Investigation

Federal regulators said the preliminary investigation of what caused a massive explosion and fire on the Texas Eastern (Tetco) pipeline in Southwest Pennsylvania shows evidence of corrosion at two areas on the affected pipe, one of which was at the point of failure.

Hilcorp Energy Co. has stopped stimulating two horizontal shale wells in western Pennsylvania as state regulators investigate what caused a small earthquake on Monday near the company’s operations, a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokesperson said Wednesday.

Hilcorp Energy Co. has stopped stimulating two horizontal shale wells in western Pennsylvania as state regulators investigate what caused a small earthquake on Monday near the company’s operations, a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokesperson said Wednesday.

Prosecutors in Oklahoma have moved to drop charges against Aubrey McClendon for his alleged role in a rig bidding conspiracy, following his untimely death Wednesday. However, an ongoing federal investigation continues into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the oil and natural gas industry, officials said.

Prosecutors in Oklahoma are dropping charges against Aubrey McClendon for his alleged role in a bid rigging conspiracy, following his untimely death Wednesday. However, an ongoing federal investigation continues into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the oil and natural gas industry, officials said.

Aubrey McClendon, 56, the former chief and co-founder of Chesapeake Energy Corp., was killed Wednesday in a single-car crash, authorities said.

A Houston-based subsidiary of France’s Total SA has asked a federal judge to issue a declaratory judgment that would guarantee the company a chance to have allegations currently under investigation at FERC be heard by a jury trial in a federal district court.

The Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General plans to launch an investigation into how Marcellus Shale impact fee distributions are being spent and reported by the counties and municipalities across the state that receive them.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s (AG) office said Thursday that its lawsuit against Chesapeake Energy Corp. and its affiliates, including Williams Partners LP, could involve at least 4,000 landowners, a number that could grow exponentially as the case unfolds and if the state takes action against other operators.