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CN, Canada’s national railway, said it plans to accelerate work on a US$33 million project to upgrade a 74-mile section of the Whitehall Subdivision line in Wisconsin. The upgrade between the towns of Wisconsin Rapids and Blair would allow increased car-loading capacity and train velocity for hydraulic fracture (frack) sand suppliers Badger Mining Corp., Preferred Sands of Wisconsin LLC, Atlas Resin Proppants LLC and Taylor Frac LLC. After the upgrade, CN would be able to transport heavier freight cars loaded with frack sand, up to a maximum of 286,000 pounds. CN, which began the work in 2012, plans to complete the project by December 2014, a year ahead of time.

In the article “Consol-Noble JV to Build Marcellus Dry Gas Pipeline” (see Shale Daily, May 29), it was incorrectly reported that a 24-inch diameter dry natural gas pipeline in West Virginia would be completed in six to nine months. The joint venture plans to begin construction of the pipeline in six to nine months, and the time to build and complete the pipeline would be an additional six to nine months. NGI’s Shale Daily regrets the error.

There could be increased bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico in several energy sectors, including development of the Eagle Ford Shale south of the border, depending on developments in Mexico’s latest reform government, according to an expert on Mexican policy.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.’s management team said Tuesday it expects to complete its splash into the oil and natural gas pool in March, which should immediately move it ahead of many of the largest U.S. explorers.

Proving that the round of exchange consolidation that took place just a few years ago wasn’t quite complete, Atlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) on Thursday said it plans to acquire the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in a deal valued at $8.2 billion. ICE executives pointed out that the deal, if consummated, would bring little change to the iconic Manhattan trading floor.

Proving that the round of exchange consolidation that took place just a few years ago wasn’t quite complete, Atlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) on Thursday said it has agreed to acquire the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in a deal valued at $8.2 billion. ICE was quick to say that the deal, if consummated, would bring little change to the iconic Manhattan trading floor.

NuStar Energy LP is expanding its South Texas Crude Oil Pipeline System with the support of a long-term pipeline and terminal services agreement recently struck with ConocoPhillips, the partnership said Thursday.

Accusing Tennessee Gas Pipeline of “improperly segmenting” its expansion projects to avoid rigorous environmental reviews, three environmental groups have filed an emergency motion asking FERC to expedite consideration of their request for the agency to rehear a May order approving the pipeline’s Northeast Upgrade Project.

The New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released 90 pages of documents detailing proposed regulations governing high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), and it has set the dates for a 30-day public comment period on the proposed rules. The action appeared to signal a long-awaited break in the state’s drilling moratorium.