Exxon Mobil has pipeline case rejected

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has rejected an effort by Exxon Mobil Corp. to overturn rules governing access to a potential multibillion-dollar pipeline that would transport natural gas from Alaska to the Lower 48 states.

Natural gas producers, including Anadarko Petroleum Corp., were concerned that access to the proposed 3,600-mile pipeline would be limited by the companies building it.

Alaska has battled for decades to get a deal either with independent pipeline companies or North Slope gas producers to construct a line that could possibly run from the North Slope through Canada and into the Midwest.

Sarah Palin, the Alaska Governor, announced recently that they are ready to welcome applications to build a natural gas pipeline that officials believe will eventually deliver trillions of cubic feet of reserves to market.