Ended

The Maryland Senate ended its 2011 legislative session last week without voting on a bill that would have frozen the permitting of Marcellus Shale drilling until 2013 while state agencies reviewed the results of various studies into Marcellus development and hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking).

Westcoast ended Thursday a high-linepack OFO that had been implemented Sunday.

The Maryland Senate ended its 2011 legislative session without voting on a bill that would have frozen the permitting of Marcellus Shale drilling until 2013 while state agencies reviewed the results of various studies into Marcellus development and hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking).

Florida Gas Transmission ended Wednesday an Overage Alert Day for market-area customers that had been in effect for the previous two days.

Pacific Gas and Electric ended a two-day Stage 2 high-inventory OFO Sunday.

Westcoast ended Wednesday a systemwide high-linepack OFO that had been implemented on the previous Thursday.

Arkansas state Rep. Tommy Lee Baker (D-Osceola) has withdrawn legislation (HB 1992) that would have ended severance tax exemptions for natural gas drillers due to a lack of support in the House Insurance and Commerce Committee.

Linn Energy has agreed to pay $196 million to Concho Resources to acquire oil properties in the Bakken play in North Dakota, the companies said Monday. The properties are expected to add current net production of about 1,350 Boe/d (94% of it oil), proved reserves of approximately 8 MMBoe (83% oil) and more than 400 potential oil drilling locations, according to Linn.

Pittsburgh-based Consol Energy Inc. said its natural gas division achieved record quarterly production of 36.2 Bcf for the quarter ended Dec. 31. This was 44% higher than the 25.1 Bcf produced in the year-ago period. For the year, the company produced 127.9 Bcf, eclipsing 2009’s record production of 94.4 Bcf by 35%, the company said. Consol said it will update its gas production forecast in conjunction with the release of its 2011 capital budget on Jan. 27.