Biggest

ConocoPhillips posted better-than-expected results in the first quarter, aided by its “biggest contributor” today, the Eagle Ford Shale.

The largest oilfield services (OFS) providers have detailed their views for U.S. exploration and production (E&P) spending this year — all good — but it’s going to take a few more weeks to determine whether producers will move more forces into natural gas fields to increase stores.

A study of Barnett Shale region water wells has found elevated levels of heavy metals near natural gas extraction sites, but a link to drilling/production activity has not been determined and may not be, researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) said.

Nabors Industries Inc., the largest onshore drilling fleet operator and the biggest supplier of pressure pumping equipment, is not optimistic about seeing gains in the U.S. oil or gas patch through the rest of this year, CEO Tony Petrello said Wednesday.

Nabors Industries Inc., the largest onshore drilling fleet operator and the biggest supplier of pressure pumping equipment, is not optimistic about seeing gains in the U.S. oil or gas patch through the rest of this year, CEO Tony Petrello said Wednesday.

A check, which says markets, not boosters, decide the fate of projects, is built into the biggest plan for exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from new terminals on the northern Pacific Coast of British Columbia (BC).

Two of the biggest independent exploration and production companies in North America — Marathon Oil Corp. and Encana Corp. — last week tapped former Big Oil executives to helm their operations.

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has powered the biggest increase since the 1970s in Alberta oil production from flowing wells outside the northern bitumen sands belt, according to the provincial Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB). Output from flowing wells jumped by 14% in 2012 to 559,000 b/d, and should average 593,000 b/d this year, according to the board’s annual report.

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has powered the biggest increase since the 1970s in Alberta oil production from flowing wells outside the northern bitumen sands belt, says the provincial Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB).