Desire

The U.S. Geologic Survey’s (USGS) assessment of the Williston Basin’s Bakken Shale and Three Forks formation in North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota, which combined was estimated at 7.4 billion bbl of technically recoverable oil, is “very conservative,” according to North Dakota’s chief oil and gas regulator.

Unconventional oil and natural gas resources are an increasingly bigger piece of the pie for domestic energy companies, according to a new survey.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has declined to have the city join a lawsuit against the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) over Marcellus Shale development, despite a resolution from the City Council supporting such a move.

Government desire to erase a political black mark and the efforts of a consumer champion have come together to open a natural gas can of worms in Alberta. The coincidence has spawned a regulatory case to answer a tricky question: Who should pay the freight for delivering gas to the “core market” of residential, commercial and public service users such as hospitals and schools?

Government desire to erase a political black mark and the efforts of a consumer champion have come together to open a natural gas can of worms in Alberta. The coincidence has spawned a regulatory case to answer a tricky question: Who should pay the freight for delivering gas to the “core market” of residential, commercial and public service users such as hospitals and schools?

With a stated desire to “dominate the next evolution of the energy markets,” GFI Group Inc. earlier this month agreed to purchase Amerex Energy’s North American gas and power brokerage operations and assets for $86 million. New York-based GFI Group said the deal would help it become one of the largest and fastest growing energy businesses in North America.

Following a plea by the Georgia governor to help the thousands of state consumers whose natural gas remains cut off for not paying bills, two marketers and a Georgia utility have stepped forward to fulfill the role of provider of last resort (POLR). Gov. Roy Barnes earlier this month asked the state’s Consumers Utility Counsel (CUC) to petition the Public Service Commission (PSC) because nearly 50,000 customers remain without gas after being unable to pay last winter’s unusually high bills.

Following a plea by the Georgia governor to help the thousands of state consumers whose natural gas remains cut off for not paying bills, two marketers and a Georgia utility have stepped forward to fulfill the role of provider of last resort (POLR). Gov. Roy Barnes earlier this month asked the state’s Consumers Utility Counsel (CUC) to petition the Public Service Commission (PSC) because nearly 50,000 customers remain without gas after being unable to pay last winter’s unusually high bills (see Daily GPI, Nov. 12).

While careful not to use the word “re-regulation” CaliforniaGov. Gray Davis on Monday clearly indicated his desire to give thestate more direct control over energy operators, utilities and theusage of all the state’s 34 million residents (see Daily GPI, Jan. 9). He barely had time to clarify orget reactions for his plans before flying to Washington, D.C., wherelate Tuesday he huddled with Clinton Administration and industryofficials.