Burning

Veteran broadcast journalist and anchor Ted Koppel threw the burning brand into an otherwise predictable ‘he-said (Republican) — she-said (Democrat)’ political debate at the Marcellus Shale Gas Insight conference Thursday, questioning the public benefit of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG).

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 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.

Contrary to some previous reports, natural gas offers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions advantages compared with coal-fired power generation, according to a recent study by Worldwatch Institute and Deutsche Bank Climate Change Advisors. Earlier this year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency updated its methodology for estimating methane (CH4) emissions from natural gas systems, but gas-fired generation still releases 47% less GHGs than coal from source to use, the researchers said. A controversial study by Cornell University earlier this year reported that CH4 leaks were a particular concern for gas produced from shale formations using hydraulic fracturing (see Shale Daily, April 13). But even counting higher estimated emissions of CH4 from shale gas production activities, gas-fired power generation still beats coal-fired power by a wide margin when it comes to overall GHG emissions, according to a subsequent study published by the gas-friendly American Clean Skies Foundation (see Shale Daily, April 21). IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates in August said GHG emissions from shale gas production likely are “significantly overstated” (see Shale Daily, Aug. 25). Another recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research found that burning natural gas emits “far less” carbon dioxide than coal but even so, more reliance on gas won’t significantly slow climate change.

It’s no secret that weak prices have made natural gas a stepchild to oil and natural gas liquids (NGL), but perhaps nowhere else is the clean-burning stuff more out of favor than in the halls of Houston-based EOG Resources Inc., where CEO Mark Papa can’t seem to distance himself from the Mcfs fast enough.

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), which governs water quality and regulates water withdrawals over a portion of the Marcellus Shale, is being sued by a coalition of environmental groups for allowing natural gas drilling regulations to be proposed before an environmental impact study was completed.

It’s no secret that weak prices have made natural gas a stepchild to oil and natural gas liquids (NGL), but perhaps nowhere else is the clean-burning stuff more out of favor than in the halls of Houston-based EOG Resources Inc., where CEO Mark Papa can’t seem to distance himself from the Mcfs fast enough.

The new year in Canadian natural gas exports is off to a shaky start, but strong domestic demand for underground oilsands production and reduced drilling are burning off surplus supplies.

The new year in Canadian natural gas exports is off to a shaky start, but strong domestic demand for underground oilsands production and reduced drilling are burning off surplus supplies.