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Santa Fe Petroleum Inc. announced Thursday that it had acquired additional leased acres in North Central Texas for oil and natural gas drilling, expanding its position in the Barnett Shale.

Howard Midstream Energy Partners LLC (HEP) will construct a cryogenic natural gas plant capable of processing 200 MMcf/d in the heart of the Eagle Ford Shale in Webb County, TX, the San Antonio, TX-based company said Wednesday.

The Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (IOGA) has submitted 119 pages of comments to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), just before the deadline to comment on the proposed rules governing high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF).

The Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (IOGA) has submitted 119 pages of comments to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), just before the deadline to comment on the proposed rules governing high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF).

Maryland’s fledgling Marcellus Shale industry — which would be based solely in two of the state’s westernmost counties — has ended even before it began, according to Robert Summers, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

Maryland’s fledgling Marcellus Shale industry — which would be based solely in two of the state’s westernmost counties — has ended even before it began, according to Robert Summers, secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said domestic water wells in two Arkansas counties showed no evidence of contamination from oil and natural gas drilling in the Fayetteville Shale, but it cautioned that additional testing would be necessary to provide an adequate comparative analysis.

Dow Chemical Co. began producing on-spec ethylene in late December at its St. Charles Olefins 2 Plant near Hahnville, LA, the company said. “The start-up of our St. Charles ethylene plant represents the first major milestone within our U.S. Gulf Coast investment strategy,” said Brian Ames, president, of Dow’s olefins, aromatics and alternatives business. “This action further reduces the company’s purchased ethylene, lowering costs and strengthening the competitiveness of our high-margin, high-growth derivatives businesses.” Restart of the plant had been previously announced and is part of the company’s plan to further connect its U.S. operations with cost-advantaged feedstocks from U.S. shale gas (see Shale Daily, Dec. 13, 2012). “Plans to increase ethylene and propylene supply and ethane cracking capabilities at existing U.S. Gulf Coast facilities strengthen the competitiveness of Dow’s performance plastics, performance products and advanced materials businesses and enable profitable growth in the Americas,” the company said. The St. Charles plant was idled in January 2009 and is now expected to deliver a $150 million increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization this year.

Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. brought online two new company-operated Eagle Ford Shale wells three days before Christmas. The wells’ best-ever results for the company in the Eagle Ford could have Magnum Hunter rethinking its idea of divesting the South Texas properties, said CEO Gary C. Evans.