Delay

A coalition of landowners in Wayne County, PA, is threatening to file a lawsuit against the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) over a continuing delay in either enacting natural gas regulations in the basin or deferring regulation to its four member states (see related story).

The New York oil and natural gas industry is “imperiled” and “in crisis” because of the ongoing delay over whether to allow hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in horizontal drilling, according to a recent letter sent to Gov. Andrew Cuomo by the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (IOGA).

The oil and natural gas industry in New York State is “imperiled” and “in crisis” because of the ongoing delay over whether to allow hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state, according to a letter sent Monday to Gov. Andrew Cuomo by the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (IOGA).

Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) has introduced a bill that would further delay action on the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposed rule governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) activities on public and Indian lands until Interior Secretary Ken Salazar submits a report examining the effects of the rule.

A group of industrial energy consumers have urged Interior Secretary Ken Salazar not to impose “duplicative” regulations on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of oil and natural gas wells on public lands.

A proposed 16-inch diameter, 450-mile oil pipeline from North Dakota’s Bakken Shale to a hub near Clearbrook, MN, is at risk for delay or termination due to a stalemate with Enbridge Energy Partners LP, which is refusing to allow an interconnection with its pipeline in Minnesota, according to High Prairie Pipeline, which has filed a complaint at FERC.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. said in a regulatory filing Friday that it may have to delay some of the planned oil and natural gas asset sales this year, which could up be to $14 billion, because low natural gas prices may stretch its ability to comply with credit covenants.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is skeptical of information pipeline operators have submitted to comply with a new state registry, the chairman of the agency told a Pittsburgh audience Friday.

While she joined the majority at FERC last week in voting out a certificate to build facilities to liquefy and export natural gas, Commissioner Cheryl LaFleur on Monday cautioned industry about rushing to invest in liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities, questioning how long the U.S. will maintain its technology advantage in the development of the shale gas that is driving the trend towards exports.