A South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) hearing board last Saturday ordered the permanent closure and other steps related to Southern California Gas Co.’s (SoCalGas) leaking natural gas storage well (see Daily GPI,Jan. 19).
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Wyoming has hired a new oil/natural gas supervisor, Grant Black, a 30-year geology veteran who will assume his new position May 1. The state has been without a permanent supervisor at the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (OGCC) since long-time incumbent Tom Doll resigned last year after a run-in with Gov. Matt Mead (see Shale Daily, June 18, 2012). Department veteran Bob King has filled in on an interim basis. Once the oil/gas supervisor in Arkansas (1999-2004), Black holds geology degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.
Forest Sells Noncore Gas-Weighted Texas Assets
Forest Oil Corp. has agreed to sell all of its South Texas properties — excluding those in the Eagle Ford Shale — for proceeds of $325 million after tax as part of its ongoing deleveraging plan, the company said Thursday.
Report: ‘Policy Reset’ Needed to Take Advantage of Shale’s Potential
Dramatically increasing the production of domestic natural gas, oil and coal offers the United States its best opportunity to create sustainable jobs, but political wrangling stands in the way of achieving that goal, according to a new report from the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research.
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Denver-based Forest Oil Corp. made interim CEO Patrick R. McDonald the company’s permanent chief, prompting speculation by one analyst that “all strategic options remain on the table for the company.” McDonald had served as interim chief since June 21 while the company’s board conducted a search for a replacement for former CEO H. Craig Clark. Clark left the company abruptly, sparking speculation that it was because of a failure to strike a joint venture in the Eagle Ford Shale. Wells Fargo Securities analyst David Tameron said the appointment of McDonald was a positive for the company and could signal more news to come. “We believe the announcement may allow Street speculation surrounding the potential takeout of the company to continue, as a new CEO would have likely entered with a multiyear restructuring road map. From our take, all strategic options remain on the table,” Tameron said in a note.
Wyoming Passes Water Project for Pavillion
Wyoming state lawmakers last Friday passed legislation to help bring a permanent solution to potential drinking water problems in the Pavillion, WY, area. This is where two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) test wells have sparked concerns among residents and environmental activists who are opposed to hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
Manchin to West Virginia: Work Together; To EPA: Back Off
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) used an energy conference as an opportunity to urge state legislators and regulators to come to an agreement on Marcellus Shale regulatory reform, but also took a swipe at federal officials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
West Virginia Panel Keeps $10K Permit Fee Intact
A committee of West Virginia lawmakers made little progress this week toward settling the remaining obstacles to a Marcellus Shale regulatory reform bill, instead using their time to debate — but ultimately leave unchanged — a steep increase in permitting fees.
West Virginia Panel to Tackle Four Outstanding Shale Issues
A bipartisan panel of West Virginia lawmakers seeking a consensus on possible Marcellus Shale regulatory reform are scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning in Charleston.
West Virginia Panel Calls for ‘Dramatic’ Well Fee, Bonding Hikes
A committee of West Virginia lawmakers voted Wednesday to recommend steep increases in permit fees and bonding requirements for Marcellus Shale drilling, resolving two key areas of disagreement as they work to cobble together a draft regulatory reform bill.