ENERGY

Phillips, Conoco Consider Joint Venture: The companies said they are negotiating a 50-50 agreement that would combine their U.S. refining, marketing and transportation operations for gasoline and other petroleum products under both brand names. The companies said there are still “significant issues to be resolved� and that neither will comment about the preliminary discussions until they sign a letter of intent or break off talks. Bartlesville, Okla.-based Phillips Petroleum Co. employs 17,300 people for petroleum exploration and production, natural gas gathering, petroleum refining and production of chemicals and plastics. Houston-based Conoco Inc. employs 16,000.