Mining

A joint review panel (JRP) of the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has endorsed a proposal by Vancouver-based Teck Resources Ltd. despite findings that effects on nature would be significant.

While the latest jobs report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed the national unemployment rate falling again to reach 4.9% in January, the trend lines haven’t been nearly so encouraging for energy sector employment.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton has turned down calls to enact a two-year moratorium on silica sand mining in the southeastern part of the state, saying he doesn’t have the authority to implement such a ban.

Texas Eastern Transmission LP (Tetco) has asked FERC for authorization to undertake certain activities to protect its pipeline system in Pennsylvania from potential ground subsidence during longwall coal mining that is planned by Emerald Coal Resources LP.

The mining and transport of proppant sand are drawing controversy similar to that related to the content and handling of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluids if recent events are an indication.

Commercial support may emerge for a plan to revive a mining ghost town in northern British Columbia (BC) as another entry in the lineup of projects for exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada’s Pacific coast, says the idea’s sponsor.

A wide variety of outcomes are possible when contemplating the likelihood that an oil or natural gas injection well could increase the chance of seismic activity, including the possibility of not operating the well at all, according to a draft report by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) workgroup.

Plains Exploration & Production Co. will become part of mining conglomerate Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. after a majority of shareholders voted to approve the $6.6 billion merger. Freeport, based in Phoenix, in December offered close to $9 billion total to buy Plains, as well as to bring back into the fold McMoRan Exploration Co., which it had spun off in 1994 (see NGI, Dec. 10, 2012). McMoRan shareholders are scheduled to vote June 3 on the merger, comprised of about $2.4 billion cash and a share of future royalties on some assets. The approval came after Freeport and Plains agreed to give Plains shareholders $3.00/share in a one-time special cash dividend and another $1.00 for each Freeport share when the merger is completed. The one-time dividend will cost Freeport an estimated $1 billion. Assuming the merger is completed as scheduled by Friday (May 31), Freeport plans to also complete $1.5 billion in asset sales from the combined company as a way to reduce capital spending. Freeport claims that it would become the fifth-largest U.S.-based natural resource company by enterprise value once the mergers are complete, trailing ExxonMobil Corp., Chevron Corp., ConocoPhillips and Occidental Petroleum Corp.

A Los Angeles-based husband-wife independent filmmaking team said Tuesday they have exceeded their fundraising goal and will continue with production of a pro-hydraulic fracturing (fracking) documentary film, FrackNation, to combat an upcoming sequel to the Oscar-nominated anti-fracking film Gasland by activist Josh Fox. The couple, however, will continue to fundraise for their project, they said.