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Increasing crude oil supplies from shale plays coupled with Canadian oilsands imports will challenge the U.S. refining system in ways the industry had not anticipated, according to a new study from Turner, Mason & Co. (TMC).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to protect six species of aquatic invertebrates native to West Texas as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Such an ESA listing could have implications for the West Texas oil patch, analysts warned.

The supervisor of Ohio’s Wayne National Forest (WNF) on Monday said an in-depth study has proved that there is no need to amend the forest’s six-year-old land and resource management plan nor to supplement the environmental impact statement (EIS) to address possible surface impacts from unconventional drilling.

While there is uncertainty and risk, particularly for would-be exporters, the longer term ramifications for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports could carry a number of positive aspects for the economy, both domestically and globally, according to Rice University energy economist Ken Medlock.

An updated biannual report posted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shows that the state’s natural gas production saw a more than 40% increase in the first half of 2012 compared to the second half of 2011, and more than doubled in a year.

While there is uncertainty and risk, particularly for would-be exporters, the longer term ramifications for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports could carry a number of positive aspects for the economy, both domestically and globally, according to Rice University energy economist Ken Medlock.

As one oil and natural gas producer after another highlighted a swing away from drilling for natural gas in second quarter earnings conference calls, the number of operating rigs targeting natural gas fell again last week, dropping seven rigs from the previous week and marking a decline of 44% from the 883 gas-directed rigs operating a year ago, according to the Baker Hughes rig count.

As one oil and natural gas producer after another highlighted a swing away from drilling for natural gas in second quarter earnings conference calls, the number of operating rigs targeting natural gas fell again last week, dropping seven rigs from the previous week and marking a decline of 44% from the 883 gas-directed rigs operating a year ago, according to the Baker Hughes rig count.

Cash prices ended the week on average about a dime lower as a cold front pushed through a number of East and Northeast delivery points and traders were reluctant to make purchases for over the weekend. Only one point was unchanged and all others were unable to climb out of the loss column.