Efforts

There is evidence that hydraulic fracturing (fracking) can affect aquifers and water supplies, according to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, but she is “not aware of any proven case where the fracking process itself has affected water.”

Following last Friday’s Earth Day commemorations, two sectors of the federal government demonstrated that a combination of state and federal policy efforts are needed for renewables to make the large-scale breakthrough that their backers envision.

It’s well documented by now that due to low natural gas prices a number of producers and oilfield service companies have been switching drilling efforts and asset buildup from the primarily dry gas Haynesville to “wetter” [that is, richer in crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL)] plays such as the Eagle Ford and Marcellus. But quite a few in the industry see Haynesville as remaining a strong shale resource and eventually strengthening. It may take a few years, but many expect gas prices to eventually begin making up for ground lost to the soaring crude market.

At the direction of Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, acting Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Mike Krancer on Tuesday called on all drilling operators to stop delivering wastewater from Marcellus Shale gas extraction by May 19 to 15 facilities currently accepting it, citing newly revised total dissolved solids (TDS) regulations.

A new website that provides a list of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing is already becoming popular after its launch on Monday.

Two multi-state organizations, with the help of oil and gas companies, are preparing to launch a website Monday that will provide the public with a comprehensive list of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.

Fort Worth, TX-based Range Resources Corp. is pulling up stakes in the Barnett Shale of North Texas and redeploying its efforts and capital in the Appalachian Basin’s higher-return Marcellus Shale.

Fort Worth-based Range Resources Corp. is pulling up stakes in the Barnett Shale of North Texas and redeploying its efforts and capital in the Appalachian Basin’s higher-return Marcellus Shale, the company said.

The “brute force” drilling process that unlocked North America’s shale deposits won’t easily be transferred overseas, Schlumberger Ltd. COO Paal Kibsgaard said Wednesday.