Little

The monthly check from Chesapeake Exploration LLC will still be in the mail to Barnett Shale royalty owners, but some of them will find it to be a little lighter than in the past.

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, which has so far produced five named storms but little damage to the U.S. coastline or energy interests in the Gulf of Mexico, may be poised to ramp up tropical activity, according to forecasters at AccuWeather.com.

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season during its first nine weeks has thrown little tropical activity at the U.S. mainland and energy interests in the Gulf of Mexico, but it has produced five named storms, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) expects as many as 14 more named storms to form this year.

The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season during its first nine weeks has thrown little tropical activity at the U.S. mainland and energy interests in the Gulf of Mexico, but it has produced five named storms, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) expects as many as 14 more named storms to form this year.

August natural gas declined slightly Wednesday as algorithmic traders showed little interest in purchases at current prices and the market awaits the release of government inventory figures. August had fallen 3.3 cents to $4.500 and September had skidded 4.2 cents to $4.469. August crude oil gained 64 cents to $98.14/bbl.

August futures declined Wednesday as traders saw little impact from a Gulf of Mexico storm and expected Thursday’s government inventory report to show increases above historical averages. At the close August had fallen 3.9 cents to $4.315 and September slipped 3.9 cents as well to $4.334. August crude oil vaulted higher adding $1.88 to $94.77/bbl.

The South was destined to bake under highs from around 90 to a little more than 100 stretching as far west as Arizona, but most of the rest of the U.S. and Canada could expect temperatures ranging from merely warm to chilly. Combined with the previous day’s July futures dip of 17.3 cents, the decline of cooling demand resulted in double-digit price losses across the board Friday.

A little more than a year after the Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), reorganization of the chief federal regulator of offshore energy projects, the Department of Interior, is struggling, and some of the sprawling agency’s major responsibilities may be suffering, according to a report released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

A little more than a year after the Macondo well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), reorganization of the chief federal regulator of offshore energy projects, the Department of Interior, is struggling, and some of the sprawling agency’s major responsibilities may be suffering, according to a report released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).