

CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 25, 2017) –

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED
STATES.

Total Energy Services Inc. (“Total Energy”) (TSX:TOT) announced today that
60,952,797 common shares of Savanna Energy Services Corp. (“Savanna”),
representing approximately 51.6% of the total number of outstanding Savanna
common shares, were validly tendered (and not withdrawn) under its offer (the
“Offer”) to purchase all of the outstanding Savanna common shares as of the
expiry of the initial deposit period for the Offer (11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time)
on March 24, 2017). As well, each of the conditions to the Offer (including the
minimum tender condition prescribed by securities laws in force in Canada) was
satisfied (or, in the case of the 66 2/3% tender condition, waived), by Total
Energy as of that time.

As of 11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) on March 24, 2017, Total Energy took up the
60,952,797 Savanna common shares validly tendered to the Offer (and not
previously withdrawn). In accordance with the terms of the Offer, Total Energy
has provided Computershare Investor Services Inc. (the “Depositary”) with
7,923,864 common shares of Total Energy, representing the share consideration
payable by Total Energy for the Savanna common shares taken up by it to date
under the Offer. The cash portion of the consideration payable by Total Energy
is expected to be provided to the Depository on March 27, 2017, so as to enable
the Depository to promptly effect settlement with the Savanna shareholders
whose Savanna common shares were taken up by Total as of the expiry of the
initial deposit period under the Offer.

Non-Canadian Savanna shareholders who reside in certain U.S. states(1 ) or in
Puerto Rico and who are not “exempt institutional investors” under the laws of
their jurisdiction of residence (“Non-Exempt Shareholders”) are not entitled to
receive Total Common Shares as partial consideration for the Savanna common
shares tendered by them to the Offer. Arrangements have been made for the
Depositary, as agent for such Non-Exempt Shareholders, to sell, or cause to be
sold (through a broker in Canada and on the Toronto Stock Exchange) the Total
Common Shares that would otherwise be issuable to such Non-Exempt Shareholders.
After completion of such sales, the Depositary will distribute the aggregate
net proceeds of sale, after expenses, commissions and applicable withholding
taxes, pro rata, among the Non-Exempt Shareholders. Any sales of Total Common
Shares on behalf of Non-Exempt Shareholders will be completed as soon as
practicable after the date on which Total Energy pays for the Savanna common
shares of the Non-Exempt Shareholders under the Offer and will be done in a
manner intended to maximize consideration to be received from the sale of Total
Common Shares and to minimize any adverse impact of the sale on the market for
the Total Common Shares.

/T/

(1)Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut,

Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia or Wyoming.

/T/

Daniel Halyk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Total Energy, provided
the following comment following the initial take-up of Savanna common shares:
“We are pleased with the initial level of support demonstrated by Savanna
shareholders for the combination of our companies. While the process has been
long and hard fought at times, the underlying rationale for the combination of
Total Energy and Savanna remains sound. With this initial take-up of Savanna
common shares, we believe that the level of support for this transaction will
increase substantially and we look forward to engaging with Savanna to move
forward in an efficient and cooperative manner that serves the best interests
of all Savanna shareholders.”

Total Energy also announced that it has extended the period for the tender of
additional Savanna common shares under its Offer to 12:00 p.m. on April 7,
2017. Total Energy provided notice of the extension to the Depositary effective
11:59 p.m. (Pacific time) on Friday, March 24, 2017.

/T/

—————————————————————————-
THE OFFER HAS BEEN EXTENDED AND IS NOW OPEN FOR ACCEPTANCE UNTIL 12:00 P.M.

(PACIFIC TIME) ON APRIL 7, 2017 UNLESS THE OFFER IS FURTHER EXTENDED BY
TOTAL.
—————————————————————————-

/T/

Full details of the extension of the period during which additional Savanna
common shares may be tendered under the Offer will be included in a notice of
extension (the “Notice of Extension”), which Total Energy expects to file on
SEDAR (under Savanna’s profile) at www.sedar.com and mail to registered
securityholders of Savanna on or prior to March 27, 2017.

If employees, customers or suppliers of Savanna have any questions regarding
the Offer or the combination of Total Energy and Savanna, they are encouraged
to contact William Kosich, Vice President, Drilling Services of Total Energy,
directly at (403) 216-3944. Shareholder or other inquiries may be directed to
Daniel Halyk, President and CEO of Total Energy, directly at (403) 216-3921.

About Total Energy’s Offer to Savanna Shareholders

Full details of the Offer are contained in the offer to purchase and associated
take-over bid circular dated December 9, 2016 (the “Original Offer and
Circular”), as amended, varied and supplemented by the notice of change and
variation dated March 1, 2017 (the “First Notice of Change”), the Notice of
Variation dated March 13, 2017 and the Notice of Extension (when it becomes
available). Those documents are (or, in the case of the Notice of Extension,
will be) available under Savanna’s profile at www.sedar.com and on Total
Energy’s website at www.totalenergy.ca/savannaoffer. Securityholders of Savanna
are urged to read the Original Offer and Circular, the First Notice of Change,
the Second Notice of Variation and the Notice of Extension (when it becomes
available), the Letter of Transmittal (and the amended Letter of Transmittal)
and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery for the Offer (collectively, the “Offer
Documents”) and to consider the important information set out in those
documents. Copies of the Offer Documents may be obtained free of charge at
www.sedar.com (under Savanna’s profile) and may also be obtained free of charge
upon request from the Corporate Secretary of Total Energy, at 2550, 300 – 5th
Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 3C4, or from Laurel Hill Advisory Group
(“Laurel Hill”) at the numbers and email address shown below under the heading
“Advisors to Total Energy”.

Advisors to Total Energy

Total Energy has engaged GMP FirstEnergy to act as its financial advisor and
dealer manager. Bennett Jones LLP is acting as Canadian legal advisor and Paul,
Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is acting as United States legal advisor
in connection with the Offer.

Laurel Hill has been retained as information agent for the Offer. Savanna
Shareholders may contact Laurel Hill by telephone at 1-877-452-7184 (Toll Free
in North America) or 1-416-304-0211 (Collect Outside North America) or by email
at assistance@laurelhill.com.

Computershare Investor Services Inc. (“Computershare”) has been retained as the
depositary for the Offer. Shareholders of Savanna may contact Computershare by
telephone at 1-800-564-6253 (Toll free in North America), or at 1-514-982-7555
(Collect Outside of North America), or by e-mail at
corporateactions@computershare.com.

About Total Energy

Total Energy is a growth oriented energy services corporation involved in
contract drilling services (Chinook Drilling), rentals and transportation
services (Total Oilfield Rentals) and the fabrication, sale, rental and
servicing of natural gas compression (Bidell Gas Compression) and process
equipment (Spectrum Process Systems).

The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the
information contained herein.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an
offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the applicable securities in any
jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful
prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any
such jurisdiction.

Total Energy has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)
a Registration Statement (the “Registration Statement”), which includes the
Original Offer and Circular, the First Notice of Change, the Second Notice of
Variation and the Notice of Extension, relating to its offer to Savanna
Shareholders. TOTAL URGES INVESTORS AND SECURITYHOLDERS TO READ THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE ORIGINAL OFFER AND CIRCULAR, THE FIRST NOTICE OF
CHANGE, THE SECOND NOTICE OF CHANGE AND THE NOTICE OF EXTENSION (WHEN IT
BECOMES AVAILABLE) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC
AND CANADIAN SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. Investors may obtain a free copy of the Original Offer and
Circular, the First Notice of Change, the Second Notice of Variation and the
Notice of Extension (when it becomes available) and other documents filed by
Total Energy with the Canadian securities regulators at www.sedar.com (under
the issuer profile for Savanna) and with the SEC at the SEC’s website at
www.sec.gov. The Original Offer and Circular, the First Notice of Change, the
Second Notice of Variation and the Notice of Extension (when it becomes
available) and other documents may also be obtained free of charge from Total
Energy’s website at www.totalenergy.ca/savannaoffer or upon request made to
Total Energy at 2550, 300 – 5th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P 3C4.

Securityholders should be aware that Total Energy may purchase Savanna common
shares otherwise than under the Offer, such as in open market purchases.

Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement

This news release contains certain forward-looking information (referred to
herein as “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are often,
but not always, identified by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “believe”,
“plan”, “scheduled”, “intend”, “objective”, “continuous”, “ongoing”,
“estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “should”, or similar words
suggesting future events, circumstances or outcomes. In particular, this news
release contains forward-looking information concerning the payment for Savanna
common shares validly tendered to the Offer, including the timing thereof,
information concerning the arrangements for the sale of Total Common Shares on
behalf of Non-exempt Shareholders under the Offer, and the anticipated content,
filing and mailing of the Notice of Extension.

Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions and expectations of
management of Total Energy as at the effective date of such statements.
Although Total Energy believes the expectations reflected in such
forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give
no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct.
Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those
anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, such things as changes in
general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and elsewhere, the
volatility of prices for oil and natural gas and other commodities,
fluctuations in currency and interest rates and fluctuations in market prices
for the publicly traded securities of Total Energy and Savanna, non-
fulfillment of conditions of the Offer and new laws and regulations (domestic
and foreign).

Having regard to the various risk factors, readers should not place undue
reliance upon the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and
such forward-looking statements should not be interpreted or regarded as
guarantees of future outcomes.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of
the date hereof and Total Energy does not undertake any obligation to update or
to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by
applicable securities laws in force in Canada. The forward-looking statements
contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary
statement.

– END RELEASE – 25/03/2017

For further information:
Total Energy Services Inc.
(403) 216-3939
(403) 234-8731 (FAX)
www.totalenergy.ca

COMPANY:
FOR: TOTAL ENERGY SERVICES INC.
TSX SYMBOL: TOT

INDUSTRY: Energy and Utilities – Equipment, Energy and Utilities –
Oil and Gas
RELEASE ID: 20170325CC0001

Press Release from Marketwired 1-866-736-3779

All press releases are written by the client and have NO affiliation with the news copy written by The Canadian Press. Any questions that arise due to the content or information provided in the press release should be directed to the company/organization
issuing the release, not to The Canadian Press.

Notley: KXL does not lessen need for Energy East, expanded Trans Mountain

March 24, 2017March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says U.S. approval of the Keystone XL pipeline does not lessen the need for two other controversial proposals within Canada’s borders.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the green light for the line more than eight years after Calgary-based TransCanada first applied for a cross-border permit.

Notley says pumping more Canadian crude to the U.S. Gulf Coast would mean a big boost in jobs and investment for the province’s economy.

But she says other proposed pipelines that would connect oilsands crude to Canada’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts — Energy East and the Trans Mountain expansion — are also needed if the industry is to reduce its reliance on rail transport.

Notley acknowledges Keystone XL still faces some barriers and says TransCanada is working hard to address concerns at the local level.

She says it’s reasonable to expect construction may begin in eight to 12 months.

“We’re hopeful that those timelines are real and if they’re not, then we’ll do whatever we can to advocate for them moving faster,” Notley told reporters Friday.

She said she’s optimistic remaining roadblocks can be worked out.

“Our view is always that you’re going to make better progress rolling up your sleeves and trying to work out accommodations.”

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall welcomed the announcement, saying it will be good for his province’s manufacturing industry.

He said Evraz, based out of Regina, will supply some of the pipe and jobs will be created as the pipeline runs through the southwest corner of the province.

— with files from CJWW

The Canadian Press

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version erroneously used a quote from Wall saying it was in relation to Keystone, when he was talking about a Brandt purchase

2017 Federal Budget Impact on Oilfield Services – MNP LLP

June 28, 2017March 24, 2017 by EnergyNow Media

The 2017 Federal Budget announced March 22 by Finance Minister Bill Morneau included some expected and unexpected amendments relating directly to Canada’s oil and gas industry. While a $30-million injection into Alberta’s Orphan Well fund was welcomed by industry, tax changes around drilling new wells and flow-through share credits for junior producer were not. Prior … Read more

Antler Hill Oil & Gas Ltd.: Qualifying Transaction Update

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: ANTLER HILL OIL & GAS LTD.
NEX BOARD SYMBOL: AHO.H
TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: AHO.H

Date issue: March 24, 2017
Time in: 7:15 PM e

Attention:

CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 24, 2017) –

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR
DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Antler Hill Oil & Gas Ltd. (the “Corporation” or “Antler Hill”) (NEX:AHO.H)
announces it has entered into an agency agreement (the “Agreement”) with
Richardson GMP Limited (“RGMP”) in connection with a previously announced
financing (the “Short Form Offering”) to be completed by way of Short Form
Offering Document in accordance with TSX Venture Exchange (“TSXV”) policies.

Under the terms of the Agreement, RGMP has been appointed to act as the
Corporation’s agent to raise, on a “commercially reasonable efforts” basis,
gross proceeds of $1,000,000 through the issuance of 15,625,000 common shares
in the capital of the Corporation at a price of $0.064 per common share.

In consideration for its services under the Short Form Offering, RGMP will
receive a cash commission equal to 8% (except that a 3% commission will apply
to President’s List subscriptions, being subscriptions from certain parties
introduced to RGMP by the Corporation) of the gross proceeds received from the
sale of the common shares. The Corporation will also grant to RGMP, an agent’s
option entitling RGMP to purchase such number of common shares equal to 8% of
the aggregate number of common shares sold to non-President’s List subscribers
and 3% of the aggregate number of common shares sold to President’s List
subscribers, at an exercise price of $0.064 per common share, for a period of
24 months from the date of closing of the Short Form Offering.

The closing of the Short Form Offering is conditional on the immediate
completion thereafter of the Corporation’s previously announced Qualifying
Transaction, which was conditionally approved by the TSXV on December 12, 2016
and extended on March 15, 2017.

The filing of the Short Form Offering Document with the TSXV will occur
immediately after the issuance of this press release. Once the TSXV has issued
a Bulletin indicating acceptance of the Short Form Offering Document, RGMP will
have sixty (60) days to market and sell the Short Form Offering.

A filing statement prepared in accordance with the requirements of the TSXV in
connection with the Qualifying Transaction and dated November 29, 2016 (the
“Filing Statement”) has been filed with the TSXV and the applicable Canadian
securities regulators on SEDAR and is available at www.sedar.com. The Filing
Statement contains disclosure with respect to the business and operations of
the Corporation and PetroPhoenix Capital Corp.

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements.
These statements reflect management’s current estimates, beliefs, intentions
and expectations; they are not guarantees of future performance. The
Corporation cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently
uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material
factors, many of which are beyond the Corporation’s control. Such factors
include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the
Corporation’s ability to complete the proposed Qualifying Transaction; and
other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Corporation’s
Filing Statement dated November 29, 2016 and filed with the Canadian Securities
Administrators and available on www.sedar.com. Accordingly, actual and future
events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates,
beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward
looking information. Except as required under applicable securities
legislation, the Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise forward-looking information.

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including
but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable pursuant to TSXV
requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable,
the transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is
obtained. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as
proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information
circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction,
any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be
accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities
of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed
transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press
release.

A halt in trading shall remain in place until after the Qualifying Transaction
is completed or such time that acceptable documentation is filed with the TSX
Venture Exchange.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT
TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

– END RELEASE – 24/03/2017

For further information:
Antler Hill Oil & Gas Ltd.
Vic Luhowy
Interim President and CEO
(403) 860-4225
vic@davincibb.net

COMPANY:
FOR: ANTLER HILL OIL & GAS LTD.
NEX BOARD SYMBOL: AHO.H
TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: AHO.H

INDUSTRY: Financial Services – Investment Services and Trading
RELEASE ID: 20170324CC0078

Press Release from Marketwired 1-866-736-3779

2024 National Coalition of Chiefs Energy And Natural Resource Summit

Rooster Energy Satisfies Conditions of Third Amendment to Note Purchase Agreement With Holders of Senior Secured Notes and Enters Into Non-Binding Term Sheet

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: ROOSTER ENERGY LTD.TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: COQDate issue: March 24, 2017Time in: 7:00 PM eAttention:
CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 24, 2017) – ROOSTER ENERGY LTD. (or the
“Company”) (www.roosterenergyltd.com) (TSX VENTURE:COQ) is pleased to a…

Investment community still skeptical over prospects for Keystone XL

March 24, 2017March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

CALGARY — The presidential permit for Keystone XL did little to assuage concerns Friday from the investment community that the project, which has stoked controversy since its inception nearly a decade ago, still faces a litany of challenges.

Beyond the political and corporate bravado that greeted the White House’s blessing, analysts took a more cautious view over whether TransCanada’s pipeline would ever get built.

“There’s still a number of hurdles,” said Justin Bouchard of Desjardins Capital Markets.

“I’m sure we’re going to see blockades like we saw with the Dakota Access Pipeline. … It’s certainly not a foregone conclusion that this thing will be built.”

Environmentalists, First Nations and others opposed to the potential climate impacts from the 1,900-kilometre pipeline say they’ll keep trying to derail it through grassroots movements — and they are warning the financial community directly.

“Investors should be very worried about the risky financials and lack of social licence attached to pipeline projects across both countries,” said Greenpeace campaigner Mike Hudema in a statement.

“The fight is far from over.”

Skirmishes could play out at the national, state and local levels as TransCanada (TSX:TRP) works to put in place the final permits needed to start construction, with Nebraska the focal point of opposition.

A state commission is considering whether Keystone XL is in Nebraska’s interest, though its review is not taking into account safety risks.

TransCanada expects that process will conclude by the end of the year and construction to begin next year, with 2020 being the earliest that crude from Alberta’s oilsands could begin flowing in the pipeline.

Robert Kwan at RBC Capital Markets said the presidential permit was widely anticipated and he isn’t including Keystone XL in his valuation of TransCanada.

There’s also the question of economics. When Keystone XL was proposed, oil prices were far above US$100 a barrel, making the case for such a pipeline more attractive.

As the pace of oilsands growth slows, Keystone XL also faces increased competition from other proposed pipelines, including Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion, the Enbridge Line 3 replacement and TransCanada’s own Energy East Pipeline, said Bouchard.

“Four or five years ago we needed all of those projects,” he said. “Today, it doesn’t seem like we do, just given there’s been massive curtailment in spending.”

Talk of challenges facing Keystone XL — legal or political — are not surprising, said Dirk Lever at AltaCorp Capital.

“They’ll do anything to stop it,” said Lever. “They just see a pipeline like an artery coming out of the oilsands, and they want the heart to stop.”

TransCanada’s stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange barely changed Friday, closing at $61.82, up six cents or 0.1 per cent.

— With files from Dan Healing in Calgary.

Follow @ibickis on Twitter.

Ian Bickis, The Canadian Press

Geologist for Shell says company hid Nigeria spill dangers

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

JOHANNESBURG — Royal Dutch Shell’s Nigeria subsidiary “fiercely opposed” environmental testing and is concealing data showing thousands of Nigerians are exposed to health hazards from a stalled cleanup of the worst oil spills in the West African nation’s history, according to a German geologist contracted by the Dutch-British multinational.

An environmental study found “astonishingly high” pollution levels with soil “literally soaked with hydrocarbons,” geologist Kay Holtzmann wrote in a letter to the Bodo Mediation Initiative.

The people of Bodo in the oil-producing southern Niger Delta should get urgent medical tests, Holtzmann wrote in the letter dated Jan. 26 and seen by The Associated Press.

Shell did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The cleanup halted 17 months ago was part of a British out-of-court settlement in which Shell paid $83.5 million to 15,600 fishermen and farmers for damages from two oil spills caused by old pipelines in 2008 and 2009 that devastated thousands of hectares of mangroves and creeks. Lawyers alleged 500,000 barrels of oil spilled. Shell said it was only 1,640 barrels and initially offered the community $50,000 in compensation.

The agreement was reached through British law firm Leigh Day, which said Friday it has received no response to a Jan. 30 letter to Shell asking for the data from Holtzmann, who was hired by Shell to manage the cleanup.

“Leigh Day has been pushing for the cleanup of Bodo, health screening of the population and testing of the water supply since 2011 – all to no avail,” it said. “This letter shows that even those who were employed by Shell are deeply concerned by their behaviour and their lack of transparency.”

Holtzmann’s letter warns that children bathing in creeks are in danger of harm from toxic substances, as are people who drink from hand-dug wells.

Amnesty International called Shell “deeply irresponsible … Shell has a responsibility to share this information with the community to ensure they can take steps to protect themselves and their children,” a statement from the rights group said.

Cleanup efforts overseen by the Dutch government began in June 2015 but were halted within months by community disputes and problems with contractors.

Holtzmann’s letter urges Bodo Mediation Initiative co-chair Inemo Samiama to publish the data, noting that the initiative’s committee had insisted on the tests “against fierce opposition from SPDC.” Shell Petroleum Development Co. is the subsidiary in which Nigeria’s government is the majority shareholder. The country is one of Africa’s largest oil producers.

The environmental tests were carried out in August 2015 with support from Shell’s headquarters in The Hague, the letter said.

Holtzmann said his intent to publish the findings in a scientific magazine last year was quashed by Shell, which said his contract did not permit publication.

Samiama said in a telephone interview that residents’ health will be better served by getting on with the cleanup. After a challenging four-year process, “we are on the verge of getting contractors back to the site,” he said.

Bodo is part of Ogoniland, where the failure to clean up oil spills was called an environmental scandal in 2011 by the U.N. Environment Program. It reported contamination levels so high it could take 30 years to renew the land.

Michelle Faul, The Associated Press

North Dakota oil spill 3 times larger than first estimated

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

BISMARCK, N.D. — A December oil pipeline spill in western North Dakota might have been three times larger than first estimated and among the biggest in state history, a state environmental expert said Friday.

About 530,000 gallons of oil is now believed to have spilled from the Belle Fourche Pipeline that was likely ruptured by a slumping hillside about 16 miles northwest of Belfield in Billings County, Health Department environmental scientist Bill Seuss said. The earlier estimate was about 176,000 gallons.

No decision has been made on any fines against Wyoming-based True Cos., which operates the pipeline. The company says it is committed to cleaning up the spill and that the job is about 80 per cent done.

“There’s no timeline for completion, spokeswoman Wendy Owen said. “We will be there until it is” done.

A company’s efforts to clean up after an oil spill are a large factor in how much of a fine is levied, according to Seuss.

“We tend to hold off on those. It’s kind of a motivator,” he said.

The largest oil pipeline spill in North Dakota was 840,000 gallons, in a wheat field near Tioga in September 2013.

In the December spill, an unknown amount of oil flowed into Ash Coulee Creek, which feeds into the Little Missouri River, a tributary of the Missouri River. Seuss said no oil made it into those rivers or into any drinking water source, but that the focus is on cleaning up the creek before spring grazing season, since cattle drink from the waterway.

There have been no confirmed cases of livestock or wildlife deaths related to the spill. One rancher reported some cattle deaths but refused to allow the state veterinarian to do a necropsy, according to Seuss. Cleanup crews also found a dead beaver, but it’s not known what caused the death.

The pipeline had been leaking since being restarted Dec. 1 following routine maintenance, Seuss said. A landowner discovered the spill on Dec. 5.

There is still oil seeping out of the hillside but it’s being contained. Soil remediation work could take “a year or more,” Seuss said.

___

Follow Blake Nicholson on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/NicholsonBlake

Blake Nicholson, The Associated Press

Bri-Chem Announces 2016 Fourth Quarter and Year End Results Conference Call

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: BRI-CHEM CORP.TSX SYMBOL: BRYDate issue: March 24, 2017Time in: 2:54 PM eAttention:
EDMONTON, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 24, 2017) – Bri-Chem Corp. (“Bri-Chem”
or “Company”) (TSX:BRY), a leading North American wholesale distributor and
manufact…

A chronological look at the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

CALGARY — Since TransCanada Corp. (TSX:TRP) first proposed the 1,897-kilometre Keystone XL pipeline, the project has been studied, stalled, slammed and hyped — all amid political pressure from interests on all sides of the debate. Some key dates in Keystone XL’s history:

July 2008: TransCanada and ConocoPhillips, joint owners of the Keystone Pipeline, propose a major expansion to the network dubbed Keystone XL to carry oilsands bitumen from Alberta to Texas.

2009: As the U.S. State Department wades through comments based on an environmental assessment of the project, TransCanada starts visiting landowners potentially affected by the pipeline. Opposition emerges in Nebraska.

June 2009: TransCanada announces it will buy ConocoPhillips’s stake in Keystone.

March 2010: The Canada’s National Energy Board approves TransCanada’s application for Keystone XL, though the OK comes with 22 conditions regarding safety, environmental protection and landowner rights.

April 2010: The U.S. State Department releases a draft environmental impact statement saying Keystone XL would have a limited effect on the environment.

June-July 2010: Opposition to Keystone XL begins mounting in the United States. Legislators write to then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton calling for greater environmental oversight; scientists begin speaking out against the project; and the Environmental Protection Agency questions the need for the pipeline extension.

July 2010: The State Department extends its review of Keystone, saying federal agencies need more time to weigh in before a final environmental impact assessment can be released.

Aug. 26, 2011: The State Department releases its final environmental assessment, which reiterates that the pipeline would have a limited environmental impact.

August-September 2011: Protesters stage a two-week campaign of civil disobedience at the White House to speak out against Keystone XL. Police arrest approximately 1,000 people, including actors Margot Kidder and Daryl Hannah as well as Canadian activist Naomi Klein.

Sept. 26, 2011: At a demonstration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, police arrest 117 of 400 protesters.

Nov. 10, 2011: The State Department says TransCanada must reroute Keystone XL to avoid an ecologically sensitive region of Nebraska.

Nov. 14, 2011: TransCanada agrees to reroute the line.

December 2011: U.S. legislators pass a bill with a provision saying President Barack Obama must make a decision on the pipeline’s future in the next 60 days.

Jan. 18, 2012: Obama rejects Keystone, saying the timeline imposed by the December bill did not leave enough time to review the new route. Obama says TransCanada is free to submit another application.

Feb. 27, 2012: TransCanada says it will build the southern leg of Keystone XL, from Cushing, Okla., to the Gulf Coast, as a separate project. This is not subject to presidential permission, since it does not cross an international border.

April 18, 2012: TransCanada submits a new route to officials in Nebraska for approval.

May 4, 2012: TransCanada files a new application with the State Department for the northern part of Keystone XL.

Jan. 22, 2013: Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman approves TransCanada’s proposed new route for Keystone XL, sending the project back to the State Department for review.

January 2013: Pipeline opponents file a lawsuit against the Nebraska government claiming the state law used to review the new route is unconstitutional.

Jan. 31, 2014: The State Department says in a report that Keystone XL would produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than transporting oil to the Gulf of Mexico by rail.

Feb. 19, 2014: A Nebraska judge rules that the law that allowed the governor to approve Keystone XL over the objections of landowners was unconstitutional. Nebraska says it will appeal.

April 18, 2014: The State Department suspends the regulatory process indefinitely, citing uncertainty about the court case in Nebraska.

Nov. 4, 2014: TransCanada says the costs of Keystone XL have grown to US$8 billion from US$5.4 billion.

November-December 2014: Midterm elections turn control of the U.S. Congress over to Republicans, who say they’ll make acceptance of Keystone XL a top priority. But Obama adopts an increasingly negative tone.

Jan. 9, 2015: At Nebraska Supreme Court, by the narrowest of margins, a panel of seven judges strikes down the lower-court decision.

Jan. 29, 2015: The U.S. Senate approves a bill to build Keystone XL, but the White House says Obama would veto it.

Feb. 24, 2015: Obama vetoes the bill.

June 30, 2015: TransCanada writes to then-secretary of state John Kerry and other U.S. officials saying the State Department should include recent climate change policy announcements by the Alberta and federal governments in its review of Keystone XL.

Nov. 2, 2015: TransCanada asks the U.S. government to temporarily suspend its application.

Nov. 4, 2015: The U.S. government rejects that request.

Nov. 6, 2015: The Obama administration rejects TransCanada’s application to build the Keystone XL pipeline. TransCanada CEO Russ Girling says he is disappointed, but continues to believe the project is in the best interests of both Canada and the U.S.

Jan. 6, 2016: TransCanada files notice to launch a claim under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement, alleging the U.S. government breached its legal commitments under NAFTA.

May 26, 2016: Republican presidential contender Donald Trump says he would approve Keystone XL if elected, a promise he repeats several times during the campaign.

Nov. 8, 2016: Trump elected president.

Jan. 24, 2017: Trump signs executive order that he says approves Keystone XL, but he also suggests the U.S. intends to renegotiate the terms of the project. He also signs an order requiring American pipelines to be built with U.S. steel.

Jan. 26, 2017: TransCanada submits new presidential permit application.

March 4, 2017: The White House says Keystone XL won’t use American steel because the pipeline is already under construction and Trump’s presidential directive applies to new pipelines or those under repair.

March 24, 2017: U.S. State Department grants presidential permit for Keystone XL. TransCanada discontinues its NAFTA challenge.

The Canadian Press

Primeline Receives Settlement Payment of Zhejiang Gas Dispute

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: PRIMELINE ENERGY HOLDINGS INC.TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: PEHDate issue: March 24, 2017Time in: 12:40 PM eAttention:
HONG KONG, CHINA–(Marketwired – March 24, 2017) –
Not for distribution to U.S. news wires services, or dissemination in the
United States…

DIVERGENT Energy Services Announces Release of Year End Results

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: DIVERGENT ENERGY SERVICES CORP.TSX VENTURE SYMBOL: DVGDate issue: March 24, 2017Time in: 10:36 AM eAttention:
CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 24, 2017) –
(NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)
DIVERGENT Energy Services Corp…

Trump announces at White House: I’ve approved the Keystone XL pipeline

March 24, 2017March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

WASHINGTON — Canada’s hotly debated, long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline received its elusive U.S. presidential permit from Donald Trump on Friday, eight years and six months after the initial application for it to cross the American border.

The president made the announcement at the White House.

He was accompanied by the president of TransCanada Corp., the Calgary-based pipeline company that has wrestled with lawsuits, resistant landowners, protesters and Washington Democrats.

“You’ve been waiting for a long, long time,” Trump said to TransCanada’s Russ Girling. “It’s a great day for American jobs and a historic moment for North America and energy independence.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau saluted the news: “We’re very pleased with the announcement coming out of the United States,” he said, welcoming indications the project would be spared from upcoming Buy American rules.

The presidential approval doesn’t guarantee the pipeline gets built.

The removal of one big obstacle in Washington still leaves several sprinkled around the American Midwest, where opponents still hope to trip up the project with protests and lawsuits.

The likely epicentre of the coming battle is Nebraska, the very place where opposition to Keystone began years ago. TransCanada (TSX:TRP) must still reach deals with some landowners there, it lacks a state permit and faces possible court challenges there and in South Dakota.

The markets demonstrated their skepticism by yawning at Friday’s news: TransCanada’s share price barely budged, and in fact even declined a bit by late-afternoon, retaining a value similar to October before Trump was elected.

Keystone opponents swiftly linked their cause to the broader anti-Trump movement.

“This isn’t game over, it’s game on,” Stephen Kretzmann, executive director of Oil Change International, said in a statement that insulted Trump.

“Now we have a president who is deeply beholden to the oil industry and will do anything they ask, so this approval is no surprise. . . . Put your tiny hands in the air, Trump, and back away from the climate.”

Trump, meanwhile, has been eager to talk about projects like Keystone.

His young presidency has been consumed by problematic issues lately: a failed health reform and Russian election-meddling. Even as he made the Keystone announcement, reporters in the Oval Office shouted questions about the collapse of his health bill. At that same moment, networks were carrying a congressional committee announcement that Trump’s former campaign manager would be questioned in its Russia probe.

Trump says he wants to move onto jobs and the economy.

Keystone XL would mean thousands of temporary construction jobs and a permanent, annual boost in tax revenues for communities along the route, which would stretch from Canada to an already completed southern portion now pumping oil to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

It’s unclear if construction could start this year.

The Nebraska permit alone could take up to eight months, said Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr. He welcomed the U.S. announcement, but pointed out the process is far from over.

“We in Canada know that pipeline decisions can be controversial,” Carr told reporters in Ottawa. “(But) you would assume that these approvals would lead to a completed pipeline project.”

He declined to say whether a completed Keystone would enter the calculus of whether the country needs another, larger project from TransCanada. Carr said the Energy East plan to move oil to the Atlantic Coast is undergoing an independent review.

U.S. regulators conducted their own, favourable reviews before politicians stepped in.

American government studies concluded that the pipeline would have negligible impact on the environment — and potentially even a beneficial one, as a cleaner alternative to oil transport by rail.

But opponents disputed the conclusion.

They pointed to the worst-case scenario calculated by U.S. regulators, and argued that it’s actually becoming reality — that if oil prices remain low, and no other pipelines get built, Alberta oilsands expansion would slow, and emissions would drop, without Keystone.

Hearing this pressure from the political left, Barack Obama rejected the project.

In response, TransCanada filed a challenge under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement, alleging the U.S. government breached its legal commitments under NAFTA. That challenge has been dropped, TransCanada said Friday.

Republicans had repeatedly promised to reverse Obama’s decision. That included Trump, who had often discussed the Keystone approval as a fait accompli, telegraphing intentions that the market received long ago.

“We believe that the receipt of the presidential permit was expected by the market,” RBC Capital Markets said in a note to clients. “We note that KXL is not included in our valuation for the stock and if the project moves forward, we view that as upside.”

Alexander Panetta, The Canadian Press

Prairie Provident Announces Updated Corporate Presentation

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: PRAIRIE PROVIDENT RESOURCES INC.TSX SYMBOL: PPRDate issue: March 24, 2017Time in: 7:00 AM eAttention:
CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 24, 2017) – Prairie Provident Resources
Inc. (“Prairie Provident” or “PPR” or the “Company”) (TSX:PPR) is …

TransCanada Receives Presidential Permit for Keystone XL

March 24, 2017 by The Canadian Press

FOR: TRANSCANADA
TSX SYMBOL: TRP
NYSE SYMBOL: TRP

Date issue: March 24, 2017
Time in: 7:00 AM e

Attention:

HOUSTON, TEXAS and CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwired – March 24, 2017) – News
Release – TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP) (NYSE:TRP) (TransCanada) today
announced that the U.S. Department of State has signed and issued a
Presidential Permit to construct the Keystone XL Pipeline.

“This is a significant milestone for the Keystone XL project,” said Russ
Girling, TransCanada’s president and chief executive officer. “We greatly
appreciate President Trump’s Administration for reviewing and approving this
important initiative and we look forward to working with them as we continue to
invest in and strengthen North America’s energy infrastructure.”

Keystone XL is an important piece of TransCanada’s comprehensive U.S. growth
portfolio driving an investment of more than US$15 billion in liquids and
natural gas projects that will create thousands of well-paying jobs and
generate substantial economic benefits across the U.S.

TransCanada will continue to engage key stakeholders and neighbors throughout
Nebraska, Montana and South Dakota to obtain the necessary permits and
approvals to advance this project to construction.

In conjunction, TransCanada has discontinued its claim under Chapter 11 of the
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and will end its U.S.
Constitutional challenge.

With more than 65 years’ experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible
development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure
including natural gas and liquids pipelines, power generation and gas storage
facilities. TransCanada operates a network of natural gas pipelines that
extends more than 91,500 kilometres (56,900 miles), tapping into virtually all
major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is the continent’s
leading provider of gas storage and related services with 653 billion cubic
feet of storage capacity. A large independent power producer, TransCanada
currently owns or has interests in over 10,700 megawatts of power generation in
Canada and the United States. TransCanada is also the developer and operator of
one of North America’s leading liquids pipeline systems that extends over 4,300
kilometres (2,700 miles), connecting growing continental oil supplies to key
markets and refineries. TransCanada’s common shares trade on the Toronto and
New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. Visit TransCanada.com and our
blog to learn more, or connect with us on social media and 3BL Media.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This publication contains certain information that is forward-looking and is
subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually
accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “may”, “will”,
“should”, “estimate”, “intend” or other similar words). Forward-looking
statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada security
holders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its
subsidiaries, including management’s assessment of TransCanada’s and its
subsidiaries’ future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking
statements reflect TransCanada’s beliefs and assumptions based on information
available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees
of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed
in this news release, and not to use future-oriented information or financial
outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes
no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information except as
required by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the
risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the
anticipated results, refer to the Quarterly Report to Shareholders dated
February 16, 2017 and 2016 Annual Report filed under TransCanada’s profile on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at
www.sec.gov.

– END RELEASE – 24/03/2017

For further information:
Media Inquiries:
Terry Cunha
403.920.7859 or 800.608.7859
OR
TransCanada Investor & Analyst Inquiries:
David Moneta / Stuart Kampel
403.920.7911 or 800.361.6522

COMPANY:
FOR: TRANSCANADA
TSX SYMBOL: TRP
NYSE SYMBOL: TRP

INDUSTRY: Energy and Utilities – Oil and Gas
RELEASE ID: 20170324CC0007

Press Release from Marketwired 1-866-736-3779

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