Charge

TransCanada Corp. has lost the second round of its years-long contest with natural gas shippers over proposed restructuring of finances and services for its shaky Mainline from Alberta to Ontario, Quebec and export routes to the Midwest and eastern United States.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has ordered Harch Environmental Resources Inc., a brine waste hauler, to cease operations in the state after finding evidence that the company illegally dumped oilfield waste at a farm in Belmont County. Regulators also took aim at Gulfport Energy Corp., which had contracted with the hauler.

Strong liquids and oil growth from the Greater Wattenberg Field in Colorado, and stronger-than-expected natural gas output from the Marcellus Shale, contributed to record volumes in the first quarter by Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

In a move timed to coincide with the commencement of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Thursday in Washington, DC, Tulsa, OK, Mayor Dewey Bartlett is leading a charge for the exportation of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Cash prices on average fell 14 cents Tuesday for Wednesday delivery with the Northeast leading the charge lower. Losses were widespread and occurred at all trading points. The market is being forced to take on differing weather forecasts with some anticipating a widespread cold carrying all the way to the East Coast, while others are more mild. At the close, February was 4.8 cents lower at $3.218 and March had lost 4.7 cents to $3.234. February crude oil shed 4 cents to $93.15/bbl.

Cash prices overall added an average nearly 15 cents Wednesday as multi-dollar gains at New England points led the charge higher. Midcontinent points posted solid gains, but the East and California chalked up even higher ones. At the close of trading January futures had surged 16.1 cents to $3.700 and February had jumped 15.8 cents to $3.720. January crude oil fell 62 cents to $87.88/bbl.

Helping lead the charge for an eventual bipartisan and serious discussion about the future U.S. energy policy, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead said Friday the federal government “doesn’t have a corner on the market” for regulating the oil and natural gas drilling process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

BHP Billiton Ltd.’s recent announcement of a $2.8B charge for the diminished value of its dry gas Fayetteville Shale assets (see Shale Daily, Aug. 7) wasn’t the only bad shale-related news to come from the Australian company. Its Petrohawk Energy Corp. unit has been turning in sour numbers as well.

Global gas producer BG Group plc said net profits for the second quarter were hobbled by a $1.3 billion post-tax charge against its shale assets in the United States and that it would reduce drilling activity there in response to continuing low natural gas prices.