Means

A recent appeals court ruling means that Shell Alaska may continue to explore and develop its Beaufort Sea leases in Alaska. Recently a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed a lower court decision that the government’s Lease Sale 202 was conducted properly in 2007.

A recent appeals court ruling means that Shell Alaska may continue to explore and develop its Beaufort Sea leases in Alaska. Last week a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit affirmed a lower court decision that the government’s Lease Sale 202 was conducted properly in 2007.

Even with current natural gas supplies well outpacing demand in the United States, the fact that the natural resource is in finite supply means the quest for new sources — such as natural gas from gas hydrates — continues. Gas hydrates, a frozen form of natural gas that bursts into flames at the touch of a match, is showing increasing promise as an abundant, untapped source of clean, sustainable energy, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Even with current natural gas supplies well outpacing demand in the United States, the fact that the natural resource is in finite supply means the quest for new sources — such as natural gas from gas hydrates — continues. Gas hydrates, a frozen form of natural gas that bursts into flames at the touch of a match, is showing increasing promise as an abundant, untapped source of clean, sustainable energy, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Ohio could join the ranks of cash-strapped states that have turned to oil and natural gas drilling on state lands as a means to replenish recession-wracked coffers. Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish, a Democrat, said recently that lawmakers may consider allowing drilling in state parks as long as it does not harm the environment, the Associated Press reported. A study committee recently estimated drilling on state lands could generate $3 million or more in revenue for the state. Earlier this week Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives unveiled a plan to further tap into prolific Marcellus Shale deposits by expanding natural gas drilling to 390,000 acres of state forest land over the next three years — a proposal one conservation group quickly labeled “irresponsible” (see Daily GPI, March 25).

The House Ways and Means Committee Wednesday approved a $16 billion tax package chock full of incentives to spur the production of renewable fuels and other clean energy.

The alliance of Calgary-based Natural Gas Exchange Inc. (NGX) and Atlanta-based IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) announced last week gives NGX entry into the United States and means that for the first time a suite of physical energy products will be offered in conjunction with the ability to clear physical transactions on the ICE platform.

An “enormous amount of gas” in the Rocky Mountains awaits discovery from emerging basins and recovery from legacy assets, which means a lot more money and new pipe will be needed to be poured into the region within the next few years, Questar Corp. CEO Keith Rattie said.

An “enormous amount of gas” in the Rocky Mountains awaits discovery from emerging basins and recovery from legacy assets, which means a lot more money and new pipe will be needed to be poured into the region within the next few years, Questar Corp. CEO Keith Rattie said.