Attracted

Several municipalities in the Southern Tier of New York have adopted nonbinding resolutions that take a stand that would allow high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking), a position that dovetails with an assertion by state officials that the drilling stimulation practice, if eventually approved by regulators, only would be permitted in communities that allowed it.

While over recent months the Marcellus and Utica shales have attracted most of the attention focused on shale gas supplies, the southeastern United States — where the shale boom hit earlier — is still dealing with the consequences of shifting supplies, according to a report by LCI Energy Insight and Energy Ventures Analysis.

While over recent months the Marcellus and Utica shales have attracted most of the attention focused on shale gas supplies, the southeastern United States — where the shale boom hit earlier — is still dealing with the consequences of shifting supplies, according to a report by LCI Energy Insight and Energy Ventures Analysis.

The California energy crisis attracted two emergency gaspipeline projects last week, one from Kern River Gas Transmissionand another from El Paso Natural Gas. Together the projects wouldadd 365 MMcf/d of firm transportation to the California market bylate summer.

El Paso Natural Gas apparently got the message when its lastopen season for 1.2 Bcf/d of firm transportation capacity attractedbids for 14.4 Bcf/d. The pipeline has announced an open season totest market interest in a mainline expansion and to satisfyregulatory concerns that something needs to be done to relieve theapparent capacity constraint at the California border.

Deepwater discoveries by the majors in the Gulf of Mexico haveattracted a lot of attention, but quietly, smaller North Americanindependents have staked their claims in the shallower waters ofthe Gulf. Better technology, an infrastructure already in place,less cost and a consumer thirst for natural gas have made theshallow waters of the Gulf an enticing niche for independentswanting to make their mark.

Deepwater discoveries by the majors in the Gulf of Mexico have attracted a lot of attention, but quietly, smaller North American independents have staked their claims in the shallower waters of the Gulf. Better technology, an infrastructure already in place, less cost and a consumer thirst for natural gas have made the shallow waters of the Gulf an enticing niche for independents wanting to make their mark.

The tremendous supply potential of the Powder River Basin inMontana and Wyoming has attracted a new consortium of energycompanies with plans to build a large gas gathering system. CMSEnergy, Enron Capital &amp Trade Resources, Western Gas Resourcesand CIG Resources announced they have formed Fort Union GasGathering, L.L.C. to build a $43 million, 106-mile, 24-inchgathering header from Glenrock, WY, north to a point near Gillette,WY. A gas treating facility also will be installed at Glenrock.