Monitors

Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) on Wednesday launched the use of fiber optics to monitor segments of its largest high-pressure and transmission pipelines at least 12 inches in diameter.

Shale gas production activities in the Barnett Shale have not resulted in volatile organic compound (VOC) exposures great enough to pose a health concern for area residents, according to a new study of the region’s air quality.

Gastar Exploration Ltd. plans to suspend its Marcellus Shale capital program “for a short period” during the second half of the year while it monitors production results and allows time for constraints in midstream services to be worked out, CEO Russ Porter said last week.

Gastar Exploration Ltd. plans to suspend its Marcellus Shale capital program “for a short period” during the second half of the year while it monitors production results and allows time for constraints in midstream services to be worked out, CEO Russ Porter said Tuesday.

The U.S. State Department signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas that will allow the two countries to share technical expertise on shale gas resources. Preliminary estimates by India’s Association of Petroleum Geologists indicate that India’s shale gas reserves may be larger than its proven conventional gas deposits. The MOU would help India assess its shale gas resources and help to train Indian personnel. As part of the agreement, the U.S. Geological Survey plans to study India’s shale gas resources. The United States also would help India prepare for its first shale gas auction, which is scheduled to be held by the end of 2011.

The U.S. Coast Guard is working on a temporary interim rule that would add regulation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater ports to the agency’s jurisdiction. The interim rule is expected to be published shortly — “more likely” after Jan. 1, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said.

The U.S. Coast Guard is working on a temporary interim rule that would add regulation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater ports to the agency’s jurisdiction. The interim rule is expected to be published shortly — “more likely” after Jan. 1, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said.

In what appear to be test cases, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has singled out two published natural gas price indexes that were cited by interstate gas pipelines in new tariff filings to be monitored to determine whether they are in compliance with the agency’s new mandated standards for price reporting and reflect sufficient liquidity at referenced pipeline locations.

Following on the heels of a hurried state report on natural gas and gasoline winter wholesale price spikes that revealed no alleged gouging or market manipulation, California Gov. Gray Davis last Wednesday formally asked the state’s two principal energy agencies to continue investigating prices for both fuels, which are critical to the state’s economy. Davis ordered follow-up reports every 30 days through the end of the year.