Block

A lawsuit filed by Range Resources Corp. against a Texas couple that accused the company of contaminating its drinking water may proceed, said the Texas Second District Court of Appeals in Fort Worth, which found that the lawsuit does not run afoul of a state law against litigation intended to stifle public protest.

A growing realization is dawning for European shale gas operators that “serious” man-made and technical obstacles may block attempts to replicate U.S. experiences with shale gas, according to London-based analyst Chatham House.

Despite taking a significant hit in its 2Q2012 profits related to its 25% interest in the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX), which is now on the sales block, San Diego-based Sempra Energy executives view the natural gas pipeline as a “significant” asset long term because of its potential role in moving gas bidirectionally from the developing parts of the Utica and Marcellus shales.

Despite taking a significant hit in its 2Q2012 profits related to its 25% interest in the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX), which is now on the sales block, San Diego-based Sempra Energy executives view REX as a “significant” asset long term because of its potential role in moving natural gas bidirectionally from the developing parts of the Utica and Marcellus shales.

Energy patch communications services provider Texas Energy Network LLC (TEN) has purchased from Verizon Wireless lower 700 MHz A and B block wireless spectrum in the Eagle Ford Shale region of South Texas. The wireless spectrum encompasses 28 counties and will allow TEN to offer service over the entire Eagle Ford Shale play, the company said. “…[I]t will allow us to provide a much needed service to our customers who have been requesting improved communications services in the oilfield for some time,” said TEN CEO Gregory M. Casey. “We intend to build-out our wireless coverage of the Eagle Ford shale region with a 4G LTE network as soon as possible to bring high-speed bandwidth to the region.” The company is currently building a network in the Permian Basin as well. Separately, communications provider ERF Wireless said in April it hired a contractor to build out two high-speed wireless broadband networks in two separate areas of the Permian Basin region adjacent to existing ERF Wireless networks. In addition, ERF Wireless is using its own crews to construct three new networks that are near the extensive terrestrial wireless network system already owned and operated by ERF Wireless in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. ERF is active in the Eagle Ford as well (see Shale Daily, Jan. 13, 2011).

A judge in Delaware’s Court of Chancery has indicated that he will rule by March 6 on a request by El Paso Corp. shareholders to block a vote on the company’s sale to Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI). Meanwhile, a deal to sell El Paso’s exploration unit to a private equity group was consummated Friday (see related story).

A judge in Delaware’s Court of Chancery has indicated that he will rule by March 6 on a request by El Paso Corp. shareholders to block a vote on the company’s sale to Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI).

A pair of bills introduced Tuesday by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) would block the exportation of domestic natural gas, which Markey said would lead to higher prices in the United States.

As part of a trio of measures voted out by the House Natural Resources Committee last Wednesday, Republicans defeated an attempt by Democrats to block future exports of natural gas produced on the coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).