Affordable

The ability to convert shale and tight sands formations into affordable natural gas and oil is “the game changer” for the United States “because it changes the most important game in the world, the game of war,” global intelligence expert George Friedman said last Wednesday.

Converting shale and tight sands formations into affordable natural gas and oil reserves have become the true “game changer” for the United States “because it changes the most important game in the world, the game of war,” according to global intelligence expert George Friedman.

An overarching focus for the West should be “responsible energy development” that sets goals for providing reliable, affordable and cleaner energy longer term, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Tuesday after being elected to the chairmanship of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) at its annual meeting in Cle Elum, WA. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper was elected WGA vice president.

A collection of companies and industry groups have asked to intervene in a lawsuit filed by seven Pennsylvania municipalities against recently passed shale legislation.

President Obama, in his annual State of the Union speech Tuesday night, for the first time issued a strong call for development of domestic natural gas and oil as part of “an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy.”

In response to low natural gas prices, Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Monday said it would “immediately” curtail 0.5 Bcf/d, or 8% of its current operated gross natural gas output, which is 6.3 Bcf/d. As much as 1 Bcf/d could be curtailed “if conditions warrant.”

Pennsylvania must begin to take steps to protect average homeowners from rising housing costs and rental rates in the Marcellus Shale region, according to a new study.

More than 35,000 manufacturing jobs could be created in Louisiana thanks to affordable supplies of natural gas from shale plays, American Chemistry Council (ACC) CEO Cal Dooley said.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was called to task last week by House Republicans from two separate committees who want him to explain comments indicating natural gas drillers may be required to disclose hydraulic fracturing (fracking) chemicals used to develop shale and tight gas on public lands.