Determined

California’s electricity grid operator and Portland, OR-based PacifiCorp announced Tuesday an agreement to create a real-time market mechanism for improving the dispatching of power — a widespread efficiency improvement in the electric generation sector that could have lasting impact on demand for natural gas throughout the West.

FERC’s Office of Enforcement has preliminarily determined that Kansas City, MO-based natural gas distributor Missouri Gas Energy (MGE) violated the agency’s capacity release regulations. The alleged violations involved a total of almost 69 Bcf of capacity.

A private firm hired by Chesapeake Energy Corp. has determined that drinking water sources tested by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Bradford County, PA, show no signs of any adverse impact from Marcellus Shale operations.

WPX Energy Inc. said last week it determined through isotopic testing that four contaminated drinking water wells in Susquehanna County, PA, were fouled by naturally occurring methane and not by Marcellus Shale drilling.

WPX Energy Inc. said it has determined through isotopic testing that four contaminated drinking water wells in Susquehanna County, PA, were fouled by naturally occurring methane and not by Marcellus Shale drilling.

Boosted by unconventional natural gas and oil, particularly from North America, ExxonMobil Corp. added 1.8 billion boe to its proved reserves base in 2011, replacing 107% of natural gas and production, the company said Thursday.

The Texas Supreme Court may soon decide on a request to revisit a 2011 opinion on the use of eminent domain that some industry representatives say could stymie the efforts of companies trying to build oil and gas pipelines to service growing production in the state’s shale plays.

How low can you go? Both government and private energy analysts in the business of making natural gas price forecasts haven’t quite determined how low natural gas prices will go in 2012 — but the consensus doesn’t indicate a bullish run.

After much promise but little action, the area of the Niobrara Shale play extending into southeast Wyoming has energy stakeholders in that state scratching their heads. The prospect of more seismic testing has at least one high-level state official encouraged.