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The across-the-board budget sequestration cuts, which began in March, will result in a considerable reduction in the number of oil and natural gas permits processed and leases issued annually, according to a new report by Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday.

The Bakken Shale and Three Forks formation in the Williston Basin in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota contain a combined estimated 7.4 billion bbl of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil, 6.7 Tcf of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas and 530 million bbl of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas liquids (NGL), according to an assessment released Tuesday by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) independent Science Advisory Board (SAB) has formed a Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory panel of independent experts to peer review the EPA’s 2014 draft report of results for its national study on potential health and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. EPA said the SAB panel will provide scientific feedback on EPA’s research in “an open and transparent manner.”

Western Canada’s oil production should hit 5.7 million b/d by 2025, which is double the current output, boosted by unconventional growth from the oilsands and shale formations, according to ITG Investment Research (IR). Unconventional natural gas production also is seen lifting gas supplies by 3 Bcf/d from current numbers.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) independent Science Advisory Board (SAB) has formed a Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory panel of independent experts to peer review the EPA’s 2014 draft report of results for its national study on potential health and environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources. EPA said the SAB panel will provide scientific feedback on EPA’s research in “an open and transparent manner.”

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett announced Friday that Michael Krancer, secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), will step down on April 15 and return to practice law in Philadelphia. But the decision to replace him on an interim basis with the governor’s deputy chief of staff is being derided by Krancer’s predecessor, John Hanger.

In an unusual reach by local government, the Forward Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to enact an ordinance regulating natural gas transmission and gathering pipelines built in the municipality, located in Allegheny County, PA.

In an unusual reach by local government, the Forward Township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to enact an ordinance regulating natural gas transmission and gathering pipelines built in the municipality, located in Allegheny County, PA.

Physical natural gas cash points rose virtually across the board in Tuesday’s trading for Wednesday delivery. The overall rise was a dime on average, but if super-size gains on pipes such as Algonquin, Iroquois and portions of Tennessee in the Northeast are excluded, the average national gain still came in at 8 cents.