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The decade-long romance between horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) shows no signs of burning out, much to the delight of the parents — onshore oilfield services companies — according to a compilation of industry data.

The large manufacturing sector is expressing strong opposition to a proposal released earlier this month in the U.S. Senate (S 1863) to expand tax credits for natural gas transportation infrastructure and vehicles (see NGI, Nov. 21). At the same time, industrial users struck back against potential widespread U.S. exports of gas.

Pennsylvania lawmakers approached Halloween hoping to bring drilling impact fee legislation to the Senate floor before the end of October, but after failing to resolve major issues over the weekend they now hope to pass a bill before Thanksgiving.

Officials with Inergy subsidiary Central New York Oil & Gas Co. LLC (CNYOG) have called on FERC to quickly issue a certificate so the company can begin construction of its MARC Hub Line project in northeastern Pennsylvania, saying failure to do so “would have significant adverse commercial consequences for CNYOG and its shippers.” The project would give northern markets greater access to Marcellus Shale gas.

Noble Energy Inc. and CONSOL Energy Inc. have clinched their joint venture agreement to develop a swath of Marcellus Shale properties in southwest Pennsylvania and northwest West Virginia, the companies said Monday.

The boom in natural gas shale exploration and production (E&P) is fueling “significant cost advantages” for North America’s commodity chemicals producers because the costs of gas and oil-based feedstocks remain far apart, according to a report by Fitch Ratings.

The National Energy Board (NEB) has foiled — for now — an attempt by TransCanada Corp. to tack a 2011 surcharge onto tolls for its natural gas Mainline between Alberta, central Canada and eastern export points into the United States.

The National Energy Board (NEB) has foiled — for now — an attempt by TransCanada Corp. to tack a 2011 surcharge onto tolls for its natural gas Mainline between Alberta, central Canada and eastern export points into the United States.

Three of the top four natural gas marketers reported volume declines compared with the year-ago period, and 24 leading companies had total sales transactions of 123.44 Bcf/d in 2Q2011, a 3.50 Bcf/d (3%) decrease from the 126.94 Bcf/d they transacted in 2Q2010, according to NGI’s 2Q2011 Top North American Gas Marketers Ranking.