The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising the deadline by which owners or operators of facilities subject to the petroleum and natural gas systems source category of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule must submit requests for use of best available monitoring methods (BAMM) to the agency. Specifically, the agency is moving up the prior deadline of Sept. 30 to June 30, according to a final rule published in the Federal Register on Wednesday. The amendment now reads: “For reporting years after 2012, a new request to use best available monitoring methods must be submitted by June 30 of the year prior to the reporting year for which use of [BAMM] is sought.” The EPA said it is not proposing any other changes related to BAMM for oil and gas. Affected facilities would be natural gas pipelines, local distribution companies, oil and gas drilling facilities and natural gas liquids extraction facilities.
operators
Articles from operators
Chesapeake Raises Oil, Natural Gas Production Outlook, Cuts NGLs
The costly and complex decision to shift from being one of the biggest natural gas producers to becoming one of the largest liquids operators showed some positives for Chesapeake Energy Corp. in the first three months of this year, which also gained on improving natural gas prices.
Contango, Crimson Agree to Merge
Houston-based operators Contango Oil & Gas Co. and Crimson Exploration Inc. have agreed to merge in an all-stock transaction that would create a company with prospects in the Gulf of Mexico’s (GOM) shallow water, as well as unconventional acreage in the United States and Canada.
NatGas Prices Forecast Higher, but Coal Seen Gaining
A flat domestic natural gas rig count, combined with an eroding storage overhang, provide opportunities for U.S. gas prices and related operators to trade higher this year, according to BMO Capital Markets Dan McSpirit and Phillip Jungwirth. Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofA) also expects higher gas prices on average, but coal may regain some of the market this summer.
EDF: Two-Dozen Texas Counties Represent Biggest Water Concerns
While water use for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in drought-stricken Texas is considered modest when compared to other uses, such as for agriculture, where the water is drawn from is a significant consideration, according to an analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).
Pennsylvania Midstreamers to Improve Facilities in EPA Agreements
Two natural gas midstream operators in western Pennsylvania have agreed to improve their facilities after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said they failed to comply with Clean Air Act (CAA) rules to prevent accidental releases of flammable substances.
California Report: ‘Scientific Uncertainty’ on Fracking’s Water Impact
There is still too much “scientific uncertainty” surrounding hydraulic fracturing’s (fracking) impact on water supply, and because of this regulators and operators need to be more transparent and accountable, according to a University of California, Berkeley, report that was released last Thursday.
Shale Growth Causing NatGas Pipeline ‘Replumbing,’ Says Braziel
The day-in and day-out reports from operators ready to build new natural gas pipelines and natural gas liquids (NGL) midstream infrastructure generally have had one thing in common over the past couple of years: most are for the Marcellus Shale. And that’s not going to change anytime soon, according to industry executives.
West Virginia Supreme Court Asked to Rule in Surface Rights Case
A district court judge wants the highest court in West Virginia, the Supreme Court of Appeals, to certify whether existing state law allows a company to drill on land where it doesn’t own the surface rights, but it owns the underlying mineral rights.
Sanchez Doubling Production With Eagle Ford Acquisition
Houston-based Sanchez Energy Corp. is buying producing acreage in the Eagle Ford Shale for $265 million that will more than double current company-wide production and increase proved reserves by 63%.
