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In a stunning setback for shale development in the Empire State, the New York State Assembly voted 95-40 on Wednesday to enact a two-year moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). The bill, A5424, now moves to the state Senate.

In a stunning setback for shale development in the Empire State, the New York State Assembly voted 95-40 on Wednesday to enact a two-year moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). The bill, A5424, now moves to the state Senate.

As the state of New York missed last Wednesday’s deadline to create regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), supporters and opponents of the practice took aim at Gov. Andrew Cuomo, anti-fracking lawmakers sought a one-year moratorium, and a landowners group said it would sue the state over the delay.

As the state of New York missed Wednesday’s deadline to create regulations for high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), supporters and opponents of the practice took aim at Gov. Andrew Cuomo, anti-fracking lawmakers sought a one-year moratorium, and a landowners group said it would sue the state over the delay.

Opposition to hydraulic fracturing flared up in Ohio this week as about 100 protestors stormed an office and a water handling facility in one Ohio town, while an oil and gas service company threatened to take its business elsewhere if another town set itself up in opposition to drilling.

Although the New York State Department of Health (DOH) said it needs a few more weeks to complete a health impact analysis of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens said it would not cause undue delay to start processing drilling permit applications.

Although the New York State Department of Health (DOH) needs a few more weeks to complete a health impact analysis of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens said Tuesday it would not cause undue delay in starting the processing of permit applications for the practice.

Merchant Energy Holdings LLC is holding a nonbinding open season through Feb. 20 for up to 8 Bcf of firm, high-deliverability, multi-cycle working gas storage capacity available April 1 at its ECGS facility in Logan County, CO, about 90 miles east of the Cheyenne Hub. ECGS began operation in April and is completing its second phase of expansion, which includes additional injection/withdrawal wells, gathering and processing facilities and gas compression. ECGS is connected with Trailblazer Pipeline and has access to other major pipelines at the Cheyenne Hub. Total injection and withdrawal capability after the expansion will be more than 200,000 Dth/d. For information, visit www.mehllc.com or contact Scott Smith, (713) 403-6472, ssmith@mehllc.com; or Kevin Legg, (720) 351-4004, klegg@mehllc.com.

Canadian political leaders are refusing to let project delays and shaky markets lower high expectations for rapid development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from shale drilling in northern British Columbia (BC).