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The Ohio General Assembly is considering a bill that would open leasing rights for all property owned by the state government — including state parks — to oil and gas companies.

A new report on the merits of developing Alaska’s Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) states the move would create “significant economic effects,” and would generate thousands of jobs and billions in payroll and tax revenue.

The Eagle Ford Shale, where oil and natural gas development began in earnest less than three years ago, is making a big economic footprint in the 24-county South Texas area where it lies, according to researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

Further punctuating the rapidness of the expansion in the Bakken Shale and Three Forks formations in North Dakota, Enbridge Energy Partners LP (EEP) began Friday to expand its takeaway capacity by 23,500 b/d in the area through reconfiguration of its system between Minot, ND, and Clearbrook, MN.

Gulf South declared a force majeure event due to repairs required at the Carthage Junction Expansion Compressor Station that began Tuesday and will last until further notice. Gulf South said that effective with Timely cycle nominations for Wednesday’s gas day going forward, it is anticipated that scheduled receipts in the “Area 8 to 16 Scheduling Group” will be restricted to Primary Firm only.

Pioneer Natural Resources Co. last year ramped up its activity in the Spraberry Field of West Texas and the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas, both of which were drivers for growth in 2010.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) Wednesday began cutting pressure on four natural gas transmission lines at the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

Acting West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin on Wednesday night said he would continue to fight for the state’s huge coal industry, but he also urged state residents to embrace the opportunities that would come from natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which officially began Sunday, represents an “unconstitutional power grab that will kill millions of jobs — unless Congress steps in,” said Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), the incoming chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee.