The 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season, which officially ended Friday, produced 19 named storms, including 10 hurricanes, one of them major (Category 3 or higher), continuing a decades-long high-activity era in the Atlantic Basin, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The number of named storms this year was well above the average of 12 and the number of hurricanes was above the average of six, but the number of major hurricanes was below the average of three, according to NOAA, which classified the 2012 hurricane seas as above normal. It was the second consecutive year that the mid-Atlantic and Northeast suffered devastating impacts from a named storm. In 2011 it was Hurricane Irene, which turned out the lights on millions of East Coast residents and in doing so cut demand for natural gas by about 2.8 Bcf; this year the region was hit by Hurricane Sandy, which struck the New Jersey coastline Oct. 30. But it was the seventh consecutive year that no major hurricanes hit the United States. The only major hurricane was Hurricane Michael, a Category 3 storm that stayed over the open Atlantic. Hurricane Isaac was the only storm to cause significant disruption to energy interests in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Drilling Program Nixed for Alberta Plains
An epic Canadian environmental contest has ended in victory for a prized patch of wild Alberta plains and a loss for a natural gas producer. A 1,275 well, shallow gas drilling program, proposed by Cenovus Energy, will not be allowed, Canada Environment Minister Peter Kent announced Friday.
Interior Issues Final Rule on Offshore Drilling Safety
The Interior Department Wednesday ended its overhaul of offshore safety practices brought about by Deepwater Horizon disaster a little more than two years ago, issuing a final rule on requirements for safety equipment, well control systems and blowout prevention (BOP) practices.
Cash and Futures Each End the Day About A Dime Lower
Cash prices ended the week on average about a dime lower as a cold front pushed through a number of East and Northeast delivery points and traders were reluctant to make purchases for over the weekend. Only one point was unchanged and all others were unable to climb out of the loss column.
ExxonMobil Ends Shale Exploration in Poland
ExxonMobil Corp. has ended its shale natural gas exploration efforts in Poland after two test wells failed to produce “sustained commercial hydrocarbon flow rates,” a spokesman said Monday.
ZaZa Energy, Hess End Eagle Ford and France JV
ZaZa Energy Corp. and Hess Corp. have ended a joint venture (JV) agreement they made in 2010 for activities in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas and the Paris Basin in France. ZaZa is taking over the Eagle Ford activities while Hess will hold the exploration licenses in France.
Chesapeake Governance Big Question Mark
Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Friday ended the week as it started — with questions about corporate governance hounding the company.
North Dakota Ends 2011 on Record-Setting Note
With its drilling rig count creeping up above 200, North Dakota ended 2011 on the high side of all-time production totals for oil and natural gas in December, according to the state’s Department of Mineral Resources. More than 95% of the production was from the Bakken and Three Forks formations.
Transportation Notes
Florida Gas Transmission ended Friday an Overage Alert Day that had been in effect for the previous three days.
Epsilon: Chesapeake JV in Marcellus Yields ‘Significant’ Production
Ontario-based Epsilon Energy Ltd., which is working with Chesapeake Energy Corp. in the Marcellus Shale, said Friday it ended 2011 with a “substantial” increase in Pennsylvania natural gas production, which was in line with its exit guidance.
