Field

While the Department of Energy (DOE) has yet to decide whether to approve widespread exports of liquefied domestic natural gas, it has already handicapped the field of proposed projects should it decide to proceed. First in line are eight of the 23 project proposals received by DOE that also are currently being reviewed by FERC.

Although the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has missed deadlines for two of the three studies it was required to perform under the state’s Marcellus Shale regulatory reform law, the agency is close to completing one of the studies and should present it to legislators soon.

Enbridge Energy Partners LP’s North Dakota crude oil pipeline system has been underutilized since November due to increasing competition from rail and other pipeline transport options, refiner Flint Hills Resources LP, a unit of Koch Industries Inc., told FERC in a filing.

Halliburton, Apache Corp. and Caterpillar have developed a dual-fuel technology for using natural gas and diesel to operate pumping equipment used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) at oil and gas well sites.

The Senate Commerce Committee plans to hold a field hearing on pipeline safety in Charleston, WV, on Jan. 28 following a major natural gas pipeline explosion in the state in December.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shale gas well hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations are significantly lower than previously estimated, according to a study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Bill Barrett Corp. continues to produce about 33 MMcf/d net (49 MMcf/d gross) of natural gas in the area of its West Tavaputs field where a fire shut down one of its three compressors and sent two employees to the hospital, the company said Thursday.

Boosted by exceptional performance from horizontal drilling programs in the U.S. onshore, and in particular the Wattenberg Field in Colorado, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. broke records for liquids sales volumes in the third quarter. The Wattenberg’s production profile is “essentially straight up,” said an executive.

A coalition of 14 environmental groups has asked Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett to reverse a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) policy that requires field offices to advise senior DEP officials of their intent to acknowledge water contamination related to Marcellus Shale gas well operations before notification letters are sent to potentially affected homeowners.