Bureau

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a final rule in last Friday’s Federal Register that revises the process the BLM will use in issuing right-of-way grants and calculating cost-recovery fees for the use of public lands for pipelines, roads, transmission lines and communications sites.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will publish a final rule in Friday’s Federal Register that revises the process the BLM will use in issuing right-of-way grants and calculating cost-recovery fees for the use of public lands for pipelines, roads, transmission lines and communications sites.

The Bureau of Land Management — Eastern States leased 155 parcels of land in the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests in Arkansas, the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana, and the Bienville and DeSoto National Forests in Mississippi, bringing in $6.4 million in the latest competitive auction on March 24 in Springfield, VA.

Citing “greatly improved” permit processing by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Western Gas Resources expects to grow its unconventional gas production by between 10-15% this year and 15-20% in 2006, company officials said in an earnings conference call last Thursday. While production, mainly from the Rockies area, was only up 5% in 2004 over 2003, net income increased 42% to a record $119.2 million.

Citing “greatly improved” permit processing by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Western Gas Resources expects to grow its unconventional gas production by between 10-15% this year and 15-20% in 2006, company officials said in an earnings conference call Thursday. While production, mainly from the Rockies area, was only up 5% in 2004 over 2003, net income increased 42% to a record $119.2 million.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and the state’s Attorney General Patricia Madrid announced Monday they will vigorously continue to oppose the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) decision to open parts of the Otero Mesa to oil/natural gas leasing. They said BLM is ignoring the state’s alternatives and appeal of the decision.

The U.S. Census Bureau released data Tuesday showing that 57% of U.S. homes (62 million) used natural gas as a heating fuel in 2003. The second most popular home heating source was electricity, used by 31% of U.S. homes (33.9 million). According to the survey, the states with some of the highest percentages of households using gas to heat their homes were Utah (88.5%), Michigan (86.9%), Illinois (86.7%), Iowa (82.3%) and Colorado (80.2%). States having warmer climates were more likely to use electricity. More than 35% of the nation’s households using electricity were concentrated in just three states: Florida, Texas and California, the survey said.

The U.S. Census Bureau released data Tuesday showing that 57% of U.S. homes (62 million) used natural gas as a heating fuel in 2003. The second most popular home heating source was electricity, used by 31% of U.S. homes (33.9 million). According to the survey, the states with some of the highest percentages of households using gas to heat their homes were Utah (88.5%), Michigan (86.9%), Illinois (86.7%), Iowa (82.3%) and Colorado (80.2%). States having warmer climates were more likely to use electricity. More than 35% of the nation’s households using electricity were concentrated in just three states: Florida, Texas and California, the survey said.

Questar’s year-round drilling plan for the Pinedale Anticline area in Wyoming was approved Tuesday by the state office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The program will be phased in over the next year, allowing Questar to significantly increase exploration and production activities while reducing its overall environmental impact through directional drilling and other measures.