Expenses

With production growing 39% in the Ardmore Basin’s Woodford Shale and a 75% increase in Bakken output, ExxonMobil Corp. plans to forge ahead with liquids and crude oil unconventional opportunities in North America, and keep its substantial natural gas prospects for better days, the investor relations chief said Thursday.

Master integrated planning in the shale natural gas and liquids markets reduces working capital and makes the end-to-end process more consistent and predictable, according to an analysis by PwC.

During the third quarter, Southwestern Energy Co. grew natural gas and oil production by 12% from a year ago. Costs associated with its Fayetteville Shale activities declined while well results there improved. Marcellus Shale production more than doubled from a year ago, and the company continues to find its way in the emerging Brown Dense play.

Environmental questions and high costs for water have created a big headache for unconventional oil and gas producers, but it won’t take long before those problems are turned into opportunities for other businesses, according to industry executives.

Gasfrac Energy Services Inc., which has been attempting to muscle into the hydraulic fracturing (fracking) market with its waterless technology, hit some roadblocks in 2Q2012, in part because the pressure pumping market is bursting at the seams, company officials said Thursday.

Marathon Oil Corp. CEO Clarence Cazalot said the company’s purchase of 141,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale from Hilcorp Resources Holdings LP for $3.5 billion was exceeding expectations, with production totaling nearly 1,000 boe/d on Tuesday, Marathon’s first official day as operator (see Shale Daily, June 2).

Tulsa-based Williams continues to be primed for solid natural gas infrastructure expansions in North America, with the biggest still planned for the Marcellus Shale, CEO Alan Armstrong said Wednesday.

Quebec said Thursday a new royalty regime for shale gas will take effect in the province once it concludes a two-year strategic environmental assessment of the industry.

Racked by larger expenses than during last year’s quarter and an $11 million after-tax impairment charge related to its investment in the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) of India, IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (ICE), the Atlanta-based operator of regulated global exchanges, clearing houses and over-the-counter (OTC) markets, reported Tuesday a 15% drop in net income. The company recorded 2Q2009 net income of $72.1 million (97 cents/share) down from $84.9 million ($1.19) during 2Q2008.