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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court last Thursday quashed an appeal by the state Public Utility Commission (PUC), leaving in place an earlier court order that the commission cannot use a review process to enforce some provisions of Act 13, the state’s omnibus Marcellus Shale law.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said shale and other formations might be a safe place to dispose of nuclear waste, specifically spent nuclear fuel (SNF) currently being stored at nuclear power plants around the world.

The pieces are in place to gradually lift natural gas prices over the next five years, and the gas market is proving that free markets, capitalism and economic fundamentals still work, Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts said in a note last week.

Despite protests by state officials and the energy industry, the Boulder (CO) County commission on Tuesday extended a 16-month drilling moratorium now in place by another 18 months, following the lead of the Boulder city council, which earlier this month imposed a one-year drilling permit ban (see Shale Daily, June 7).

The pieces are in place to gradually lift natural gas prices over the next five years, and the gas market is proving that free markets, capitalism and economic fundamentals still work, Raymond James & Associates Inc. analysts said in a note Monday.

Northern Natural Gas Co. on behalf of its business, Southern Natural Gas and Florida Gas Transmission, has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval to abandon in place the Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System (MOPS), which includes offshore facilities and onshore facilities in Texas because they are “grossly underutilized.” During April, the MOPS system transported less than 6,500 Dth/d, a fraction of the system’s original design capacity of 480,000 Dth/d, Northern Natural said. In August 2012, FERC approved Northern’s request to abandon the MOPS Phase III facilities; Northern now wants authority to abandon the first two phases, which consist of about 55 miles of 24-inch diameter pipeline that begin at Matagorda Block 686 and continue to onshore facilities at Tivoli, TX. In addition to dwindling pipeline volumes, evidence demonstrates that production declines are permanent, Northern said. FERC denied Northern’s original plea to abandon the Phase I and II facilities in an April 2011 order. At that time, there were 17 production points (out of the original 30), and now there are only four production points tied into the MOPS system, Northern said.

Northern Natural Gas Co. on behalf of itself, as well as Southern Natural Gas and Florida Gas Transmission, has asked FERC for the green light to abandon in place offshore facilities and onshore facilities in Texas, known as the Matagorda Offshore Pipeline System (MOPS), which are seldom used by shippers anymore.

Physical gas prices overall for the extended holiday weekend fell 3 cents, with double-digit losses posted at California points and losses in place at eastern and Midwest locations as well. About two-dozen points scored gains. Futures prices eased as well, and at the close June had lost 2.4 cents to $4.237 and July was off 2.3 cents to $4.284. July crude oil fell 10 cents to $94.15/bbl.

Three bills that if enacted would place a moratorium on using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in drilling operations, as well as review oil and gas drilling practices, have advanced in the California legislature along partisan lines in a body dominated by Democrats.