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Data just coming in from 2011 shows that investment in U.S. shale oil and gas drilling nearly doubled over 2010 levels, which vaulted shale plays to account for nearly one-quarter of all wells drilled in the United States, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API).

San Bruno, CA, the suburb south of San Francisco that endured a devastating natural gas pipeline rupture and explosion almost three years ago, on Wednesday filed a motion with California state regulators calling for postponement or changes in an upcoming two-day utility safety symposium. And the regulators on Thursday said they will postpone the event.

With the advent of more renewables and more retirement of coal-fired power plants, an almost three-decade-old coalition of energy regulators and planners from throughout the western states has authorized a study of the level of coordination among the natural gas and electrical systems in the region.

The 2013 Atlantic Hurricane season is expected to be active, with almost as many named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) as 2012, and energy interests in the Gulf of Mexico stand a better than average chance of dealing with a major hurricane in the region, according to long term prognostications from two prominent forecasters last week.

Penn Virginia Corp. (PVA) is opening its Eagle Ford Shale oil window wider with the acquisition of 40,600 gross acres (19,000 net) in Gonzales and Lavaca counties, TX, for $401 million from Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. (MHR), which has set its sights, in part, on the Pearsall Shale.

Matador Resources Co., which is focused on the liquids-rich portion of the Eagle Ford Shale, grew its oil production almost eight-fold last year to just over 1.2 million bbl from 154,000 bbl in 2011 and 33,000 bbl in 2010. The company will stay focused on the Eagle Ford and growing its Permian Basin position as gas prices aren’t high enough to support more Haynesville Shale activity, CEO Joe Foran said Thursday.

Natural gas production in the Lower 48 was 72.70 Bcf/d in December, down 1.1% (0.83 Bcf/d) compared with the previous month but up almost 1% (0.62 Bcf/d) over December 2011, according to the most recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Natural gas production in the Lower 48, boosted by output from shale plays, was up to 72.70 Bcf/d in December, almost 1% (0.62 Bcf/d) over December 2011, but down 1.1% (0.83 Bcf/d) compared with November, according to the most recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Natural gas production in the Lower 48 was 72.70 Bcf/d in December, down 1.1% (0.83 Bcf/d) compared with the previous month but up almost 1% (0.62 Bcf/d) over December 2011, according to the most recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).