Ensure

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. is doing “a lot” of experimentation in the U.S. onshore to determine how best to drill unconventional wells to ensure optimized estimated ultimate recoveries (EUR). What the management knows for sure is that the bigger the hydraulic fractures (fracks) the more a well can recover, said CEO Al Walker.

Moving right along on the energy regulatory front, Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on Wednesday launched a study of air emissions tied to oil and gas development.

Time savings and a method to ensure that environmental rules match or exceed international standards are promised by an overhaul of resource industry supervision in Canada’s chief natural gas-, oil- and coal-producing jurisdiction.

Last month Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joseph Martens said he anticipated an eventual legal challenge to any rules the agency creates for regulating HVHF in the state, and he asked Health Commissioner Nirav Shah to conduct a health impact analysis of the practice (see Shale Daily, Sept. 24). The newspaper said it agreed with the observation by DEC officials and drilling supporters: that Martens’ decision would probably cause enough of a delay to require an additional public comment period (see Shale Daily, Oct. 4; Oct. 2).

Local government officials from around Colorado took a swipe at Gov. John Hickenlooper for suing the city of Longmont, CO, to turn back its ordinance establishing natural gas and oil drilling regulations within its boundaries. The state maintains exclusive jurisdiction in this area under the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC).

States and producers Monday called on the Obama administration to either withdraw or suspend a proposed rule that would require companies to publicly disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations on federal and Indian lands. Environmental and conservation groups lobbied for the federal government to tighten the rule.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) issued its first two nonbinding advisory opinions on local drilling ordinances, part of its new responsibilities to ensure that localities are in compliance with Act 13, the state’s new omnibus Marcellus Shale law.

The chief issue facing the electric industry as it seeks to coordinate with interstate natural gas pipelines is how far is it willing to go to ensure the reliability of the power grid, interstate pipeline officials said Friday.

The chief issue facing the electric industry as it seeks to coordinate with interstate natural gas pipelines is how far is it willing to go to ensure the reliability of the power grid, interstate pipeline officials said Friday.