ENERGY

Arkla to Sell Gas Exploration Unit: Arkla Inc. will sell its exploration unit to Seagull Energy Corp. of Houston for $402 million and focus on its interstate gas pipeline business. The proposed sale will help make Seagull a major natural gas player, analysts said. Arkla, based in Shreveport, La., said it will also sell its intrastate gas pipeline business in Louisiana and divest some distribution properties. The divestitures will leave Arkla with an interstate gas pipeline business in the South and Midwest.