The city council of Denton, TX, which overlies the Barnett Shale, has extended a moratorium (see Shale Daily, May 12) on new drilling permits within the city until Jan. 21, while a referendum to ban hydraulic fracturing within the city is on its way to voters Nov. 4. If voters approve the ban, Denton would be the first city in the Lone Star State to ban fracking (see Shale Daily, July 16).

Rimrock Midstream LLC and NGL Energy Partners LP is holding a binding open season through Oct. 3 for its joint venture Grand Mesa Pipeline crude oil pipeline. The pipeline, originating in Weld County, CO, and extending 550 miles to NGL’s crude oil storage terminal at the Cushing hub in Oklahoma, will provide takeaway capacity for crude oil producers in the Denver-Julesburg Basin, the companies said. As proposed, the pipeline will be capable of receiving and transporting more than 130,000 b/d for delivery into the Cushing hub. For information visit www.grandmesapipeline.com.