USA and Canada

Global oil & gas transactions rose 53 percent to $43 billion in the third quarter of 2011, compared with $29 billion in the second quarter of the year.

International database and services provider PLS, Inc. and Derrick Petroleum Services report 166 transactions with deal values disclosed, with $90 billion of deals currently in play.

Global electronics manufacturing services company Sanmina-SCI Corporation today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended 1 October 2011.

The San Jose, California headquartered company reported revenue for the fourth quarter of $1.70 billion, compared to $1.67 billion in the prior quarter and $1.69 billion for the same period of fiscal 2010.

Revenue for the year ended 1 October 2011 was $6.60 billion, up 4.5 percent compared to $6.32 billion for the fiscal year ended 2 October 2010.

Boart Longyear, the global integrated drilling products and services provider, has announced a plan to expand Mine Water Services to Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

Over the last 25 years, Boart Longyear Drilling Services has developed an effective reverse circulation method in North America, and has established the process within the industry while creating the most highly specialized crews in the world.

Colombia’s Ecopetrol has announced a hydrocarbon discovery in its Logan 1 well in the US Gulf Coast.

Ecopetrol’s US subsidiary Ecopetrol America Inc. has a 20 per cent interest in the project, with Norway’s Statoil the operator.

The Logan 1 well is the first discovery with Ecopetrol's participation, through its US subsidiary, in one of the regions of the world with the greatest hydrocarbon potential, the company said.

Cheniere Energy Partners has announced that its subsidiary Sabine Pass Liquefaction has entered into its first LNG sale and purchase agreement with BG Gulf Coast LNG.

The deal is for the purchase of 3.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over a 20-year period from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located in Louisiana.

SNC-Lavalin has announced that its 50/50 joint venture partnership with Graham Infrastructure, the North Link Partnership, has been awarded a $300 million contract to provide construction services for the Edmonton North light rapid transit (LRT) project.

Under the terms of the contract, the partnership will provide construction management services, provision of labour, materials and equipment for all construction work, and testing and commissioning of the system for handover to the city.

Food maker Sara Lee Corporation is to sell the majority of its North American foodservice coffee and tea operations to J.M. Smucker for $350 million.

Sara Lee’s North American foodservice beverage business currently employs approximately 690 people and generated net sales of approximately $530 million in the fiscal year 2011. Approximately $285 million of this was associated with the assets sold to J.M. Smucker.

Following the execution of the agreement, approximately 450 people will transfer to J.M. Smucker, Sara Lee said.

American Chemistry Council president and CEO Cal Dooley released a new report today on the potential benefits of shale gas to the Louisiana petrochemical industry, and the US in general.

"Access to untapped supplies of natural gas is one of the most important domestic energy developments in 50 years,” he said. “One-third of US natural gas reserves are comprised of shale gas reserves almost impossible to extract just five years ago. Shale gas promises an industrial renaissance, here in Louisiana and in America."

Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited is suspending mining operations and gold production at its Goldex mine in Val d’Or, Quebec, with immediate effect.

The decision follows a report from a second rock mechanics consulting firm recommending that underground mining operations be halted until the situation is investigated further.

Writing a 400-Word Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide