Increased

Despite producing less wastewater per unit of natural gas produced compared with conventional wells, the enormity of the Marcellus Shale’s growth has increased total wastewater generated in the region by about 570% since 2004, “overwhelming current wastewater disposal infrastructure capacity,” according to a study by researchers at Duke and Kent State universities.

U.S. oil and gas merger and acquisition (M&A) activity will be stronger this year as companies attempt to position themselves for higher prices and increased demand, according to a nationwide survey of CFOs at 100 exploration and production companies.

U.S. oil and gas merger and acquisition (M&A) activity will be stronger this year as companies attempt to position themselves for higher prices and increased demand, according to a nationwide survey of CFOs at 100 exploration and production companies.

When considering the increased rate that wells are getting connected to gathering pipeline systems, North Dakota is “turning the corner” on the volumes of natural gas flaring despite the relatively high percentage of associated gas that is still being burned at the wellhead, state officials told NGI’s Shale Daily.

Economic contributions from unconventional development mostly are driven by the 16 states with oil and natural gas production, but a “significant portion” comes from states with no production, according to a state-by-state analysis by IHS Inc.

Increased sales by BP plc and ConocoPhillips, along with a surge by J. Aron & Co., weren’t enough to overcome third quarter doldrums among companies selling natural gas, according to NGI’s 3Q2012 Top North American Gas Marketers Ranking. read more

Atlas Pipeline Partners LP (APL) on Monday agreed to pay $600 million for all of the operating assets of privately held Cardinal Midstream LLC, which would give it cryogenic processing plants, associated gathering pipelines and a gas treatment business that includes facilities in the Woodford, Eagle Ford, Haynesville and Fayetteville shales, as well as the Granite Wash and Avalon formations.

Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s second-largest investor Carl Icahn has increased his stake in the Oklahoma City-based operator to 8.98% from 7.6%, according to a regulatory filing by the company. The activist investor earlier this year pushed for governance changes, including replacing Aubrey McClendon as chairman. Icahn was instrumental in shaking up the board of directors and appointed an associate, Vincent J. Intrieri, as one of four new members (see NGI, June 25).

Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s second-largest investor Carl Icahn has increased his stake in the Oklahoma City-based operator to 8.98% from 7.6%, according to a regulatory filing by the company. The activist investor earlier this year pushed for governance changes, including replacing Aubrey McClendon as chairman. Icahn was instrumental in shaking up the board of directors and appointed an associate, Vincent J. Intrieri, as one of four new members (see Daily GPI, June 22).