Arlington

Producers operating in the Barnett Shale town Arlington, TX, will have to comply with new rules enacted Tuesday that call for greater drilling site security and improved aesthetics of drilling locations for future wells. Surveillance cameras will be required at drilling locations, and the use of diesel-powered rigs is banned within 450 feet of residences and other designated places. The vote was 7-0 in favor of the ordinance revision with one council member absent and one seat unfilled. Previously, some members had expressed reservations about the changes, saying they might be too onerous for the industry. One change that favors drillers is the allowance of concurrent applications for specific-use permits and gas well permits. Council initially approved the rules last month (see Shale Daily, Nov. 21).

The Arlington, TX, City Council Tuesday initially approved amendments to the city’s gas drilling ordinance that would place stricter requirements on operators. Among them are a requirement to install video surveillance equipment at drill sites and restrictions on the use of diesel-powered rigs in favor of electric rigs. The latter provision is intended to reduce noise and emissions at drill sites. Also slated for revision are the definition of “protected structures,” and setback compliance requirements. In order to take effect, the amendments need a second vote, which is expected to happen when the council meets next month.

AES Corporation announced Wednesday that it plans to acquire DPL Inc. in a $3.5 billion stock deal as it looks to strengthen its regional holdings.

The Arlington, TX, City Council voted 8-1 to award Chesapeake Energy Corp. for its Bobcat 1H well on a site that is about a half-mile southwest of the Cowboys Stadium. The approval followed a public hearing and an agreement by Chesapeake to coordinate heavy truck traffic around events at the stadium and the nearby Rangers Ballpark, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. As many as a dozen wells could be placed on Chesapeake’s Truman site accessing the mineral resources of about 1,200 property owners. Some area residents had expressed concerns about traffic and pollution, but others at the council meeting said they supported development of their mineral rights.

Kansas City, MO-based Inergy LP said its Arlington Storage Co. LLC (ASC) subsidiary has sold out the 5.7 Bcf in available capacity at its Thomas Corners natural gas storage project located in Steuben County, NY. The company filed at FERC in mid-March to convert the depleted Thomas Corners Field in the Town of Bath into an underground gas storage facility (see NGI, March 31).

Kansas City, MO-based Inergy LP said its Arlington Storage Co. LLC (ASC) subsidiary has sold out the 5.7 Bcf in available capacity at its Thomas Corners natural gas storage project located in Steuben County, NY. The company filed at FERC in mid-March to convert the depleted Thomas Corners Field in the Town of Bath into an underground gas storage facility (see Daily GPI, March 26).

Inergy subsidiary Arlington Storage Co. LLC (ASC) has filed with FERC to develop and operate a depleted reservoir natural gas storage project in Steuben County, NY, known as the Thomas Corners project.

Inergy LP has agreed to purchase the membership interests of Arlington Storage Co. LLC (ASC), the majority owner and operator of Steuben Gas Storage Co., which owns a storage facility in Steuben County, NY.

Fairfax, VA-based consulting firm ICF International has acquired Energy and Environmental Analysis Inc. (EEA) of Arlington, VA, to bolster its energy market, energy technology and environmental advisory services. “The combination of the modeling frameworks of ICF and EEA in the electricity and gas sectors respectively will create a unique analytical platform for integrated energy analyses,” said ICF CEO Sudhakar Kesava. “This is particularly important with the increased use of natural gas and LNG as fuels to generate electric power. In addition, this framework will allow sophisticated analyses of the impacts of evolving greenhouse gas regulations at the state, provincial, and federal levels in North America.” The 27-person EEA consulting team specializes in energy market analyses, modeling, energy technology, environmental advisory services and automotive technology analysis. “ICF’s national and international geographic presence will provide wider outlets for EEA’s well-established products and services, providing new growth opportunities for both companies,” said EEA President Joel Bluestein. “In addition, the combined expertise and analytical tools of the two firms will facilitate the development of new products and services to meet the evolving needs of our existing and future clients.” Bluestein and the other current EEA directors will continue to manage the EEA business within ICF.