Environmental groups and supporters of the oil and gas industry have different opinions over claims by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that an increase in earthquakes in the Midcontinent region are more than likely caused by wastewater injection well activities.
Claims
Articles from Claims
Alberta Said to Lose Billions in ‘Overly Generous’ Royalty Cuts
Alberta’s government claims that its oil and natural gas royalty system maximizes benefits for the province, but research shows otherwise — C$55 billion in potential revenue may be lost over the next three years because of “overly generous” royalty cuts and the failure to meet even “modest targets” set by previous provincial administrations.
IPAA Challenges Administration Claims About Production on Public Land
A group of independent producers have fired off a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar challenging and contesting recent claims by the Obama administration involving oil and natural gas production on public lands.
IHS CERA: U.S. Leads in Govt. Share of Oil/Gas Revenues
A report disputes General Accountability Office (GAO) claims that the Interior Department has been falling down on the job in its collection of revenues from oil and natural gas producers and that those revenues are among the lowest in the world. It also casts some doubt on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposal to raise the onshore royalty rate to 18.75%.
IHS CERA: U.S. Leads World in Govt. Share of Oil/Gas Revenues
A Department of Interior (DOI)-commissioned report disputes General Accountability Office (GAO) claims that DOI has been falling down on the job in its collection of revenues from oil and natural gas producers and that those revenues are among the lowest in the world. It also casts some doubt on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposal to raise the onshore royalty rate to 18.75%.
Shell Offshore Pays $25M for Royalty Underpayments
Shell Offshore Inc. has agreed to pay $25 million to resolve claims that it underpaid royalties owed on oil and natural gas produced from federal leases, Interior Department’s Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) said Tuesday.
EPA Asked to Suspend Comment Period on WY Water Quality Report
Encana Oil & Gas (USA), owner of a natural gas field in Pavillion, WY, that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims is contaminated by chemicals used in production practices (including hydraulic fracturing, or fracking), has called on the agency to suspend the public comment period on a draft report issued in December.
Gastar Expanding Marcellus Operations in 2012
Gastar Exploration Ltd. achieved its goal of increasing Marcellus Shale production in northern West Virginia this year, and now the Houston-based company is setting the same goal for itself in the coming year.
UK Shale Formation Said to Possibly Rival U.S. Fields
A UK-based exploration company whose management team has unconventional exploration experience in the United States claims to have discovered a natural gas shale field near Blackpool, in Lancashire, England, that may rival rock in the United States.
Court Creates Uncertainty for Some Marcellus Gas Property Rights
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has introduced a measure of uncertainty into some ownership claims for the resource rights to Marcellus Shale gas, ordering a lower court to consider whether the owner of the shale also owns the shale gas in the same manner that state law declares that coalbed methane belongs to the owner of the coal.