Alleging

Washington state regulatory commission staff on Monday filed a complaint against Cascade Natural Gas Co. alleging “serious safety violations” in the operation of the utility’s natural gas distribution system in parts of the state. The Kennewick, WA-based MDU Resources Group utility contends that its system is safe, although it does not dispute the allegations, a company spokesperson told NGI Tuesday.

A federal appeals court in Washington, DC, has rejected a motion by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to dismiss a case brought by independent producers alleging that the agency failed to go through the proper channels to regulate diesel fuel used in the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) process.

Two lawsuits were filed in Dallas Wednesday alleging that units of Devon Energy Corp., Encana Corp. and Chesapeake Energy Corp. contaminated water wells in the Barnett Shale with hydraulic fracturing and the storage of drilling waste.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has set for hearing a complaint by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against Range Resources Corp. alleging methane contamination of residential water wells in Parker County in the Barnett Shale play (see Shale Daily, Dec. 9). The hearing date is to be Jan. 10. “Because this matter has now been set for hearing, and the commission will sit in judgment of the facts, the commissioners cannot comment on the case,” said RRC General Counsel Lindil Fowler. “However, RRC staff expects both parties, the EPA as well as Range Resources representatives, to appear before hearings examiners and testify as to the allegations…”

A group of West Virginia landowners have filed a lawsuit alleging that Range Resources Corp. and Duncan Land and Energy (DLE) breached the terms of leases for natural gas drilling in the state’s Marcellus Shale area two years ago.

A Barnett Shale landowner is suing units of Chesapeake Energy Corp. alleging underpayment of royalties via a scheme involving gas sales to an affiliate at less than full value. The lawsuit seeks class action status.

Texas is suing the federal government over its deepwater drilling moratorium, alleging that under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) affected states must be consulted by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) before such a measure is taken.

Texas is suing the federal government over its deepwater drilling moratorium, alleging that under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) affected states must be consulted by the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) before such a measure is taken.

Landowners in Virginia are suing Consol Energy Inc. and its CNX Gas Corp.; and EQT Corp. and its EQT Production Co., alleging that coalbed methane (CBM) is being unlawfully produced from their lands. The lawsuits challenge the constitutionality of provisions of Virginia’s Gas and Oil Act and could yield billions in compensatory and punitive damages, a plaintiffs’ lawyer told NGI.