Knew

In a world of abundant North American natural gas and a new round of oil shocks, the parting of oil and gas prices has grown so wide it’s as if the two never knew each other. Were they ever really linked, asks one analyst; while another notes that gas appears to have fallen out of step with the broader commodity basket.

In a world of abundant North American natural gas and a new round of oil shocks, the parting of oil and gas prices has grown so wide (25-to-1, give or take) it’s as if the two never knew each other. Were they ever really linked, asks one analyst; while another notes that gas appears to have fallen out of step with the broader commodity basket.

Laflin, PA-based coal company Silverbrook Anthracite has leased approximately 1,635 acres for Marcellus Shale gas exploration in Lackawanna County, PA, to a Texas land services firm in what county officials are calling the largest such lease ever recorded in the northeastern Pennsylvania county.

The members of the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) likely knew what would happen once they issued their 83-page proposed rulemaking to conditionally allow natural gas drillers to tap into the watershed.

A recent survey of residents living in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region found that most knew little about gas industry activities there and many did not believe gas development would affect quality of life. “However, with the exception of jobs and job training opportunities, they were more likely to expect a worsening of the amenities and services in the area rather than an improvement,” the survey found.

A recent survey of residents living in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region found that most knew little about gas industry activities there and many did not believe gas development would affect quality of life. “However, with the exception of jobs and job training opportunities, they were more likely to expect a worsening of the amenities and services in the area rather than an improvement,” the survey found.

Obama officials supported the deepwater moratorium in the Gulf of Mexico even though they knew it would have “significant negative economic impact” and would cost up to 23,000 jobs, according to documents that were filed in federal court in New Orleans last week.

Three related reports delivered to Congress last Wednesday revealed the underbelly of the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) that few knew about — one that involves drug usage, sex with oil industry contacts and between employees involved in the agency’s royalty-in-kind (RIK) program, as well as rigging of contracts and other financial misconduct at high levels.

Three related reports delivered to Congress Wednesday revealed the underbelly of the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) that few knew about — one that involves drug usage, sex between employees involved in the agency’s royalty in-kind (RIK) program and financial/contract misconduct at high levels.