Activities

Pennsylvania’s program for regulating the hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) well stimulation activities of oil and gas producers “is overall, well managed, professional and meeting its program objectives,” according to a newly completed review.

A recent survey of residents living in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region found that most knew little about gas industry activities there and many did not believe gas development would affect quality of life. “However, with the exception of jobs and job training opportunities, they were more likely to expect a worsening of the amenities and services in the area rather than an improvement,” the survey found.

A recent survey of residents living in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region found that most knew little about gas industry activities there and many did not believe gas development would affect quality of life. “However, with the exception of jobs and job training opportunities, they were more likely to expect a worsening of the amenities and services in the area rather than an improvement,” the survey found.

The federal agency overseeing offshore drilling activities announced a new policy last Tuesday aimed at thwarting undue influence by the oil and natural gas industry on agency employees and averting conflicts of interest.

The federal agency overseeing offshore drilling activities announced a new policy Tuesday aimed at preventing undue influence by the oil and natural gas industry on agency employees and averting conflicts of interest.

Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Jones has slammed Congress’ attempt to usurp the states’ authority over oil and natural gas exploration and production activities on private and state lands.

An amendment by Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) seeking to strike a provision allowing federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) activities on federal lands fueled an extensive debate during mark-up of a broader bill by the House Natural Resources Committee.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) singled out “energy extraction activities” as one of the agency’s top national enforcement priorities for 2011 to 2013, according to the Washington, DC, law firm of Steptoe & Johnson. The EPA has not had much of an appetite for a producer technique known as hydraulic fracturing — in which fluids injected at high pressure are used to stimulate the production of natural gas from shales — but it did not single out the technique, according to the law firm. The EPA said an “unprecedented acceleration of oil and gas leasing and development” has prompted air pollution concerns, particularly in the West. In addition to oil and gas, the agency said it also will focus on New Source Review compliance among major emitters of air pollution, especially the coal-fired utility, cement, glass and acid sectors. The EPA has not yet developed the specifics of its enforcement strategy for the energy extraction industries, but will be doing so in the near future. In the meantime, increased inspections and enforcement for noncompliance are likely, according to Steptoe & Johnson.

President Bush last Tuesday signed a $630 billion stopgap funding measure that ended the decades-old moratorium on offshore oil and natural gas drilling and one-year ban on oil shale development in the Intermountain West. Surprisingly there was little reaction from producers, who have long sought expanded offshore access, due largely to the fact the upheaval in the financial markets has overtaken events Producers also realize that, given that there will be a changing of the guard at the White House and possibly in Congress, the removal of the bans could be short term.