Shareholders approved the Oxy-Midcon merger.

As expected, the takeover of Chicago-based Midcon by Occidental Petroleum of Los Angeles was approved at shareholder meetings in the two cities. Midcon is one of the nation’s biggest natural gas pipeline companies, and the merger marks Occidental’s entry into that business. Analysts generally have praised the acquisition, which will make it easier for Occidental to market its huge natural gas reserves. Midcon will merge with an Oxy unit.