The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has approved a settlement with Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania that requires the company to pay a $50,000 civil penalty, correct operating procedures and enhance training for employees and contractors. The commission ruled that the fine may not be recovered from ratepayers. The PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement determined that the company’s failure to take adequate safety precautions at sites in western Pennsylvania caused injuries to two contractors. Columbia Gas, a subsidiary of NiSource Inc., serves 426,000 customers in the state and operates 7,350 miles of distribution lines.

The North Dakota Supreme Court has upheld a district court decision supporting the Industrial Commission (IC) regarding a fine against a trucking firm for illegal saltwater dumping three years ago in the Bakken Shale. The IC had approved $950,000 in penalties against Black Hills Trucking (BHT). BHT argued the IC had no jurisdiction to issue fines. BHT has until Dec. 21 to file a rehearing petition before the decision is considered final

Continental Resources Inc. is accepting bids through Friday (Dec. 11) for three packages of assets in Oklahoma’s Mississippian/Woodford Shale. The offer is for more than 80 wells in about 5,900 acres in the Sooner Trend of the Anadarko Basin, mostly in Canadian and Kingfisher counties (STACK). The assets in Garfield and Kingfisher counties are being offered through EnergyNet.com. Garfield assets include 34 wells, with 21 producing. The six-month average production from the 34 wells is slightly more than 1 MMcf/d; The package also includes more than 1,900 leasehold acres. Another Garfield package includes about 3,000 net acres including 23 wells producing on average 530 Mcf/d and 26 b/d. In Kingfisher County, 26 wells are being sold across a 984-net-acre package, with average production of 1.06 MMcf/D and 160 b/d. Contact energynet.com or Denna Arias (281) 949-8463 for information.