Firm

Consol Energy Inc. announced Monday that it plans to spend most its capital expenditure (capex) budget in 2013 on natural gas production in the Marcellus and Utica shales, and will sell millions in other assets.

Endurance Resources Holdings LLC announced Monday that Lime Rock Partners, a global energy-focused private equity firm, had committed $100 million for Endurance to acquire oil-focused assets and additional opportunities in two Southeast New Mexico counties that overlay the Bone Spring formation.

SM Energy said Wednesday that next year it will spend 90% of its planned drilling and completions budget of $1.2 billion on its Eagle Ford, Bakken/Three Forks and Permian Basin programs.

Caterpillar Inc. (Cat) and natural gas compressor manufacturing firm Ariel Corp. have formed a 50-50 joint venture (JV) to provide well service pressure pumping products to the oil and gas industry, the companies said Wednesday.

The market for natural gas-fueled buses is gaining momentum, according to Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL), a Scottish firm that hopes to dominate the sector worldwide. It is touting orders in November for more than 1,000 buses worth $352 million, more than half going to Hong Kong.

Alternative fuel vehicle technologies firm Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide plans to expand its manufacturing capacity for lightweight, polymer-lined onboard natural gas vehicle (NGV) fuel storage tanks. The carbon composite tanks used in compressed natural gas-fueled vehicles are needed for increased demand from North American original equipment manufacturers of NGVs, the Lake Forest, CA-based tank maker said. Quantum plans to double its production capacity. It will establish manufacturing lines in a 60,000-square-foot building adjacent to its existing 30,000-square-foot factory.

Prompted by the boom in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, a 136-year-old legal publishing firm on Monday has issued the first resource for the state’s oil and gas legal reference. Its publisher characterizes the book as a resource for landowners, lawyers, judges and producers alike.

NuStar Logistics LP, an affiliate of NuStar Energy LP, is holding a binding open season for firm priority space to transport crude petroleum from the Niobrara Shale near Platteville and Watkins, CO, to Wichita Falls, TX.

Anyone familiar with the Eagle Ford Shale shouldn’t be surprised that U.S. Capital Advisors analyst Cameron Horowitz would title his latest note on the play “South Texas Swagger.”