Three families in western Pennsylvania have filed a lawsuit against 17 defendants, including an operator for Range Resources Corp. and two independent water testing labs, alleging that a drilling and impoundment site caused health problems. The plaintiffs also accused Range and the labs of conspiring to hide evidence of drinking water contamination.
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Articles from Position
BC Utility Steps on the (Natural) Gas With NGV Incentive Plan
British Columbia’s (BC) largest gas distributor has taken a lead position in a program allowing utilities and their customers to fund incentives for natural gas vehicle (NGV) use, thereby boosting the market for the province’s production.
BC Steps on the (Natural) Gas With NGV Incentives
British Columbia’s (BC) largest gas distributor has taken a lead position in a program allowing utilities and their customers to fund incentives for natural gas vehicle (NGV) use, thereby boosting the market for the province’s production.
Big Three Texas Plays Lift Pioneer’s Production
During the first quarter Pioneer Natural Resources Co. grew production by 10,000 boe/d to 147,000 boe/d, a 7% increase from the year-ago period, thanks to growth in its three core liquids-rich assets in Texas: the Spraberry field, the Eagle Ford Shale and the Barnett Shale Combo play.
Oilfield Services Business Next Financial Windfall for Chesapeake?
Chesapeake Energy Corp., which has used a variety of savvy financial means to raise money for exploring and developing its vast unconventional portfolio in the United States, is preparing to launch its diverse onshore oilfield services unit through an initial public offering (IPO), a separate company that would continue to be closely tied to its main customer, the Oklahoma City-based producer.
People
Buddy Garcia has been appointed to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) by Gov. Rick Perry. Garcia’s appointment fills a position vacated by Elizabeth Ames Jones in February (see Daily GPI, Feb. 15). Garcia most recently served on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). He was appointed to TCEQ by Perry in 2007 and served as chairman from September 2007 until September 2009. Prior to his appointment to TCEQ, Garcia was Texas’ deputy secretary of state and border commerce coordinator. He also previously served as a senior adviser to Perry and state Sen. Eddie Lucio. A native of Brownsville, TX, Garcia received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University.
Industry Briefs
Williams Olefins LLC has awarded CB&I a $300 million contract for expansion of ethylene production capacity in Geismer, LA (see Shale Daily, Sept. 21, 2011). The award includes the license and basic engineering for the ethylene technology, the supply of the cracking furnaces and engineering, procurement, and construction of the expansion. Plant capacity is expected to be increased from 1.35 to 1.95 billion pounds per year. “The petrochemicals market is re-emerging in the U.S. due to the abundance of lower-cost ethane feedstock, directly attributable to increased shale gas production,” said CB&I CEO Philip K. Asherman. Ethylene, mainly produced via steam cracking, is the primary building block for the chemical industry and is used to produce a variety of products including plastics, fibers and rubbers.
Keystone XL Re-Application to Feds Two Months Away
The promised re-application of a newly split two-part Keystone XL oil pipeline project to the U.S. State Department is still six to eight weeks away, a Calgary, Alberta-based spokesperson for TransCanada Corp. told NGI’s Shale Daily.
Halliburton Sees Challenges in Move from Gas to Liquids Plays
A combination of fit-for-purpose technology with solid execution in drilling horizontal wells using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is giving Halliburton Co. confidence that it can deliver on its “frack-of-the-future” strategic initiatives, a company executive said Monday.
Delaware Governor’s Position Could Decide DRBC Vote
Environmentalists say Delaware Gov. Jack Markell will be in a key position to oppose hydraulic fracturing (fracking) when the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) meets on Monday, but they admit they are unsure of where he stands on Marcellus Shale development within the basin.