Consisting

Houston-based eCORP Stimulation Technologies LLC claims to have successfully tested a waterless hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluid consisting solely of propane in Frio County, TX, in the Eagle Ford Shale. The test simulated conditions in the shale play at 5,950 feet, the company said.

The Alberta Energy Ministry said it has sold a record C$2.68 billion in drilling rights so far this year, eclipsing the previous record of C$2.39 billion set in 2010.

Lower natural gas prices will have an effect on National Fuel Gas’ (NFG) bottom line in 2011, but the company will continue to ramp up its drilling operations in the Marcellus Shale during the year, CEO David F. Smith said during a conference call with financial analysts Friday.

Atlas Pipeline Partners LP subsidiary Atlas Pipeline McKean LLC has completed the acquisition of gas gathering and processing assets in McKean County, PA, consisting of approximately 21 miles of gathering pipelines, a gas processing plant with capacity of 10 MMcf/d and related equipment and delivery taps into the National Fuel Gas system. The purchase price was $6.1 million with additional future gas volume-based incentive payments to be made to the seller. “I am very happy to be able to announce this acquisition as it will allow the Partnership to earn fees from the gathering and removal of natural gas liquids from gas produced in an area of active drilling by a number of operators, including Atlas Energy Resources LLC,” said partnership President Michael Staines. “Target formations include natural gas liquids-rich shallow formations and potentially the deeper Marcellus Shale formation. In addition we have identified several organic growth opportunities that we will undertake in the next few months.”

Denver-based PRB Energy Inc. has closed on the previously announced acquisition of 13 wells, consisting of 12 gas wells and one water disposal well, and approximately 330,000 net acres in northeast Colorado and southwest Nebraska for $11.7 million cash (see Daily GPI, Dec. 13).

Nationwide energy efficiency resource standards (EERS), consisting of energy savings targets set for utilities and a market-based energy efficiency trading system, could cut energy use by 5% in 2020 and save consumers $170 billion over the 2007-2020 period, according to a new report that was released in Washington, DC, Thursday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Dynegy Inc. has completed a new $1.3 billion credit facility consisting of a $700 million revolving credit facility that matures in May 2007 and a $600 million term loan that matures in May 2010.

Unocal Corp. announced Thursday it will be selling off non-core assets, consisting of primarily natural gas properties in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), paring its inventory to focus on its core properties.

Kern River Gas Transmission is seeking FERC approval to build a Kramer Junction delivery point, consisting of a tap and meter station in San Bernardino County, CA, to deliver up to 500 MMcf/d from a mainline jointly owned with Mojave Pipeline into a new lateral planned by Southern California Gas (SoCalGas).