Mines

Colorado School of Mines, Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and the University of Texas at Austin (UT) on Thursday launched a shale natural gas and oil training development initiative, which initially would be funded with separate $1 million grants from ExxonMobil Corp. and GE.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is looking for ways to get the natural gas industry to use polluted discharge from old mines.

Researchers at Missouri University of Science and Technology are studying methods for extracting natural gas from tight sands and shale formations using a single-molecule imaging system.

Steven L. Mueller has been promoted to CEO of Southwestern Energy Co. Mueller joined Southwestern in June 2008 as president and COO. A graduate of the Colorado School of Mines, Mueller previously worked for Tenneco Oil Co., Fina Oil Co., American Exploration Co., Belco Oil & Gas Co., The Houston Exploration Co. and CDX Gas LLC. Harold M. Korell, who is stepping down as Southwestern’s CEO, was appointed to serve as executive chairman until his retirement in early 2010, after which he would become the nonexecutive chairman.

The British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines has entered into an agreement with four coal owners in the province that would give them the opportunity to apply to develop petroleum and natural gas rights, including coalbed methane (CBM). The BC and Yukon governments also agreed to work on cooperative plans in the event the Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline is approved.

The British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines has entered into an agreement with four coal owners in the province that would give them the opportunity to apply to develop petroleum and natural gas rights, including coalbed methane (CBM). The BC and Yukon governments also agreed to work on cooperative plans in the event the Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline is approved.