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Although among the smaller, less-life threatening of Colorado’s wildfires so far this summer, the Pine Ridge fire along the Western Slope tested the gas industry with the shutting in of more than 100 wells in part of the Piceance Basin (see Daily GPI, July 9), but the response was effective and expected by the gas industry, according to Encana Corp.’s manager in charge on the ground, David Grisso.

Whether the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale turns out to be the kind of prospect that ranks among energy industry biggies is still a waiting game, one of the trend’s followers said last week.

Whether the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale turns out to be the kind of prospect that ranks among energy industry biggies is still a waiting game, one of the trend’s followers said Tuesday.

Five public-access natural gas vehicle (NGV) fueling stations are among 15 projects that were granted a total of $23.1 million in funding Wednesday by the California Energy Commission (CEC) as part of the state’s alternative transportation fuels program. Several other projects will benefit NGVs as part of research and development on all the alternative fuels.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration is reportedly working on a plan to allow hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in five counties along the Pennsylvania border in the Marcellus Shale, but only in localities that support the practice.

ExxonMobil Corp. shareholders for the third year in a row turned back a shareholder proposal which would require the corporation to prepare a report on the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking). Chevron Corp. shareholders defeated a similar measure at their annual meeting, with fewer voting in favor than a year ago.

Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly have begun considering House Bill 2399, which among other things would provide a tax credit to companies that create new jobs related to the Marcellus Shale.

Some of Halliburton Co.’s pressure pumping deliveries in North America originally planned for this year will be deferred to 2013 to deal with “inefficiencies” that followed onshore producers moving from dry natural gas plays to more liquids-rich regions, company executives said Wednesday.

A consensus is forming among U.S. government and private energy analysts that barring an unusual weather event — or an unusual event period — North American natural gas prices likely will be low through the summer. Some have thrown in the towel for higher prices through the summer and fall, and instead are looking ahead to what they hope will be a return to normal winter weather that could boost prices beginning in 2013.