1st February -
blogwriter
Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes' BJ Services are among 12 oil and gas companies using diesel fuel in hydraulic fracturing, potentially violating the law, three U.S. House Democrats said. The providers injected 32.2 million gallons of unauthorized diesel fuel, or fluids containing the fuel, to extract gas from wells in 19 states from 2005 to 2009...
6th February -
blogwriter
Alaska lawmakers introduced legislation Friday Feb. 4, 2011 to abandon a centerpiece of former Gov. Sarah Palin's administration: a state-sanctioned effort to advance a major natural gas pipeline. The measure sponsored by at least five Republican representatives underscored the impatience and skepticism that many lawmakers have expressed about the...
7th February -
blogwriter
Oil giant BP announced its first annual loss for nearly two decades on Saturday Feb. 5, 2011, dragged down by a whopping US$41 billion ($54 billion) charge to pay for the Gulf of Mexico disaster last year which unleashed the worst offshore oil spill in history. Despite fourth-quarter profits of US$4.4 billion, the company recorded an annual loss...
9th February -
blogwriter
Considering the state of the mineral rights market right now there has never been a better time to sell mineral rights. The systems that have been established over the years have made the whole process one that is easier to complete. Why Indulge In Property Investments? Properties are tangible assets that have been known to appreciate reliably...
11th February -
blogwriter
The Barnett Shale natural gas field in Denton and Wise counties is one of five finalists to be a case study as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's examination of hydraulic fracturing. In addition, the Flower Mound/Bartonville area in southern Denton County is one of four candidates for a separate case study that would be part of the EPA...
15th February -
blogwriter
Oil prices hovered below $86 a barrel Monday Feb.14, 2011 in Asia as traders eye inflation and consumer demand numbers for signs higher commodity prices could be undermining global economic growth. Benchmark crude for March delivery was down 5 cents at $85.53 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York...
16th February -
blogwriter
Chesapeake Energy, the second-largest exploration company in the Fayetteville Shale play, said last week (Feb 7, 2011) that it plans to sell off $5 billion worth of assets in the region. But why is Chesapeake getting out of the natural gas reserves so soon? The news that Chesapeake Energy of Oklahoma city was putting its Fayetteville Shale...
20th February -
blogwriter
When a landowner finds or discovers natural gas deposits in the land that he owns the process of natural gas royalties begins. If the landowner does not have the financial resources to exploit these deposits himself then he could either sell the land to a company that specializes in this type of work or he could lease the land to a company that...
23rd February -
blogwriter
Chesapeake had announced earlier in February that it planned to sell the Fayetteville assets and raise as much as $5 billion. The Chesapeake Energy asset sale plan comes after activist investor Carl Icahn had announced an interest of more than 5% in Chesapeake, setting off speculation that Icahn would pressure Chesapeake to unlock value in its...
26th February -
blogwriter
Gas prices have increased nearly 17 cents a gallon in the past week. And analysts expect prices to continue higher, following a sharp rise in the price of crude oil. The national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose 4.3 cents to $3.33, motorist group AAA said Saturday Feb.26, 2011. That marks the fourth day in a row that prices have...
27th February -
blogwriter
West Virginia lawmakers are considering tax breaks to encourage development of the state's Marcellus shale natural gas field. A measure endorsed Wednesday Feb. 23, 2011 by the House Finance Committee would tweak several existing programs to aid drillers and related businesses. One would extend the life of a tax credit for alternative fuel...
28th February -
blogwriter
Oil prices jumped above $99 a barrel Monday Feb. 28, 2011 in Asia as Libya's violent power struggle continued to disrupt crude output in the OPEC nation. Violent protests in Oman also raised fears political upheaval could impact other crude exporters. Benchmark crude for April delivery was up $1.51 at $99.39 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore...
2nd March -
blogwriter
Washington County emergency crews were called to a Marcellus Shale drilling site in Hickory, after multiple calls about a possible explosion. 911 dispatchers started getting calls about an explosion on Tuesday March1, 2011 morning. "We heard a big 'Boom!' It shook our house," Rebecca Skirpan said. Range Resources denied that there was...
4th March -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell to near $101 a barrel Thursday March 3, 2011 in Asia amid efforts toward a mediated resolution to the conflict in Libya which has cut crude supplies by more than half from the OPEC nation. Benchmark crude for April delivery was down $1.06 at $101.17 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York...
4th March -
blogwriter
Whenever oil or gas production begins, the landowner is entitled to part of the total production. A royalty is agreed upon as a percentage of the lease, minus what was reasonably used in the Lessee's production costs. The royalty is paid by the Lessee to the owner of the mineral rights, the Lessor in the Lease. It is based on a percentage of the...
9th March -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell on Tuesday March 7, 2011 after Kuwait's oil minister said OPEC was considering the first official production boost in more than two years to ease anxiety about Libya's supply disruption and the potential for other disruptions in the region. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has not changed its official policy,...
11th March -
blogwriter
Just how many Barnett Shale drilling leases have been filed in Tarrant County so far this year? Evidently, according to data that has been compiled, lots and lots of leases have been filed. The newly updated research shows that the number of leases filed from Jan. 1, 2007 to March 1 of this year totals 342,503. Prior research shows a total of 35...
13th March -
blogwriter
The recent surge in oil prices skidded to a halt this past week as economists raised concerns about weakening world demand, and a massive tsunami struck one of the world's biggest oil importers. Japan is the third-largest oil importer in the world, and it's unclear how much its economy will be affected by Friday March 11, 2011th disaster....
16th March -
blogwriter
Who owns mineral rights has become a hot issue in parts of the Southwest, particularly in the Fort Worth and Dallas areas, where a huge reservoir of natural gas was discovered in recent years. Right now, most of the mineral-rights purchases and leases are being made in what's known as the Barnett Shale region, which underlies 5,000 square miles...
17th March -
blogwriter
Why invest in mineral rights. Because mineral rights in and off themselves can be of value regardless if wells have been drilled on the land. Non producing mineral rights can appreciate significantly as operators move into the area and the prospects of obtaining royalty income for the mineral rights improve. Further royalty income can increase as...
21st March -
blogwriter
A new salary survey reveals that American oil and gas industry professionals’ wages have held up well despite uncertainty in the wider economy The Salary Guide, produced by Hays Oil & Gas in partnership with specialist jobsite Oil and Gas Job Search, shows that US oil and gas professionals’ salaries have remained resilient, with...
23rd March -
blogwriter
In most countries of the world all mineral resources belong to the government. This includes all valuable rocks, minerals, oil or gas found on or within the Earth. Organizations or individuals in those countries cannot legally extract and sell any mineral commodity without first obtaining an authorization from the government. In the United States...
28th March -
blogwriter
Oil prices are sliding after Libyan rebels recaptured oil ports and promised to resume exports. Much of Libya's oil exports go to Europe. Benchmark crude had jumped 24 percent since mid- February as fighting in Libya squeezed off oil shipments that previously supplied nearly 2 percent of the world's oil. How quickly the rebels could resume exports...
30th March -
blogwriter
The benefits of Barnett Shale natural gas production to its 24 North Texas host counties are often cited and easily appreciated. It's hard for anyone not to like money in their pockets and thousands of jobs for the local economy. Less appreciated is the potential for air pollution, pipeline hazards and groundwater contamination that these wells...
30th March -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell to near $104 a barrel Wednesday March 30, 2011 after a report showed U.S. crude supplies rose more than expected last week, suggesting rising fuel costs may be crimping demand. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for May delivery was down 47 cents to $104.32 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile...
1st April -
blogwriter
Devon Energy, the largest producer in North Texas’ Barnett Shale, has lots of drilling ahead of it in the natural gas play, company Executive Chairman Larry Nichols said today. “We have at least 7,500 undrilled locations,” said Nichols, who stepped down last year as Devon’s CEO after 30 years in the job. Devon plans to keep...
5th April -
blogwriter
Minerals rights in an oil and gas lease differ from surface rights. A landowner may own the surface land but not the mineral rights of that land. The owner of the land should check on whether he/she has ownership of mineral rights or title on the land. One of the places to check on real ownership is through an independent landman or a bank. The...
7th April -
blogwriter
Oil prices hovered below $109 a barrel Thursday April 7, 2011 in Asia amid concern rising fuel costs could undermine U.S. economic growth and demand for crude. Benchmark crude for May delivery was down 13 cents at $108.70 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract gained 49...
11th April -
blogwriter
A rock layer below the Marcellus Shale could prove to be another incredible source of natural gas. The Marcellus Shale captured public attention when leasing and drilling activities began pumping billions of dollars into local economies and citizens began debating the environmental, social and economic impacts. All of this began suddenly in 2004...
13th April -
blogwriter
Even in the worst of times, some investors manage to turn a profit, and so it can be inspiring to be reminded that careful and clever management of one’s assets can yield great returns. It is no secret that in the last year investors who have more diverse portfolios which include alternative investments have fared better than those invested...
18th April -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel on Monday April 18, 2011 to under $122 a barrel after OPEC ministers said high oil prices could place a major strain on consumer countries, and S&P revised its U.S. outlook to negative. Leading OPEC member Saudi Arabia on Sunday confirmed it had cut output by more than 800,000 barrels per day (bpd) in...
20th April -
blogwriter
US oil and gas drilling in this year’s first quarter climbed 29% from a year earlier but remained below the first-quarter 2009 level, the American Petroleum Institute said in its latest quarterly well completion report. An estimated 10,431 oil wells, natural gas wells, and dry holes were completed in the first quarter of this year, down...
20th April -
blogwriter
Oil is climbing above $110 per barrel as the dollar weakened and the government reported an unexpected drop in U.S. crude supplies. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate oil for June delivery gained $1.89 at $110.16 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Meanwhile, retail gasoline prices increased slightly to $3.84 per gallon. Oil rose early...
21st April -
blogwriter
Southwestern Energy Company discovered the economic viability of the Fayetteville Shale and was the first company to drill and successfully produce its natural gas. At December 31, 2010, Southwestern held leases for approximately 915,884 net acres in the Fayetteville Shale play area (367,206 net undeveloped acres, 423,692 net developed acres held...
22nd April -
blogwriter
For the first time in more than 25 years, drilling is being conducted in southeast Nebraska to determine how much of a valuable and rare heat-resistant element lies hidden underground. The drilling that began Thursday night is part of a Canadian mining company's exploration of the site. Quantum Rare Earth Developments is trying to determine...
25th April -
blogwriter
Scientists say it is taking far too long to dole out millions of dollars in BP funds for badly needed Gulf oil spill research, and it could be too late to assess the crude's impact on pelicans, shrimp and other species by the time studies begin. The spring nesting and spawning season is a crucial time to get out and sample the reproduction rates,...
26th April -
blogwriter
Ron Hilliard came home from church one Sunday to find hundreds of plastic $5, $10, $20 and $100 bills hanging on his fence in Flower Mound, another message from townsfolk angry at him for signing a natural gas drilling lease for his suburban Dallas property. In Damascus, Pa., about 1,500 miles away, drilling advocate Marian Schweighofer found the...
28th April -
blogwriter
Oil settled slightly higher Wednesday April 27, 2011 after Fed chairman Ben Bernanke said the nation's economy will continue to recover. Here's how energy contracts traded. On the New York Mercantile Exchange: Crude rose 55 cents to settle at $112.76 per barrel. Gasoline gained 5.10 cents to settle at $3.2481 a gallon. Heating oil gave up 2.08...
29th April -
blogwriter
Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. on Wednesday April 27th, 2011 announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its Barnett Shale Tier 1 properties to KKR Natural Resources, the partnership formed between an affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) and Premier Natural Resources, for $104 million....
30th April -
blogwriter
Macomb farmer Michael J. Vandenberg has asked St. Lawrence County for what he thinks he needs to keep his farm sustainable for the long term. "I want to repurchase mineral rights that are owned by the county," Mr. Vandenberg told legislators Monday April 25, 2011. "The only reason I want the mineral rights back is to protect what's...
30th April -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose above $113 a barrel Thursday April 28, 2011 in Asia to the highest since 2008 as a weakening U.S. dollar made commodities such as crude cheaper for investors with other currencies. Benchmark crude for June delivery was up 51 cents at $113.27 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile...
7th May -
blogwriter
The head of Chevron Corp.'s division that was created to run its recently acquired Marcellus shale natural gas interests in Pennsylvania said Fayette County is at the center of its long-term business plans and local hiring will gradually increase in the coming years. Bruce Niemeyer, vice president of Chevron's Appalachian and Michigan Strategic...
11th May -
blogwriter
Surging oil prices drove the U.S. trade deficit further into the red in March, according to government data released Wednesday May 11, 2011. The trade balance, which measures the difference between the nation's imports and exports, burgeoned to a $48.2 billion deficit in March from $45.4 billion in February, the Commerce Department said....
14th May -
blogwriter
Oil settled higher on Friday May 13, 2011, pushed up by lingering concerns that refineries in the Southeast may be affected by Mississippi River flooding. Benchmark crude for June delivery settled at $99.65 per barrel, up 68 cents on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Oil has been volatile this week, ranging from $95 to $104 a barrel. It gained two...
16th May -
blogwriter
East Texas and Northwest Louisiana residents might not realize it, but they have been sitting amid a revolution in the energy industry the past four years. Steven Holditch, chairman of Texas A&M’s Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering, told people attending the Second Annual East Texas Conference of the Texas Independent...
19th May -
blogwriter
Oil dropped below $100 per barrel after an international energy watchdog expresses "serious concern" about the negative effect of higher prices on the global economy. Benchmark oil contract fell about 12 percent since setting a two-year high of $113.93 on April 29. The International Energy Agency says oil is still too high and is cutting...
23rd May -
blogwriter
For now, state geologists are finished with their research in central North Carolina. After studying 59,000 acres in the Deep River basin for 15 years, they have concluded that Lee, Chatham and Moore counties could produce enough natural gas from shale to make North Carolina self-sufficient for 40 years at current levels of consumption. "That...
24th May -
blogwriter
There are a variety of reasons to sell an oil and gas royalty. We have found that most of our customers wish to sell their royalties because they need cash for an unexpected life issue or they recently inherited a royalty from a family member and would prefer a lump sum of cash instead of small checks over a period of time. Below is a list of...
26th May -
blogwriter
Oil climbed Wednesday May 25, 2011 as the dollar weakened against other major currencies. Gas pump prices are still sliding across the country. A weaker dollar tends to prop up oil and other commodities that are priced in U.S. currency. As the greenback lost ground during the trading session, crude became more affordable for investors holding...
27th May -
blogwriter
Senators from North Texas helped defeat efforts Wednesday May 25, 2011 to water down legislation that would force the disclosure of natural gas drilling chemicals. Lawmakers who want mandatory disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing thought they'd reached a solid agreement with citizens and industry. The House had passed a bill that...
28th May -
blogwriter
Ohio on Tuesday May 24, 2011 moved a step closer to opening its state parks to drilling for natural gas and oil. Along party lines, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee voted 12-7 to approve House Bill 133, which would open about 174,000 acres at Ohio's 75 state parks to drilling. A full vote in the Republican-controlled House...
29th May -
blogwriter
Companies estimate that the boom from new oil drilling will create more than two million new jobs, directly or indirectly, and bring tens of billions of dollars to the states where the fields are located, which include traditional oil sites like Texas and Oklahoma, industrial stalwarts like Ohio and Michigan and even farm states like Kansas. The...
30th May -
blogwriter
What are some factors that need to be considered when selling my minerals? When the price of natural gas is low and there are no or few wells in the unit containing your mineral interest, it can be tempting to sell for the immediate funds, especially in tough economic times when cash is needed and the future production of minerals is uncertain....
1st June -
blogwriter
Nearly 48,000 people have been hired in the last year by industries related to drilling in the Marcellus Shale, and 71 percent of those people were Pennsylvania residents. Nine thousand of them were hired in the first three months of 2011. The average salary was higher than the statewide average. And the rate of hiring is accelerating. While there...
5th June -
blogwriter
Police on Saturday June 3, 2011 arrested 18 Greenpeace activists who climbed aboard an oil rig off Greenland's coast to protest deepwater drilling in the Arctic. The rig is operated by the Scottish oil group Cairn Energy and drilling has temporarily been suspended due to the protest. Cairn last month won permission to drill up to seven oil...
7th June -
blogwriter
Shell Oil Co. said today Monday June 6, 2011 it plans to build an ethylene "cracker" plant somewhere in the Appalachian region, to process natural gas from the Marcellus shale region into a substance that is used to make petrochemicals. The cracker would turn ethane from the natural gas into ethylene. The Houston-based company said it's...
9th June -
blogwriter
Oil climbed above $102 per barrel Thursday June 9, 2011 as investors focused on how the world would meet energy demand in coming months. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery rose $1.48 to $102.25 per barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. World oil demand is expected to outpace supplies later this year...
11th June -
blogwriter
Two political newcomers, Republican Barbara Jass and Democrat Gary Koutnik, are running to represent District 11 on the Otsego County Board of Representatives. The winner will succeed Rep. Marti Stayton, D-Oneonta, who is not seeking re-election. Jass, 43, who lives at 401 Main St., is an associate broker with Prudential Fox Properties. "I...
13th June -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell to near $98 a barrel Monday June 20, 2011, extending a big loss from Friday after a report said Saudi Arabia plans to boost its crude production. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for July delivery was down $1.13 to $98.16 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract lost $2.64 to...
15th June -
blogwriter
In a largely party-line vote, the state House approved a Republican-backed bill that rewrites state energy policy to promote and approve of drilling for natural gas on land and off the coast. Supporters of Senate Bill 709 said drilling would create revenue for the cash-strapped state government and jobs for North Carolinians by creating a...
16th June -
blogwriter
Oil dropped more than 2 percent Wednesday June 15, 2011 as the dollar strengthened and investors shrugged off an unexpectedly large decline in crude supplies. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery fell $2.20, or 2.2 percent to $97.17 per barrel in midday trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude fell $...
17th June -
blogwriter
A recent study shows that the Marcellus Shale created 38,000 jobs last year, but a little restaurant in Washington County shows that the economic impact is a whole lot deeper than that. Two years ago, the Cherry Hill Grille was struggling to keep the lights on and employees had to cut back their hours. These days, the restaurant is doing great...
21st June -
blogwriter
Gas and oil drilling is a quickly growing industry, but Mahoning Valley landowners looking to capitalize should proceed with caution, according to a local lawyer and a nonprofit oil and gas leasing organization. Many oil businesses, including Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp., one of the largest oil companies in the U.S., are using a...
23rd June -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose Wednesday June 22. 2011 after the Federal Reserve acknowledged that U.S. economic growth has slowed but should pick up again soon. Here's how energy contracts traded. On the New York Mercantile Exchange: Crude rose $1.24 to settle at $95.41 per barrel. Gasoline gained 9.07 cents to settle at $2.9733 a gallon. Heating oil picked up...
24th June -
blogwriter
The smallest of the half-dozen class-action lawsuit over natural gas royalties was settled Wednesday June 22, 2011 for $3.4 million, to be split among some 1,850 landowners. The settlement is the first resolution in the sprawling, ongoing fights in U.S. District Court over gas pumped out from under Southwest Virginia landowners and, according to...
25th June -
blogwriter
Oil fell below $91 per barrel Friday June 24, 2011 as investors weighed the latest economic data and the planned release of 60 million barrels of oil onto the world market. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for August delivery rose 9 cents at $91.11 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, Brent crude, which is used in more...
28th June -
blogwriter
The Marcellus shale formation is estimated to hold roughly 500 trillion recoverable cubic feet of natural gas. And industry leaders expect you might be surprised at just how far that amount of natural gas can go. For some perspective, consider that the United States now consumes about 63 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day, according to the...
29th June -
blogwriter
Oil climbed above $99 per barrel Tuesday June 28, 2011 following a better-than-expected retail sales report, a decline in the dollar and a broad rally on Wall Street. The government reported that retail sales slipped 0.2 percent last month, the first decline in nearly a year. Lower cars sales brought down the reading. The report still beat...
30th June -
blogwriter
West Kirkland Mining Inc. and Rubicon Minerals Corporation have entered into an agreement whereby West Kirkland can earn a majority stake in mineral rights held by Rubicon covering approximately 351 square miles (909 sq. kilometers) in the Long Canyon Trend of north eastern Nevada, while allowing Rubicon to retain a significant interest in any...
30th June -
blogwriter
Oil rose in New York, extending the biggest gain in six weeks, amid concern OPEC may reduce output in response to the International Energy Agency’s move to release oil stockpiles. Futures advanced as much as 1.5 percent after rallying 2.5 percent yesterday. The IEA’s plan to release strategic reserves sparked speculation that the...
6th July -
blogwriter
Oil edged above $95 a barrel Monday July 5, 2011 in Asia, bolstered by news that Greece was saved from near collapse after obtaining a vital loan installment. Benchmark crude for August delivery was up 23 cents to $95.23 per barrel at late afternoon in Kuala Lumpur time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract shed...
6th July -
blogwriter
Gas and oil drilling is a quickly growing industry, but Mahoning Valley landowners looking to capitalize should proceed with caution, according to a local lawyer and a nonprofit oil and gas leasing organization. Many oil businesses, including Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp., one of the largest oil companies in the U.S., are using a...
8th July -
blogwriter
Oil prices were roaring Thursday July 7, 2011 morning on bullish inventory and analyst reports and upbeat economic news. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light sweet crude oil for August delivery was spiking by $2.22 to $98.87 a barrel, while the September Brent crude contract was gaining $2.84 to $116.07, despite a weaker euro and stronger dollar...
13th July -
blogwriter
Chesapeake Energy Corporation rejected an inaccurate and misleading article in the Sunday, June 26, 2011 edition of the New York Times that accused the company of exaggerating natural gas shale wells’ productivity and industry reserve estimates of future well performance despite numerous available sources verifying the estimates. Aubrey K...
15th July -
blogwriter
GeoBio Energy, Inc. today July 14, 2011 announced that it has signed a definitive agreement for the purchase of Lary Archer & Associates, Inc. Archer is head quartered in Weatherford, Texas, approximately 60 miles west of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Archer provides services to the natural gas industry with a large array of...
18th July -
blogwriter
Endeavour International Corporation announced today Monday July 18, 2011 that it has entered into purchase and sale agreements with SM Energy Company and certain other minority owners to acquire the leasehold and producing interests held by SM Energy and its partners in the Marcellus shale in north central Pennsylvania, as well as a pipeline and...
20th July -
blogwriter
North Dakota ended the decade with more than 430,000 workers, up more than 61,000 since 2000 and an increase equal to the population of Bismarck, the state's second biggest city, a Job Service analysis showed. Thousands of jobs remain unfilled in a state that's enjoying a robust economy thanks to its booming oil patch and healthy agriculture...
21st July -
blogwriter
Jefferson County is poised at the beginning of a boom that could last 30 years or more as drillers begin extracting natural gas from the Marcellus shale and petroleum from the deeper wells of the Utica shale. That was the theme of a report by Donna Hrezo, small business hub coordinator for Progress Alliance, during the Progress Partners monthly...
22nd July -
blogwriter
Oil prices remain elevated despite signs of a weakening global economy. We think the uncertainties around future oil supply growth are likely to continue to place upward pressure on prices. Fundamentals for gas-focused E&Ps are likely to remain pressured through 2011, but we expect the large-scale shift toward liquids production, a lessening...
25th July -
blogwriter
Broome County will revisit the issue of who should have gas and mineral rights on properties sold at auction. Republican legislator Julie Lewis announced a proposal will be on July 21 legislative agenda for consideration. Currently, foreclosed properties with 5 acres or more are sold with surface rights only. The proposal would have the county...
27th July -
blogwriter
Finding work may not be quite that simple, but it sure seems that way. While the nation's job growth has limped along since the economic recovery began two years ago, the Lone Star State is enlarging payrolls in Texas-size fashion. From June 2009 to June 2011 the state added 262,000 jobs, or half the USA's 524,000 payroll gains, according to the...
28th July -
blogwriter
The last time Harold Hamm was profiled, the billionaire founder of Continental Resources, it was early 2009 and oil prices had slumped to $40 a barrel. This was bad news for Hamm's foray into the vast Bakken oil play that spreads under North Dakota and Montana. Tight rocks and tricky drilling there neces sitate $50 crude to break even. Now with...
29th July -
blogwriter
Oil fell, headed for the first weekly decline in five, on concern a failure to reach a deal on raising the U.S. debt limit may cause the nation to default, threatening the economy of the world’s biggest crude consumer. Futures slipped as much as 0.6 percent after House Speaker John Boehner delayed a planned vote on debt-limit legislation...
30th July -
blogwriter
Whenever oil or gas production begins, the landowner is entitled to part of the total production. A royalty is agreed upon as a percentage of the lease, minus what was reasonably used in the Lessee's production costs. The royalty is paid by the Lessee to the owner of the mineral rights, the Lessor in the Lease. It is based on a percentage of the...
1st August -
blogwriter
Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE) issued original analysis today examining the drivers and impacts of the recent surge in U.S. oil production. The report finds that high oil prices and innovative development techniques are combining to place substantial new resources on the table in the United States, with potentially game-changing...
6th August -
blogwriter
Oil dropped nearly 2 percent Friday August 5, 2011 as investors shrugged off U.S. job gains and focused on lingering concerns about the global economy. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery fell $1.70 to $84.93 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices pulled back from an early surge. A government report on...
7th August -
blogwriter
The seventh air monitor in North Texas' Barnett Shale went on line this week in the Everman area in south Tarrant County to provide "information about local air quality 24 hours a day, 365 days a year," the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality said. The commission said it's also evaluating Barnett Shale sites for more monitors....
10th August -
blogwriter
Every day across America, mineral owners are contacted with oil leasing or gas leasing proposals regarding their oil and gas mineral interests. Unfortunately many of them don’t do their homework and miss available opportunities. However, those willing to do a little homework can maximize the benefits from their mineral ownership by employing...
11th August -
blogwriter
Crude prices showed a smart pullback on Wednesday August 10, 2011 and rose over 4 percent in the day supported by sharp pullback in the equities market and after a government report showed oil inventories fell last week. US crude stocks fell 5.2 million barrels last week, the US Energy Information Administration's said in its weekly inventory...
12th August -
blogwriter
Crude oil prices should bounce back once global markets regain confidence after last week's startling downgrade of the United States' credit rating, the oil minister of OPEC-member Kuwait said on Sunday. US light crude dived to a low of $82.87 a barrel, its lowest level since November 2010, after the world's largest economy lost its top-notch AAA...
15th August -
blogwriter
A government panel on Thursday August 11, 2011  called the risk of water pollution from natural gas fracking "remote." The U.S. Energy Department's natural gas advisory subcommittee urged regulators to require drillers to detail what chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing -- which involves blasting a mix of water, sand and...
17th August -
blogwriter
The Independent Producer America’s determination to increase domestic reserves and be free of OPEC dependency has placed a tremendous need for capital on oil and gas companies. The burden is particularly heavy for independent producers whose funds are more limited than those of major oil and gas companies which fund their drilling...
18th August -
blogwriter
Oil tumbled Thursday August 18, 2011 on worries that pinched consumers will drive less and cut spending on gasoline. Gasoline, which is made from crude oil, should follow oil downward in coming weeks. The national average held steady on Thursday at $3.585 per gallon. If oil stays at current levels, gasoline should fall as low as $3.25 between...
24th August -
blogwriter
Approximately one year ago, residents of the city of Dish, Texas, raised concerns about benzene in the air as a result of natural gas operations. Those residents repeatedly called for more answers over the past year. In light of these concerns, state agencies have dedicated significant resources to determine the facts and provide residents with...
26th August -
blogwriter
Tuesday’s earthquake had no impact on Marcellus Shale drilling operations in Pennsylvania.     “The earthquake in Virginia that was felt in parts of Pittsburgh had no impact on our operations,” said Matt Pitzarella, spokesman for Range Resources.      “As with any instance, we will...
27th August -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell slightly to near $85 a barrel Wednesday August 23, 2011 in Asia after a U.S. supply report gave mixed signs about demand for crude. Benchmark oil for October delivery was down 36 cents to $85.08 at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude rose $1.02 to finish at $85.44 on...
30th August -
blogwriter
Visiting Rotary Club speaker Ed Ireland provided an overview of the Barnett Shale and drilling techniques during Wednesday’s meeting. Ireland, executive director of the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, said the Fort Worth-area shale is still the largest-producing natural gas field in America, though the Eagle-Ford Shale of South Texas...
30th August -
blogwriter
Singapore: Brent crude rose for a sixth straight session on Tuesday August 30, 2011, buoyed by a landmark bank merger deal in Greece and strong data from the United States that allayed fears the world’s top oil consumer was sliding back into recession. Oil prices were also supported by a rally in stock markets with money switching back to...
1st September -
blogwriter
In Cook family lore, a broad, flat stone placed by the porch was where George Washington once stood to address his troops. A gray rock used as a planter was a watering trough. Two stones cut like steps were "upping blocks" to help ladies mount horses sidesaddle. Another stone once marked the grave of Col. Edward Cook, who finished...
7th September -
blogwriter
Encana Corp said it agreed to sell some natural gas midstream assets in Colorado for about $590 million and would likely notch more sales in Canada as it looks to cash in on the strong demand for such assets in North America. Encana, Canada's largest gas producer, said it is on track to meet or exceed the planned sale of $1-$2 billion worth of non...
9th September -
blogwriter
Oil prices changed direction and sharply inclined while major stock markets including the S&P500 rose as well. Currently, oil prices are traded with moderate falls. Today, September 8, 2011the ECB rate decision will be announced, the EIA natural gas report will be published, the EIA crude oil stockpiles report, and the Canadian and American...
10th September -
blogwriter
Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. today September 9, 2011 announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Southwest Royalties, Inc, has filed preliminary proxy statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) related to proposed mergers between SWR and six partnerships of which SWR is the general partner (the “Public...
12th September -
blogwriter
This summer, an Exxon Mobil pipeline carrying oil across Montana burst suddenly, soiling the swollen Yellowstone River with an estimated 42,000 gallons of crude just weeks after a company inspection and federal review had found nothing seriously wrong.   And in the Midwest, a 35-mile stretch of the Kalamazoo River near Marshall, Mich., once...
13th September -
blogwriter
West Virginia lawmakers developing new rules for the Marcellus shale field would change the way the state hires gas well inspectors. A House-Senate committee overseeing the Marcellus issue amended its draft proposal Monday September 12, 2011 to abolish the state's Oil and Gas Inspectors' Examining Board. The board decides who is qualified to...
15th September -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose Tuesday Sept. 13, 2011 on the anticipation that a recent tropical storm caused a major disruption in supplies. The government will report petroleum supply levels on Wednesday. According to a poll by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos., the storm likely cut U.S. supplies last week by 2.9 million barrels of...
16th September -
blogwriter
Arkansas' top environmental official said Tuesday September 14, 2011 that she believes her department has "sufficient" regulatory authority over natural gas drilling in Arkansas but says she wants to keep additional inspectors funded through an agreement with the Game and Fish Commission. Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality...
17th September -
blogwriter
Oil prices will likely rise to about $130 a barrel in the next 12 months as demand in emerging markets such as China and India make up for weak developed world growth, Goldman Sachs said Thursday. Despite concerns about the U.S. economy and eurozone sovereign debt, which have hit crude prices due to an expected fall in demand, the Wall Street...
20th September -
blogwriter
Gov. Tom Corbett is putting the finishing touches on a welcome-back-to-session gift to lawmakers: his plan for overseeing and charging a fee on Marcellus Shale gas drilling. That draft legislation is one of the most highly anticipated proposals this fall in the state Capitol, where senators will return Monday to tackle unfinished business. The...
22nd September -
blogwriter
Arkansas has sufficient regulations to manage the state’s natural gas industry but is running out of grant money for extra help brought in to monitor gas operations, the head of the state’s pollution control agency told lawmakers today. Teresa Marks, director of the state Department of Environmental Quality, said a $1.09 million grant...
23rd September -
blogwriter
Oil prices tumbled 5 percent Thursday September 22, 2011 after some of the world's top financial officials gave a gloomy reading on the international economy. Oil, a bellwether that tracks the market's mood, has dropped 29 percent since April as high unemployment, weak consumer confidence and expensive gasoline slowed down global growth....
24th September -
blogwriter
A day after a controversial Indiana County Marcellus Shale gas well got the go-ahead from the state to restart drilling, someone fired six shotgun blasts into the lining of a drill cuttings pit and stabbed more holes into the liner with a stake, the well owners said Wednesday. The owners of the well, MDS Energy of Kittanning, believe the vandalism...
27th September -
blogwriter
Crude oil prices traded on a flat note with a negative bias in Asian trades on Monday September 26, 2011 since investors treaded cautiously amid the fragile global setup as Finance leaders from the US, UK, Canada and China warned European leaders to swiftly tackle the storm over Europe and its banks which have pushed the European economy to the...
28th September -
blogwriter
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting groundwater testing in Van Buren County. The testing began July 6 and is continuing. Tom Kimmons of the county Gas and Oil Advisory Board and the Shirley Community Development Corp. said Monday all the samples should be collected this week. The USGS is testing for chloride concentrations, conductivity, pH...
29th September -
blogwriter
New online researcher HeatingOilShopper.com has released a study outlining alarming trends in US oil consumption and production.   Research provider Heating Oil Shopper  launched a collection of heating oil and energy related resources today September 28, 2011 including this graphic and accompanying guide, which revealed that...
30th September -
blogwriter
Some insist Marcellus Shale natural gas is a huge economic boom for America, while others are certain it's an environmental catastrophe. Gas drilling from the Marcellus pollutes groundwater, or it never pollutes groundwater. It's cleaner than coal or oil, except that it's dirty. It provides a boost to hard-hit rural economies; but then again,...
7th October -
blogwriter
After following the equity markets and the euro down on Monday and Tuesday, the oil markets reversed on Wednesday climbing 5.3 percent in NY to close at $79.68 and 3 percent in London to close at $102.73. Major impetus for the price reversal was an unexpected drop of 4.7 million barrels in US crude inventories vs. an anticipated gain of 1.5...
8th October -
blogwriter
U.S. active rigs rose by 22 to 2,012 this week, up 20 percent from a year ago and the highest in more than three years, according to Baker Hughes. Oil rigs were up 10 to 1,070 and natural gas rigs added 12 to 935. Texas gained eight rigs to 912, and Oklahoma gained six to 202. In the Barnett Shale, active rigs fell by eight to 56, according to...
11th October -
blogwriter
Crude oil climbed to the highest level in two weeks as the leaders of Germany and France pledged to stem the European sovereign-debt crisis. Futures rose as much as 3.8 percent after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicholas Sarkozy said yesterday they will deliver a plan to recapitalize the region’s banks and address the...
13th October -
blogwriter
You don’t have to be a Pennsylvania farmer (or a Texas rancher) to get in on the shale boom. Plenty of publicly traded stocks let you do just that. But before investing, be aware of the perils: the political risk created by the controversy over fracking, the chance that production estimates may be overstated (something that the Securities...
14th October -
blogwriter
The oil industry has an overwhelmingly gloomy economic outlook, expecting recession in the next year, less demand for fuel and lower oil prices, a survey of delegates to a major industry conference showed this week. Seventy-seven percent of participants at the annual Oil & Money conference on Tuesday and Wednesday in London said the chances of...
15th October -
blogwriter
The economic difference between drilling and automobile manufacturing is enormous: 100,268 drilling jobs vs. 2,633 direct and 14,500 indirect jobs from auto manufacturing; $11.1 billion delivered to North Texas annually by drilling versus $790 million to the annual gross state product by General Motors. Yet since Norman's admonishment against...
18th October -
blogwriter
Gov. Chris Christie missed the boat on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” with his misguided conditional veto of the New Jersey Legislature’s bold and forthright Frack Ban Bill. Through a united stand for the people and the environment by the state’s leaders, New Jersey could have been the first state in the nation to put...
18th October -
blogwriter
An Ohio County senator involved in drafting Marcellus shale legislation in West Virginia figures the interim committee "is within three or four amendments of being finished." "People get frustrated because the process seems to be taking so long," said Sen. Orphy Klempa, D-Ohio. "But truly, it's because we want to make sure...
20th October -
blogwriter
As has been the case for months the oil complex as well as most all risk asset markets continue to be impacted by the 30 second news snippets hitting the media airwaves around Europe. Last week the market sentiment began to start pricing in a soft landing for the European sovereign debt problems including the positive comments that came from the...
22nd October -
blogwriter
More than 1,200 new Marcellus Shale natural-gas wells have been drilled in Pennsylvania this year. Because each well requires many workers to build and operate, there's no shortage of new jobs in the drilling regions - at least a certain kind of job. The problem is that not enough high school graduates from southwestern Pennsylvania want the jobs...
24th October -
blogwriter
For those who have spent their entire lives in the previously quiet farm towns that dot the northwestern corner of North Dakota, the discovery of oil in the Bakken formation has been anything but fortuitous. The thousands of people from around the country flocking to these boomtowns has led to a housing shortage and an increase in traffic, crime...
29th October -
blogwriter
Maryland’s attorney general is urging people in the western part of the state to check with their mortgage lender before signing a mineral-rights lease. Douglas Gansler says some federally approved mortgages have requirements that conflict with mineral-rights leases. He says property owners who are considering a mineral-rights lease should...
1st November -
blogwriter
World oil prices retreated further on Monday October 31, 2011, in line with the strong dollar and sliding stock markets, as investor enthusiasm waned over last week's eurozone debt deal, analysts said. New York's main oil contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, dived $1.30 to $92.02 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for December...
3rd November -
blogwriter
Enterprise Products Partners L.P and Chesapeake Energy Corporation today November 2, 2011 announced they have entered into a long-term contract whereby Chesapeake would anchor Enterprise’s proposed long-haul ethane pipeline from the Marcellus and Utica shale regions in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio to the U.S. Gulf Coast. “We...
5th November -
blogwriter
Wyoming is looking to get its fair share of royalty payments on natural gas that is burned off from oil wells while petroleum companies figure out how to exploit an oil-bearing formation deep beneath the eastern part of the state. A public meeting in Casper on Monday November 7, 2011 will bring together staff of the Wyoming Oil and Gas...
8th November -
blogwriter
The Barnett Shale, one of the largest gas fields in the country, is slowly but surely being developed to provide an abundant supply of natural gas. If you own property in the field, in most circumstances you also own the mineral rights. If, however, a previous landowner reserved the minerals rights -- or even a portion of them -- your share is...
9th November -
blogwriter
Oil prices hit the highest level since July as a pending United Nations report on Iran's nuclear weapon ambitions raised the possibility of new trade sanctions on the oil-rich country. Here's how energy prices traded on Tuesday November 8, 2011. On the New York Mercantile Exchange: Benchmark crude rose $1.28 to end at $96.80 per barrel. Gasoline...
11th November -
blogwriter
A group has been formed in support of the development of the Marcellus Shale Formation with hydrofracking. The organization is calling itself Clean Growth Now, and comes as the debate over hydrofracking is heating up in Albany. A formal roll out of the group is expected Thursday November 10, 2011. It comes as the Department of Environmental...
15th November -
blogwriter
Oil prices retreated on Monday November 14, 2011 after a short rally as traders reacted to a changing political landscape in Italy and tensions in the Middle East. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, fell 65 cents to $98.34 a barrel after reaching a near four-month high of $99.69 earlier in the day. Brent...
18th November -
blogwriter
United Country Bonnette Auction Company announces the auction 8,029 acres in Hackberry, La., on Thursday, December 15, 2011, at 1pm CST, according to Barbara Bonnette, auctioneer. "This is one of the most fantastic properties ever offered for acquisition in Louisiana," noted Bonnette. "The income potential for this property is...
19th November -
blogwriter
 BHP Billiton Ltd. plans to invest roughly US$4.5 billion developing the shale oil and gas assets it bought in the U.S. this financial year as it ramps up production, the head of the mining company's petroleum division said Monday. BHP expects capital spending to jump to almost US$6 billion in the 2015 fiscal year and roughly US$6.5 billion...
20th November -
blogwriter
As oil prices creep upward, lawmakers in Washington are staking out familiar and competing positions over how to address the rising price of energy. The Energy Department itself remains tangled in the scandal over failed solar firm Solyndra. Amid signs that gas prices could soon hit an upswing, top Energy officials are distracted preparing for...
21st November -
blogwriter
The number of U.S. drilling rigs fell by 15 this week, to 2,001, according to Houston-based oil field services firm Baker Hughes. Oil rigs declined by eight, to 1,125, and natural gas rigs dropped by six, to 871. Miscellaneous rigs shrank by one, to five. The Texas rig count fell by two, to 914. In North Texas' natural gas-rich Barnett Shale,...
23rd November -
blogwriter
Oil futures prices rose to near $98 a barrel Tuesday November 22, 2011 as traders looked to the latest U.S. crude supply reports for signs demand may be improving. Benchmark crude for January delivery was up $1.41 at $98.33 a barrel by early afternoon in Europe in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 75 cents...
26th November -
blogwriter
It's like the stories you've read about the California gold rush, but this rush is to West Virginia's northern panhandle and the lure is natural gas. There are traffic jams in this Wetzel County town, even at mid-day. Almost anything that fits on a trailer can be seen moving up and down Route 2. To ease the congestion, the industry voluntarily...
29th November -
blogwriter
The state’s draft policy on flaring of natural gas may be delayed until the January 2012 meeting of the State Board of Land Commissioners. “We still have some work to do on it,” said Ryan Lance, director of the Office of State Lands and Investments. The draft originally was scheduled to go before the state board, which includes...
30th November -
blogwriter
Jaysson Funkhouser of the U.S. Geologic Survey said Wednesday November 28, 2011 that testing of domestic water wells in the Fayetteville Shale area in Van Buren County is complete, and sampling in Faulkner County will begin the end of this month. More than 70 wells were sampled in Van Buren County with no indicators found for drilling or...
1st December -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell to near $99 a barrel Wednesday November 30, 2011 in Asia after a report showed U.S. crude inventories rose more than expected, suggesting demand is tepid. Benchmark crude for January delivery was down 65 cents to $99.14 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The...
2nd December -
blogwriter
Exploration of mineral deposits in Afghanistan could begin as early as 2015 after Afghan mining ministry officials said new development rights were awarded. A consortium of Indian companies led by state-owned Steel Authority of India landed a $10.3 billion deal for three mining sites in central Afghanistan, the BBC reports. U.S. defense officials...
6th December -
blogwriter
Valley job experts say the new pipe finishing plant at the former Sheet and Tube building in Youngstown is only one example of ancillary industrial business that a Marcellus Shale boom will bring. The new plant, announced Monday December 5, 2011, is being opened by V&M Star sister company VAM USA, a Houston-based Vallourec subsidiary that...
8th December -
blogwriter
The head of OPEC said Wednesday December 7,2011 that speculators are at least partly to blame for high oil prices -- not any lack of supply on world markets. Speaking at a World Petroleum Congress panel, OPEC Secretary General Abdulla Salem El Badri said the world has plenty of crude but that the number of barrels of oil changing hands in the...
13th December -
blogwriter
In its rapid ascent to become a top leaseholder in the Marcellus Shale, Chesapeake Energy came to West Virginia and put into play a strategy designed to narrow landowner rights and expand company control over all phases of the drilling cycle. The Oklahoma City-based energy giant absorbed the region -- which sits above the natural gas rock...
14th December -
blogwriter
Brent crude was little changed above $107 today December 13, 2011, after falling in the previous session, on concerns of demand growth as investors worried last week's pact by European leaders may not be enough to stop the region's debt crisis from worsening. The worries echoed across financial markets. Asian stocks sank, the euro languished near...
15th December -
blogwriter
Clear Fork Royalty, LLC, an Oil & Gas acquisition company that focuses on the acquisition of oil and gas royalties, mineral rights, and overriding royalty interests, acquired a number of properties in the 3rd Quarter of 2011, including interest in the Barnett Shale in North Texas. The properties are located throughout the "core" of...
17th December -
blogwriter
Crude rose from a six-week low in New York as investors bet that the biggest weekly decline in almost three months is exaggerated. Futures gained as much as 1 percent after falling 1.1 percent yesterday December 15, 2011 on reports that showed U.S. industrial production shrank for the first time since April and European factory output...
20th December -
blogwriter
Marcellus Shale natural gas production is expected to keep rising in 2012, yet landowners may find that signing lease deals isn’t as easy as in years past. Though still in its early stages, industry experts say that the business of Marcellus Shale gas drilling is starting to change, as new forces emerge.  Among them: lawmakers putting...
22nd December -
blogwriter
Southwestern Energy Co. of Houston said Monday December 19,2011 that it will slightly lower its 2012 investment in the Fayetteville Shale. In a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, Southwestern estimated it will have invested $1.3 billion in the shale in 2011, and will invest $1.2 billion in 2012. The investment is...
23rd December -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose for the fourth day in a row Thursday December 22, 2011 amid signs of an improving U.S. economy and concerns about global supplies. The price of benchmark crude rose 86 cents to finish at $99.53 per barrel in New York. At one point in the session it hit $100.05. Brent crude, which is used to price crude produced in many foreign...
24th December -
blogwriter
EV Energy Partners, L.P announced today Friday December 23, 2011 it, along with certain institutional partnerships managed by EnerVest, Ltd., has closed both previously announced Barnett Shale acquisitions from two unrelated companies. EVEP acquired an approximate 31.5 percent interest in the combined assets for an adjusted purchase price of...
27th December -
blogwriter
As 2011 began, West Virginia and Ohio stood on the brink of a natural gas drilling boom with companies such as Chesapeake Energy and Marquette Exploration staking major claims in both states. With the year drawing to a close, Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake continues as the Upper Ohio Valley's largest individual player. However, with New York City-...
28th December -
blogwriter
Southwestern Energy Company discovered the economic viability of the Fayetteville Shale and was the first company to drill and successfully produce its natural gas. At December 31, 2010, Southwestern held leases for approximately 915,884 net acres in the Fayetteville Shale play area (367,206 net undeveloped acres, 423,692 net developed acres held...
5th January -
blogwriter
Oil prices surged 4% Tuesday January 3, 2012, fueled by continued anxiety over Iran's growing threat to shut down the Strait of Hormuz after the Iranian military launched a missile test. "It's mostly about Iran right now," said Peter Beutel, analyst with energy risk management firm Cameron Hanover. "That's the most bullish factor....
8th January -
blogwriter
If natural gas prices remain depressed, Chesapeake Energy will further reduce spending on drilling in areas such as North Texas' Barnett Shale, which mostly produces less-valuable "dry" gas, the company said Wednesday January 4, 2012. Chesapeake is the No. 2 gas producer in the Barnett and has long been among the most active drillers....
11th January -
blogwriter
A Maryland panel recommended in a report on Monday January 9, 2012 that the General Assembly impose a fee on gas leases in the Marcellus Shale to fund studies about the impact of drilling in far western Maryland. The report, the first of three, also recommended that lawmakers should enact an appropriate state-level severance tax based on the...
20th January -
blogwriter
Oil rose to its highest price since Jan. 12 in New York. Crude for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange gained as much as 78 cents, or 0.8 percent, to $101.49 a barrel and was at $101.40 at 10:19 a.m.Oil rose to its highest price since Jan. 12 in New York. Crude for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange gained as...
22nd January -
blogwriter
Former gas company executive Sheffield Nelson, upset over legislators’ disdain for his proposal to increase the severance tax on natural gas, on Wednesday chastised a state lawmaker for accepting campaign contributions from the gas industry. Nelson, who also twice ran unsuccessfully for governor and is a former member of the state Game and...
25th January -
blogwriter
The European Union’s ban on imports of Iranian crude will drive up oil prices and aggravate market instability, the Islamic Republic said. The decision by EU foreign ministers to phase out purchases of Iranian oil from July was “hasty” and may lead to “heavy economic loss and damages to the crisis-stricken people of Europe...
4th February -
blogwriter
A rare opportunity exists to enter the popular Marcellus Shale natural gas play in Pennsylvania. The Marcellus has been in the news for the past few years, as many large domestic and foreign oil and gas companies have made substantial purchases of these newly discovered gas reserves. However, there remains a unique opportunity for a company to...
8th February -
blogwriter
Oil prices are rising as Iran again threatens to cut off supplies to Europe. Iranian lawmakers are pushing a plan to stop exporting crude to Europe before the European Union begins an oil embargo this summer. The EU and the U.S. are pressuring Iran because of its nuclear program. Benchmark U.S. crude rose $1.47 to $98.38 per barrel in New York....
11th February -
blogwriter
After four years of discussion on the topic, several versions of bills and a conference committee, the House voted on a compromise Marcellus Shale bill. The revised version of House Bill 1950 was voted out of the House by a vote of 25-4. The legislation would establish an impact fee dedicated to offsetting the effects on local communities where...
16th February -
blogwriter
At the start of last year Marius Kloppers had $10 billion burning a hole in his pocket. Rebuffed in attempts to acquire mining rival Rio Tinto as well as Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, the chief executive of BHP Billiton needed a big deal to deploy the $24 billion in profits the company had piled up last year feeding China’s insatiable...
18th February -
blogwriter
Some landowners in Jackson County may not have rights to frac sand and other minerals on their property. Jackson County soon plans to begin determining how many privately owned acres for which it holds mineral rights, a provision it’s attained when selling land. What the county may or may not do with those mineral rights is yet to be seen....
23rd February -
blogwriter
A nonprofit group has opened an office in western Pennsylvania to help the public with health concerns over Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations. The Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project opened an office last week in McMurray, southwest of Pittsburgh, and says its mission is to support people "who believe their health has...
25th February -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose above $109 a barrel Friday February 24, 2012 and are approaching last year's highs as tensions increase over Iran's nuclear program. Western nations fear Iran is building a weapon and have been trying to force it to open its facilities to inspection. Iran has refused, turning away international inspectors this week for the second...
28th February -
blogwriter
Quicksilver Resources posted earnings of $48.9 million, or 28 cents a share, in the fourth quarter as revenues declined to $216 million on lower natural gas prices. The numbers compared unfavorably to earnings of $331.8 million, or $1.82 per share, on revenues of $240 million in the corresponding period of 2010, when the Fort Worth-based natural...
3rd March -
blogwriter
Fayetteville Shale in the US, 2011: Gas Shale Market Analysis and Forecasts to 2020 is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialist, which provides insight into the shale gas exploration and development activities in the Fayetteville shale. The report highlights the gas production from various counties in Arkansas, providing...
6th March -
blogwriter
World oil prices rose in volatile trading on Monday March 5, 2012, as worries over Iranian supplies helped to offset a cut to China's growth outlook and weak eurozone data, traders said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in April, rose 16 cents to $106.86 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for April climbed 59 cents to $124.24...
8th March -
blogwriter
Natural-gas development appears to be associated with falling dairy production in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale region, but the exact reasons for the decline are unclear, according to researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. In recent years, anecdotal evidence has suggested that natural-gas development is benefitting many...
13th March -
blogwriter
World oil prices dropped on Monday March 12, 2012 as investors fretted over the strength of worldwide energy demand following weak Chinese economic data. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in April, shed $1.06 to $106.34 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for April was down 65 cents at $125.33 in late afternoon deals...
15th March -
blogwriter
When Edge Resources recently announced that it had partnered with an international nonprofit group to create a sustainably developed gas drilling property in south Arlington, local environmentalists and drilling critics probably perked up their ears. Getting the gas drilling industry to acknowledge and minimize the environmental effects of their...
16th March -
blogwriter
Data from the state show that many counties don't have any gas drilling wells tapping into the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation and may never have any despite the proliferation of them elsewhere. U.S. Geological Survey maps indicate the Marcellus Shale, a rock formation thousands of feet underground in large parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio...
20th March -
blogwriter
Oil prices are climbing near $108 per barrel as optimism grows about a strengthening global economy. A private survey of the U.S. homebuilding industry on Monday March 19, 2012 found that companies are increasingly hopeful that home sales will rise in coming months. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde also said over the...
23rd March -
blogwriter
After holding five public meetings in January and February on saltwater disposal wells, the City Council appeared divided Tuesday March 20,2012 over whether to lift the moratorium on the wells or to permanently ban them. Briefing the council, Rick Trice, assistant director of planning and development, laid out options including moving...
26th March -
blogwriter
Oil prices slipped closer to $106 a barrel Monday March 26, 2012 as investors weighed concerns over global economic growth against possible disruptions in crude supplies due to an international standoff over Iran's nuclear program. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for May delivery was down 28 cents to $106.59 at late afternoon Singapore...
29th March -
blogwriter
The Interior Department has not made any final decision to raise the royalty rate for oil and gas production on federal lands, the director of the department's Bureau of Land Management said Tuesday March 27, 2012. Bureau Director Bob Abbey contradicted recent comments by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that the department planned to propose...
31st March -
blogwriter
State Rep. Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, earned a 100 percent on the Marcellus Shale Scorecard for his efforts to protect the commonwealth’s water, air and neighborhoods from gas drilling. On Tuesday March 27, 2012, four of Pennsylvania’s largest citizen-based environmental organizations released their joint “Pennsylvania Marcellus...
4th April -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell to near $104 a barrel Tuesday April 3, 2012 as traders eyed mixed signs about the strength of the global economy. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for May delivery was down 90 cents to $104.33 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $2.21 to settle at $105.23 per barrel in...
7th April -
blogwriter
Calvin Tillman plays a message on his cellphone from Stark County resident Renee Bogue. She’s concerned about possible drilling under the Legends Golf Course in Massillon, where the mayor and council in that Ohio city are proposing legislation to lease city-owned mineral rights for gas drilling. “Who will monitor the air quality?...
10th April -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell Monday April 9, 2012 on concerns about the economic recovery. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark crude, fell $1.92 to $101.39 per barrel. Brent crude, which is used to price oil imported by U.S. refineries, slipped $2.13 to $121.30 per barrel. The U.S. economy added just 120,000 jobs in March— half as much as each of...
12th April -
blogwriter
A national builder is selling hundreds of just-finished North Carolina homes while keeping the underground mineral rights as interest in drilling for natural gas deposits builds. Texas-based D.R. Horton Inc. raises the specter that gas deposits hundreds of feet under the homes could be tapped using a controversial drilling technique called...
14th April -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell on Friday April 12, 2012 and headed for a weekly loss after data showed that first-quarter economic growth in China, the world's No. 2 oil consumer, was the weakest in nearly three years, reinforcing concerns about slowing demand for petroleum. A stronger dollar and a slip in U.S. consumer confidence in April also pressured oil...
17th April -
blogwriter
A new law imposing an impact fee on Marcellus Shale natural gas wells is being challenged by an informal coalition of municipalities, an environmental group and some medical professionals, who have lodged a legal challenge arguing provisions in the legislation make it unconstitutional. The law — and its nebulous status — has caused...
19th April -
blogwriter
Oil prices dropped Wednesday April 17, 2012 after the government said U.S. supplies grew more than expected last week. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.42 to $102.78 per barrel in New York, while Brent crude lost $1.88 to $116.90 per barrel in London. The Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. crude oil supplies grew...
21st April -
blogwriter
The Environmental Protection Agency aims to sharply reduce emissions from natural gas wells through new rules issued Wednesday April 18, 2012 that call for the use of "green completions" that capture pollutants rather than releasing them into the air. The effort is the first by the federal government to set national air pollution...
26th April -
blogwriter
The major role played by the strategically developed Barnett shale in the U.S. natural oil and gas production is expected to provide a model for the development of other shale plays, according to a new report by GlobalData. The new report states that the Barnett shale/Barnett shale combo has historically attracted substantial investments from oil...
2nd May -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose Tuesday, May 1, 2012 after growth in the U.S. and Chinese manufacturing sectors signaled more demand for energy products. The improvement for the world's two largest economies offered some relief from persistent worries about the slowdown in Europe. Benchmark crude rose $1.29 to finish at $106.16 per barrel in New York. That's the...
4th May -
blogwriter
The Marcellus Shale industry is adding jobs all across Pennsylvania. It's workers are also stimulating the local economy, specifically for businesses. Alan McPherson, the manager at the St.Mary's Municipal Airport, made a formal statement that they rely on the industry. "Marcellus Shale, there is a lot of that going on. They...
8th May -
blogwriter
Marcellus shale gas wells in Pennsylvania generated about $3.5 billion in gross revenues for drillers in 2011, along with about $1.2 billion in West Virginia, according to anaylisis. But experts say that a sharp drop in wholesale prices over the past year means that in the future much more money will be made — and more jobs created —...
10th May -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell further on Wednesday May 9, 2012 in line with shares amid tensions over the eurozone's political and economic problems, although bargain-hunting provided support, analysts said. Crude futures also faced downside pressure following indications by the world's key oil producers that they may boost output to bring prices down to...
12th May -
blogwriter
An Energy Department official heading a new committee charged with coordinating efforts among three federal agencies to research the risks and benefits of unconventional oil and gas production says he believes it can be done safely. Christopher Smith, a 1986 graduate of Southwest High School and now deputy assistant secretary for oil and natural...
15th May -
blogwriter
BHP Billiton's petroleum chief executive left the door open to the possibility of a write-down on the company's U.S. shale gas assets on Monday May 14, 2012, but defended their long-term value. The company will review its assets at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, BHP chief petroleum executive J Michael Yeager told reporters in a briefing on...
19th May -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell on Friday May 18, 2012 in tug-of-war trading, posting a 2012 low and a third straight weekly loss as debt problems in Greece and Spain kept concerns about the euro zone economy in focus. Crude futures felt pressure from news that European officials were working on contingency plans in case Greece exits the euro zone and from a...
22nd May -
blogwriter
Eureka Resources, LLC, announced Monday May 21, 2012 that it will construct a world-class centralized wastewater treatment facility in Standing Stone Township, Bradford County, Pa., to treat wastewater generated during development of oil and gas wells in the Marcellus and Utica Shale. Plans for the facility include installation of Eureka...
28th May -
blogwriter
When one thinks of the Fayetteville shale, one company name comes to mind immediately – Southwestern Energy. Houston-based Southwestern was the earliest entrant in the Fayetteville shale play and today still has nearly three times the natural gas production of its nearest competitor in the formation. The Fayetteville shale is located on the...
31st May -
blogwriter
The price of oil dropped below $88 a barrel Wednesday May 30, 2012, hitting a seven-month low, as fiscal worries in Europe sparked a broad sell-off across markets.   In New York, oil prices finished at $87.49 a barrel, down $2.94, or 3.2%, from Tuesday. It was the lowest closing price for crude since Oct. 21. Spain was the main culprit...
2nd June -
blogwriter
The New Brunswick government is proposing 116 different changes to the regulatory framework that oversees the oil and gas industry and in particular the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing. Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup and Environment Minister Bruce Fitch unveiled the changes to the rules governing the oil and gas industry...
5th June -
blogwriter
U.S. drilling rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped three this week to 1,980, according to Baker Hughes. There were 1,386 rigs seeking oil and 588 looking for natural gas, plus six miscellaneous. A year ago there were 1,854. In the Barnett Shale, there were 46 active rigs, down from 48 a year ago. For the first time...
7th June -
blogwriter
Seven Commonwealth Court judges will decide on a constitutional challenge by seven municipalities to portions of Pennsylvania's new law regulating the rapid growth of natural gas exploration. The panel heard arguments Wednesday June 6, 2012 during a session in which the judges repeatedly challenged lawyers from both sides in the closely watched...
10th June -
blogwriter
Oil prices slipped on Friday June 8, 2012 as the euro zone's debt crisis and dimming hopes for U.S. monetary stimulus reinforced concern about petroleum demand, but disappointing talks between Iran and the U.N.'s nuclear agency limited losses. The intraday recovery allowed both Brent and U.S. crude to post weekly gains, snapping a...
14th June -
blogwriter
Economists say exploration and production in the Fayetteville Shale have produced $4 billion and 16,000 jobs for the state in a four year time span. "The natural gas industry came in at a time when the nation was facing a recession and provide jobs, particularly manufacturing at a tough time," said Kathy Deck, director of the Center for...
19th June -
blogwriter
The town of Summit will lease its mineral rights to an oil company that is looking to drill in the area. The city council this week agreed to lease 16.8 acres to Shreveport, La.-based PAR Minerals Exploration LLC. The lease is for three years at $150 an acre. The town also will receive a 3/16 share of royalties from oil taken from town property....
21st June -
blogwriter
A "build" and a "Twist" knocked oil prices to the floor on Wednesday July 20, 2012. In the morning, the government announced a surprise increase, or build, in U.S. oil supplies. That told investors that America has a bounty of crude and less need to import more from foreign countries. Then the Federal Reserve extended an...
23rd June -
blogwriter
There are a few societal costs to the development of shale gas. Potential contamination of groundwater, complications in treating and recycling water used in fracking. Then there’s air pollution from leaking methane (a potent greenhouse gas) and from the diesel-powered rigs and trucks involved in drilling. But all things considered the...
25th June -
blogwriter
Active drilling in the Marcellus shale is going to solve the United States’ economic problems, and Janney Montgomery Scott knows why. Not only Janney, but other large financial planning firms, banks, businesses and even the housing market. Trickle-down. That, at least, was the consensus of Thought Leadership in the Shale Gas Industry held...
29th June -
blogwriter
Oil hovered above $80 a barrel Thursday June 28, 2012 in Asia amid signs the U.S. economy, the world's largest crude consumer, may be improving. Benchmark oil for August delivery was up 10 cents at $80.31 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 85 cents to settle...
30th June -
blogwriter
Back in 2008, near the height of the natural gas drilling boom in the Barnett Shale, more than 200 drilling rigs operated in the big North Texas field. With the collapse in natural gas prices this year, that number is down nearly 80 percent from its peak. But not in the northwestern reaches of the field. In Montague, Jack and Wise counties, there...
4th July -
blogwriter
Antero Resources, a Denver based oil and gas driller, said Monday July 1, 2012 that it has completed the $445 million cash sale of all of its exploration and production assets in the Arkoma Basin to Vanguard Natural Resources LLC. The assets consisted of 66,000 acres in the Woodford Shaleplay in the Arkoma Basin in Oklahoma and 5,300 net acres in...
7th July -
blogwriter
Oil prices traded mixed Thursday July 5, 2012 after China and the European Central Bank cut interest rates and Norway announced a lockout of unionized oil workers in a pensions dispute. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for August, finished at $87.22 a barrel, down 44 cents from Tuesday's closing level. The market was closed Wednesday...
12th July -
blogwriter
Marcellus Shale natural gas production is primed for a surge in growth that presents both opportunities and challenges for U.S. midstream and pipeline companies as well as investors. Despite low current natural gas prices and environmental concerns over hydraulic fracturing, the relatively robust economics of the Marcellus and increasing regional...
15th July -
blogwriter
Western diplomats can hardly believe their luck. Sanctions against Iran's oil exports are proving more effective than hoped yet the impact on the price of crude has so far been minimal. It was not supposed to be this way. A decade of Iranian intransigence over its disputed nuclear program had finally eroded Western patience. Sanctions were...
18th July -
blogwriter
Much has been reported in the news lately about companies seeking to purchase minerals from residents, whether or not those minerals have been leased. While a company may offer an attractive up-front, one-time payment to buy minerals, mineral owners should take the time to carefully review all the long-term consequences of such a sale. Here are a...
21st July -
blogwriter
Oil prices hit two-month highs this week, driven by Federal Reserve stimulus hopes and Middle East unrest. Other commodities enjoyed mixed fortunes as traders tracked the latest twists and turns in the eurozone debt crisis. Markets were rattled on Friday July 20, 2012 by growing jitters over Spain, whose 10-year government bond yields hit...
25th July -
blogwriter
Chesapeake, under pressure from big shareholders to cut costs due to its heavy spending, depressed gas prices and a big debt load, has already laid off 8 percent of its workforce in the Barnett Shale. The company also previously said it would entertain offers for its Fort Worth office tower. The company's real estate arm, Chesapeake Land...
30th July -
blogwriter
The U.S. shale oil revolution can't be stopped, but it could be delayed by a potential shortfall of 10-ton valves and giant pipeline pumps essential for rebalancing markets upended by the surge in production. Amid an unanticipated boom in inland oil output that turned the domestic market upside down last year, firms from Enterprise Products...
31st July -
blogwriter
Oil prices fell Tuesday July 31, 2012 as hopes faded for a new round of government stimulus in the U.S. Benchmark U.S. crude lost $1.93, or 2.2 percent, to $87.85 per barrel in New York, while Brent crude lost $1.58 to $104.62 per barrel in London. Traders have been guessing for months about when and whether the Federal Reserve would try to...
3rd August -
blogwriter
Southwestern Energy Co. of Houston on Thursday August 2, 2012 announced its second quarter 2012 financial results, and reported a spike in profits from its Fayetteville Shale activities. Southwestern's midstream services, which include natural gas gathering and marketing, made $71.8 million for its second quarter, up 20 percent from $59....
8th August -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose Monday August 5, 2012 amid rumors of an attack on Syria's embattled leader and as Tropical Storm Ernesto appeared likely to grow into a hurricane that could disrupt Gulf of Mexico oil operations. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude for September, finished trade at $92.20 a barrel, up 80...
10th August -
blogwriter
The Marcellus Shale is about to become the most productive natural gas field in the United States, according to new data from energy industry analysts and the federal government. Though serious drilling only began five years ago, the sheer volume of Marcellus production suggests that in some ways there's no going back, even as New York debates...
14th August -
blogwriter
Carlisle school officials want water to be added to state law that now says districts can profit from contracts with private companies for mineral rights on school-owned land. School officials want to investigate if they could profit from bottling and selling water from an aquifer the district sits on in this small Warren County village....
15th August -
blogwriter
Oil prices are racing higher as investors bet that central bank cash will soon boost a market afraid of Middle East war and worried about North Sea supplies, but the rally looks increasingly inflated by speculative guesswork. Oil is up almost a third in six weeks at a time when the world economy, and hence fuel demand, are extremely weak. Today's...
18th August -
blogwriter
The shale gas boom continues to draw interest from outside the Ohio Valley. Nobel Marcellus, based in Addison, Texas according to the company web site, sponsored a "Town Hall" style meeting for mineral rights owners at a Texas "near the shale location".  On the agenda -- lease extensions and pipeline rights-of-way.  A...
20th August -
blogwriter
Selling Mineral Rights: Nuts and Bolts Much has been reported in the news lately about companies seeking to purchase minerals from residents, whether or not those minerals have been leased. While a company may offer an attractive up-front, one-time payment to buy minerals, mineral owners should take the time to carefully review all the long-term...
22nd August -
blogwriter
Summit Midstream Partners LP on Wednesday August 22, 2012 filed to raise up to $302 million in an initial public offering of common units for trading under the symbol SMLP on the New York Stock Exchange. The Dallas-based partnership operates pipelines and infrastructure in the Barnett Shale of Texas and the Piceance Basin of Colorado. Customers...
28th August -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose Monday August 27, 2012 as Tropical Storm Isaac barreled across the Gulf of Mexico and toward the U.S. mainland, picking up strength and threatening oil and refining operations. An explosion at a refinery in Venezuela also pushed prices higher. Benchmark crude for October delivery rose $1.03 in late afternoon Bangkok time to $...
30th August -
blogwriter
A state proposal to make far-reaching amendments to oil and gas regulations governing Marcellus Shale gas development indicates stronger rules are needed to protect Pennsylvania's surface and groundwater resources. But it's too early to tell if the more than 100 proposed changes in a 23-page draft "concept paper" from the state...
5th September -
blogwriter
Of all the problems to face in the oil and gas business, this is the one you want. Chevron has $21.5 billion in cash burning a hole in its pocket. The supermajor’s total debt load is just $10.2 billion. No other oil giant even comes close to this gearing. And why would they? As Deutsche Bank’s Big Oil analyst Paul Sankey says ...
8th September -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose on Friday September 77, 2012 in volatile trading after a disappointing U.S. August jobs report weakened the dollar and bolstered expectations for stimulus from the U.S. Federal Reserve, even while denting the outlook for petroleum demand. Brent and U.S. crude futures were flirting with weekly losses after posting five straight...
11th September -
blogwriter
If you ever want to sell your mineral rights please make sure and contact us. It's truly a win-win situation. When you sell your mineral rights you will be paid a very generous amount based on the location, etc..of your land and exactly how much is being produced from it. Buyers are always wanting to invest in mineral rights and its a great way...
14th September -
blogwriter
Global oil prices rose Thursday September 13, 2012, but held under recent peaks, as traders awaited the outcome of the Federal Reserve's latest regular meeting and eyed geopolitical tensions. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in October gained 17 cents to $116.13 a barrel in late morning deals. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate or...
18th September -
blogwriter
Dr. Michael Blatt, Blanche Rybeck, Bill Hughes and others say air pollution from Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling is an issue environmental regulators need to take seriously. "Because we cannot absolutely prove that this is going to kill us does not mean we should allow it to go on," said Blatt, a physician specializing in lung and...
19th September -
blogwriter
Quantum Energy Partners , a leading energy private equity firm, is pleased to announce the formation of Vitruvian Exploration II, LLC  with industry veteran Richard Lane. Supported by a $250 million equity commitment from Quantum, Vitruvian II will pursue a multi-faceted strategy to build a diversified portfolio of high quality, emerging and...
26th September -
blogwriter
Worries about weaker economic growth dragged down oil prices Monday Sept 24, 2012. Oil has now fallen five of the last six trading days. It fell more than 6 percent last week. Benchmark crude fell 96 cents, or 1 percent, to finish at $91.93 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Prices for other petroleum products dropped, too. In London, Brent...
29th September -
blogwriter
The city of Arlington will mail out the first round of bills Monday Oct. 1, 2012 to natural gas drillers, who will begin paying a $2,397 annual fee per well to fund a new emergency preparedness and response program. Arlington is the first city in the Barnett Shale to launch such a program, designed to help firefighters better prevent and...
3rd October -
blogwriter
The number of drill rigs operating in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale may be declining, but production keeps going up. Natural-gas output increased robustly during the first half of this year, according to state Department of Environmental Protection data. And industry observers say the output will continue to rise because so many wells are waiting...
5th October -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose Thursday October 4, 2012 after positive U.S. economic reports offset some of the pessimism about global growth prospects.   Benchmark oil for November delivery was up 20 cents to $88.33 per barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Wednesday, oil fell $3.75, or 4.1...
10th October -
blogwriter
What advantages are there to selling my royalties for a lump sum payout?  Cleaning up your estate and saving your heirs from the complicated and expensive title transfer process. Reinvesting the proceeds into safer investments. Putting an end to all the record keeping and paperwork. Taking advantage of one of the lowest long-term...
15th October -
blogwriter
The Arkansas Public Service Commisson began hearings yesterday October 13, 2012 on the proposal by SWEPCO and the Arkansas Electric Cooperatives to be allowed to charge ratepayers more than $400 million to retrofit their Flint Creek coal-burning generating plant so it can meet stricter air quality standards. The Sierra Club is fighting the...
17th October -
blogwriter
Oil prices wavered between small gains and losses Tuesday October 16, 2012, as traders mulled mixed data about the nation's slowly recovering economy. The Labor Department said the consumer price index rose 0.6 percent last month, the same as in August, with inflation still in check. Meanwhile the Federal Reserve said industrial production was...
21st October -
blogwriter
There's been plenty of debate over the Marcellus Shale natural gas field, but new research adds a twist that could impact political and environmental battles. Two independent financial firms say the Marcellus isn't just the biggest natural gas field in the country — it's the cheapest place for energy companies to drill. One of the reports...
24th October -
blogwriter
Devon Energy's consolidation of jobs at its towering Oklahoma City headquarters has "no impact" on employment in the Barnett Shale, a  company spokesman says. Devon on Thursday announced it would close its Houston office and relocate exploration and development personnel from South Texas, East Texas and Louisiana. The company...
25th October -
blogwriter
Global oil prices fell Wednesday October 24, 2012, with New York crude hitting the lowest level since July, as surging US crude stocks and weak European economic data sparked fresh demand concerns, analysts said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for December, sank as low as $85.22 -- the lowest point since July 12. It later stood at $85...
31st October -
blogwriter
Brazil'sCongress has a short list of priorities for legislation during the rest of this year, with the most pressing being approval of a law changing the distribution of royalties from oil production. The goal is to give more money from new wells to nonoil-producing states. Producing states oppose cuts in their share, saying they face more...
3rd November -
blogwriter
Hurricane Sandy had only a minor impact on Marcellus Shale production, several operators in the play said. "Our operations, including production, were not adversely impacted by the storm," Cabot Oil & Gas spokesman George Stark said. Talisman Energy took the necessary measures before the storm, said Berta Gomez, the company's media...
6th November -
blogwriter
A Marcellus Shale website has launched a campaign to educate those involved in this nation’s growing shale industry.  The online "Shale Voter" guide, which was published by GoMarcellusShale.com, guide touches upon 7 key issues, among them: Taxes on Royalties, Hydraulic Fracturing, Cap and Trade, and Regulation of Green House...
9th November -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose above $85 per barrel on Thursday Nov. 8, 2012 as postelection volatility continued. Crude oil rose 75 cents to $85.19 in afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That followed a decline of 5 percent on Wednesday, when traders were spooked by worries about budget negotiations in the U.S. Analysts also say that oil...
13th November -
blogwriter
The Nature Conservancy stated it will use a $900,000 commitment from Southwestern Energy Co. natural gas company to fund the first phase of the restoration of the Archey Fork area. The organization announced Thursday November 8, 2012 the project will improve habitat for rare aquatic species and improve water quality at Greers Ferry Lake. The...
14th November -
blogwriter
Decades ago, when few had heard of shale gas or fracking, major timber companies sold off enormous swaths of land in North Carolina. With a minor adjustment to the property deed, these companies retained the legal right to mine and drill hundreds of feet below the surface of the land they sold. At the time, no one seemed to pay attention. Over the...
20th November -
blogwriter
Oil prices rose further Monday November 19, 2012 as violence between Israelis and Palestinians ignited fears that that the conflict could spread throughout the region. In New York, oil prices rose roughly $2 to $89 a barrel a day after an Israeli airstrike killed 10 people in one home in the Gaza Strip. Crude prices are up roughly 4% since...
22nd November -
blogwriter
The number of rigs operating in the Marcellus gas play declined, though production there increased 72 percent since last year, the U.S. government reports. The U.S. Energy Department reports that the number of oil and natural gas rigs active in the Utica shale play in the northeastern United States has doubled. The U.S. Energy Department's Energy...
27th November -
blogwriter
Oil prices climbed Friday November 20, 2012 after Israeli troops fired on crowds in Gaza surging toward the border fence, killing one Palestinian. Benchmark crude ended the trading day up 90 cents to $88.28 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent, which is used to price international varieties of oil, was up 83 cents to $111.38 a...
30th November -
blogwriter
The New Brunswick government is proposing 116 different changes to the regulatory framework that oversees the oil and gas industry and in particular the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing. Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup and Environment Minister Bruce Fitch unveiled the changes to the rules governing the oil and gas industry...
4th December -
blogwriter
Much has been written about the Marcellus shales, the largest shale gas field in the US.  The rapid drilling program has been responsible for a supply glut, which drove spot prices down this year as low as $2.00 per mmBtu.  Since then, prices have recovered somewhat, to the $3.75 range.  Until recently, it has been hard to get a...
6th December -
blogwriter
Mining company Freeport-McMoRan is buying a pair of oil and gas producers for $9 billion, creating a natural resources conglomerate with assets ranging from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to mines in Indonesia. Freeport-McMoRan, based in Phoenix, is paying $6.9 billion in cash and stock for Plains Exploration & Production Co., and $2.1 billion...
15th December -
admin
Prices of goods imported into the U.S. dropped in November for the first time in four months on cheaper crude oil and business equipment. The 0.9 percent decline in the import-price index was more than forecast and followed a revised 0.3 percent increase in October that was smaller than initially estimated, the Labor Department reported today in...
18th December -
admin
 A state panel is taking extra time to draft a report on the best practices for hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. The Maryland Department of the Environment said Monday that the Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission expects to put the draft report out for public comment sometime this spring instead of by Dec. 31. An MDE spokesman says the...
26th December -
admin
This year was 1 of new records and new questions for the boom in Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling. Previous doubts about the size of the vast resource were mostly put to rest, as data showed that the Marcellus became the most productive natural gas field in the nation, even though well drilling slowed substantially. According to the federal...
27th December -
admin
The price of oil rose sharply on higher U.S. home prices and hopes of a budget deal in Washington. U.S. benchmark crude jumped $2.06, or 2.3 percent, to $90.67 per barrel in thin post-Christmas trading Wednesday Dec. 26, 2012 afternoon in New York. U.S. home prices rose in most major cities in October compared with a year ago, according to a...
1st January -
admin
He cracked the code. That's what folks in the oilpatch say about George Mitchell. In the 1970s and '80s, the country's conventional, big pools of natural gas were tapped out. Drillers looked in new geologic formations, but found themselves stumped. "We knew the gas was there," Mitchell says. "We didn't know how to get it free....
8th January -
admin
Oil prices retreated slightly on Monday December 7, 2013 as weak energy demand and concerns over more fiscal battles in Washington tempered news of growth in the US jobs market, analysts said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in February shed 11 cents to $92.98 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for February dropped 30...
11th January -
admin
The number of active rigs in the Barnett Shale rose by five this week to 35, apparently a rebound from last week, when the total was probably depressed by ice and snow that blew in during Christmas week. That week, the count fell by eight to 30, according to RigData. Still, the Barnett rig count remains at its lowest level in years. Nationally,...
15th January -
admin
While Cambria County has just a handful of Marcellus Shale natural gas wells, it will benefit from the host fees being paid by oil and gas companies to the state. The Cambria County Redevelopment Authority is receiving a $150,000 grant from the state to meet housing needs as a result of the drilling activity. Larry Custer, executive director of...
18th January -
admin
The price of oil rose closer to $95 a barrel on Thursday January 17, 2013 as Islamic militants took hostages at a natural gas plant in Algeria and U.S. crude supplies fell unexpectedly. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for February delivery was up 42 cents to $94.66 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The...
21st January -
admin
The Fayetteville shale is one of the largest and highly concentrated natural gas resources in the US. The Fayetteville shale is located in Arkansas in the Arkoma Basin. The shale play has large amounts of undiscovered and technically recoverable hydrocarbon reserves. The shale is as deep as 1,000 to 7,000 feet with a thickness of 20 to 200 feet....
24th January -
admin
Five years into the exploration for natural gas in the Fayetteville Shale, most Arkansans know about the hydraulic fracturing process and its links to environmental havoc, including poisoned wells and radioactive wastewater in various parts of the United States and increased earthquakes here in Arkansas. Now, a mushrooming side industry is...
29th January -
admin
The movie “Promised Land” has led the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Coalition to pay for advertising before the movie in 75 percent of the Pennsylvania’s movie theaters that are playing the film, Marcellus Shale Coalition spokesman Travis Windle said. Windle said that the group bought advertising in Pennsylvania because the...
1st February -
admin
Oil prices dipped below $115 a barrel but remained near a three-month high on Thursday Jan. 31, 2013 as optimism about global economic growth boosted demand expectations, while concern over supply continued to underpin strength in the market. "I wouldn't read too much into it (the dip in oil prices)," said Carsten Fritsch, an oil...

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