Final answer:
The core issue in TEC Olmos, LLC v. Conocophillips Co. was determining if an oil and gas market downturn qualified as a force majeure event. The case highlights the legal challenges in defining and applying force majeure clauses within a contractual framework.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main issue in the case of TEC Olmos, LLC v. Conocophillips Co. was whether a downturn in the oil and gas market was a force majeure event. This legal question is related to an inability to fulfill contractual obligations due to external events that are unforeseen and out of the control of the contracting parties.
In other cases, like the Federal Trade Commission's decision on the merger between Kinder Morgan and El Paso Corporation, the focus was on ensuring a balance in the marketplace between corporate size and competition.
The FTC approved the merger on the condition that Kinder Morgan divest certain assets to prevent an undue concentration of market power. This illustrates how the government plays a role in regulating market competition and maintaining a balance between economies of scale and a fair number of competitors in the market.