A lawsuit filed by Range Resources Corp. against a Texas couple that accused the company of contaminating drinking water with drilling activity should be heard in state district court in Weatherford, TX, the Texas Second District Court of Appeals in Fort Worth ruled recently. Landowners Steven and Shyla Lipsky sued Range in 2011 after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an order that said Range was responsible for the contamination. However, EPA ultimately backed down from its claim (see Shale Daily, April 2). Range counter-sued the Lipskys and environmental consultant, Alisa Rich of Wolf Eagle Environmental, claiming that they conspired to incriminate the company. The Lipsky’s lawsuit against Range was thrown out, but Range’s counter-suit was allowed to proceed (see Shale Daily, Aug. 29, 2012). The case could still be heard in appeals court but only if all parties, including the trial court judge, agree to it by April 11. Range is seeking $3 million in damages. A Range spokesman said the company was still considering the court question, but is confident that the original ruling is correct and that Range’s claims should proceed to trial.
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Canadian Drillers Enjoying Unconventional Boom
Participants in the Canadian energy industry are signaling that its switch of drilling targets to oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) will continue and accelerate.
House Dems Unveil Bill to Collect Past Offshore Royalties
House Democrats Tuesday introduced legislation that seeks to correct an omission in offshore oil and natural gas leases issued by the Interior Department in 1998-1999 that reportedly is costing the federal government billions of dollars.
Price Correction
NGI’s Shale Price Indices in Tuesday’s issue (No. 115) incorrectly reflected deals done Friday March 18 for gas delivery March 19 through March 21. The correct indices for deals done March 21 for March 22 delivery are attached and the issue’s pdf has been updated. ( click here for revised pdf )
Analysts: Weak Economy to Soften Gas Demand
Expectations of a troubled economy in 2009 shouldn’t weigh too heavily on the minds of gas producers if analysts at Barclays Capital are correct in their demand projections. Demand will be weak to be sure, but not as weak as some might fear, they say.
Analysts: Weak Economy to Soften, Not Cripple, Gas Demand Next Year
Expectations of a troubled economy in 2009 shouldn’t weigh too heavily on the minds of gas producers if analysts at Barclays Capital are correct in their demand projections. Demand will be weak to be sure, but not as weak as some might fear, they say.
Transportation Notes
Tennessee indicated that repairs to correct problems caused by liquids entering Station 823 may be proceeding faster than expected. Barring any unexpected issues, Tennessee said Friday, it anticipated that the work would be complete in two to three days; on Wednesday it had estimated “five to 10 days” (see Daily GPI, April 19). As a result, the pipeline saw a good chance of restrictions through Station 823 being lifted by the end of the weekend. Tennessee said that as an alternative, it had analyzed the possibility of activating the Seahawk meter. “However, after further investigation, Tennessee has determined that opening the Seahawk meter is not a viable option due to a lack of flow control in the area. Without flow control, the possibility of free flowing liquids into Tennessee’s system at Grand Chenier and Kinder is too great a risk.” In an effort to assist customers in moving their gas off the Tennessee system, it was offering discounts at six meters and said “any other mutually agreeable meters upstream of Station 823” could be used.
Transportation Notes
Southern California Gas did not extend a high-linepack OFO beyond Wednesday.
Most Points Rally; Northeast Leads Losses
NGI sources generally were correct Thursday in predicting a moderate cash rally for Friday, but not entirely accurate. Prices fell at virtually all Northeast citygates Friday as a cold front took regional temperatures lower for the weekend, and at scattered points elsewhere. Otherwise quotes ranged from flat to as much as 20 cents higher.
Appeals Court Says FERC Was Correct to Approve ANR Cashout Surcharge
A federal appeals court in Washington, DC last Tuesday upheld an order in which FERC approved a significantly higher annual cashout surcharge rate for ANR Pipeline, even though it said the method for calculating the surcharge had become “unjust and unreasonable.”
