Ashland

Pennsylvania issued its 3,000th Marcellus Shale drilling permit of the year in November, but the final well count for 2011 is likely to fall just shy of 2,000, if drilling remains at its current pace.

Shale development and rising oil prices are pushing up domestic demand for oilfield chemicals at a rate of more than 8% a year, according to new research by The Freedonia Group Inc. By 2015 the U.S. market for chemicals should reach $13.6 billion, the Cleveland-based industry analyst said.

CMS Energy Corp., Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC, and TEPPCOPartners LP. are forming a limited liability company to own andoperate part of Trunkline’s mainline that is being converted totransport refined products from the Gulf Coast region to Illinois.Each of the companies will own a one-third interest in the venture.CMS already is seeking FERC approval to convert the 720-mileportion of its pipeline from gas to refined products service.Conversion of the pipeline to liquids service is expected by theend of 2001.