Apparently

A Pennsylvania judge has denied a request from a wealthy Pittsburgh suburb, apparently clearing the way for a controversial referendum that would ban hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to be placed on the Nov. 8 ballot, according to Peters Township Marcellus Shale Awareness (PTMSA), an environmental group that drafted the proposed referendum.

The tug-of-war being played out for Southern Union Co. continued on Tuesday with Energy Transfer Equity LP (ETE) topping by 25 cents a $44/share offer by Williams. The $9.4 billion bid is the second time ETE has countered Williams’ offers for the Houston-based gas pipeline company.

Russia’s OAO Rosneft apparently no longer is considering BP plc as a partner for its planned Arctic development. The strategic alliance had included an Arctic exploration joint venture as well as a stock swap (see NGI, Jan. 17) BP’s current Russian partner TNK-BP objected and legally blocked the alliance (see NGI, May 30). BP CEO Bob Dudley, who had helped craft the proposed alliance, said the company was “moving on,” readying the launch of 30 global projects by the end of 2016 and returning to work in the Gulf of Mexico.

Apparently cash traders weren’t quite as impressed Tuesday with the forecasts of significantly chillier temperatures in several areas later in the week as they had been a day earlier, because prices fell at most points outside the Northeast. The traders were finding some sections already set to start rebounding from the most recent blasts of cold, and new forecasts Tuesday tended to be a bit less severe than those that began the week.

With a proposed natural gas severance tax for Marcellus Shale production apparently not forthcoming from the Pennsylvania General Assembly before the Nov. 2 election, one group representing the industry said it is “regretful that…common sense legislative initiatives” have not been adopted by the state.

Apparently any “storm hype,” which seemed to help buoy the market earlier in the week, was getting totally dismissed as prices sank at all but one point Friday, most often by double-digit amounts. Instead, the near-imminent diminution of most remaining cooling load and the weekend factor of considerably lower industrial demand were more persuasive to traders in sending cash prices lower.

Having been apparently unsuccessful in their quest to obtain information on hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) from well service companies, the House Energy and Commerce Committee officials now are looking to producers to provide data on the potential impacts of the well stimulation technique on human health and the environment.

Having been apparently unsuccessful in their quest to obtain information on hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracing) from well service companies, the House Energy and Commerce Committee officials now are looking to producers to provide data on the potential impacts of the well stimulation technique on human health and the environment.

June natural gas futures eased slightly in an apparently lackluster trading session, but those watching the more deferred contracts swoon sensed a significant change in the market that may lead to lower prices.