Major environmental groups leading opposition to the northern portion of the proposed $7 billion, 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline project from Alberta to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico region lashed out at the U.S. State Department last Friday for not making public the comments being collected on the project’s draft supplemental environmental impact statement (see Shale Daily, March 4). Effectively, the only way to hear and respond to public comments on the draft study will be at a hearing scheduled for April 18 in Grand Island, NB, said a Friends of the Earth spokesperson, calling the move “unusual.” This is prompting the foes of Keystone XL to claim the State Department is violating public transparency practices followed by other federal agencies regarding draft environmental studies. The stakeholders are in the middle of a 45-day comment period on the proposed northern portion of TransCanada Corp.’s controversial tar sands oil pipeline from Western Canada to Cushing, OK.
Alberta
Articles from Alberta
Pembina Mounting C$1B Post Merger Buildout
Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corp. said it will proceed with a C$1 billion expansion of its natural gas liquids (NGL) infrastructure, with at least some of the development intended to build upon its acquisition of Provident Energy Ltd., which was completed last year.
State Department Issues Draft SEIS on Keystone XL Pipeline
The U.S. State Department on Friday released a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (DSEIS) on the proposed northern portion of TransCanada Corp.’s controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline from Western Canada to Cushing, OK, drawing strong reactions from supporters and opponents alike.
Encana LNG Fueling Station Begins Operations
Encana Corp. has commissioned the Cavalier liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Alberta, considered one of the keys to bring higher volumes of natural gas to heavy-duty trucking and other fleets in Western Canada and elsewhere.
Latest Abraxas Eagle Ford Well Raises the Bar
In an operations update Monday, San Antonio, TX-based Abraxas Petroleum Corp. said a recent Eagle Ford Shale well turned in solid initial performance. The company’s third well in the WyCross area has outperformed a previous top performer.
Nebraska DEQ Issues Final Keystone XL Report
Nebraska environmental officials on Friday issued a final evaluation report regarding TransCanada Corp.’s alternative route for the norethern portion of its proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline. The rerouting avoids environmentally sensitive areas in the Sand Hills region of the state, and carries 57 special conditions that TransCanada has agreed to fulfill.
Encana Bets Big On Tuscaloosa Marine Shale
Encana Corp. has about 50 billion bbl of oil in place in its five largest liquids plays, according to Eric Marsh, executive vice president. Earlier this month at Barclays CEO Energy/Power Conference, the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) was at the top of his list.
Industry Briefs
Littleton, CO-based American Eagle Energy Corp. expanded its existing carry agreement to accelerate drilling. Last May the company entered into a six-well carry agreement; the amended agreement extends the terms of the financing to an additional four wells, all of which will be drilled in the Bakken or Three Forks zones of its Spyglass Project. “The expansion of our existing carry agreement…allows us to continue aggressively pursuing our development program within the Spyglass Property while minimizing our capital outlay,” said President Brad Colby. The expansion of the scope of the agreement allows American Eagle to contract a second drilling rig to begin drilling infill locations on the Spyglass property. American Eagle expects a second Nabors Drilling rig to arrive by the middle of September and anticipates drilling and completing a total of 12 gross wells (4.2 net) with the two rigs by the end of 2012, including all 10 wells covered by the amended carry agreement.
Noble Sheds Liquids-Weighted Permian Assets
Noble Energy Inc. is selling oil and natural gas properties in the Permian Basin to privately held Sheridan Holding Co. II LLC of Houston for $320 million as part of an ongoing divestiture plan, the company said Tuesday.
Peyto Gains Alberta Deep Basin Access in Merger
In a move to expand its natural gas position in Alberta’s Deep Basin, Canada’s Peyto Exploration & Development Corp. on Tuesday agreed to buy fellow explorer Open Range Energy Corp.
