Baker Hughes Inc. is reporting positive results from a program to convert a fleet of its North American hydraulic fracturing (fracking) units to bifuel pumps that use a mix of natural gas and diesel, the oilfield services operator said Monday.
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Industry Briefs
The growth of the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania’s eastern Marcellus Shale helped the area avoid the worst of the 2008 recession, and the positive effects have only just begun, according to a study by the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development (IPPED). A comparison of the impact of the Marcellus on Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district, the Barnett Shale in Texas and the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas led IPPED to conclude “that there is definite potential for growth in wealth, employment and housing” within Pennsylvania’s 10th congressional district, which includes many of the top producing counties. Core drilling counties fared better than noncore drilling counties, but the economic benefits of the Marcellus spilled over throughout the region.
Comstock Keeping Haynesville Powder Dry
The dry gas Haynesville Shale will have its day again — when gas prices have a $5 handle — and Comstock Resources Inc. will be ready, management of the Frisco, TX-based producer told financial analysts Tuesday.
Researchers: Marcellus Helped Region Weather Recession
The growth of the natural gas industry in the heart of Pennsylvania’s eastern Marcellus Shale helped the area avoid the worst of the 2008 recession, and the positive effects have only just begun, according to a study issued by the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development (IPPED).
Industry Brief
Natural gas is seen as a fuel of the future by the authors of Statoil’s “Energy Perspectives 2012” report. “Global gas demand is projected to increase by 60% by 2040. Positive drivers include significant new available supply at moderate costs and environmental policies,” said Chief Analyst Eirik Waerness. Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, and Statoil believes that natural gas will serve as an important and cost-efficient means to meet the challenge of global warming, he said. In aggregate, the fossil fuel share of the global energy mix is expected to drop from 81% in 2010 to 73% in 2040: “In OECD Europe, renewables is expected to more than double towards 2040, and becoming the second most important fuel with a 24% share of the energy mix in the region,” said Waerness. This development is driven by climate and environmental policies, energy security concerns, as well as price and cost developments, he said.
Dunes Sagebrush Lizard Kept Off Endangered List
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) said Wednesday the dunes sagebrush lizard (DSL) does not need to be listed on the Endangered Species Act after New Mexico and Texas voluntarily agreed to protect the animal’s habitat.
Industry Brief
Sempra Energy’s San Diego Gas and Electric Co. (SDG&E) and the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) jointly released a positive outlook for summer energy supplies even with the continued outage of the 2,200 MW San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (Songs). Earlier in the spring there were concerns about strained natural gas supplies and other energy infrastructure due to the absence of Songs’ baseload power in Southern California (see Daily GPI, May 7). Besides bringing back in service two mothballed natural gas-fired generation units along the Southern California coast at Huntington Beach, SDG&E’s high-voltage Sunrise Powerlink transmission line is expected to be in service soon, as well as a 230kV transmission loop in southern Orange County, Barre-Del Amo and Barre-Ellis No. 2 lines. SDG&E and CAISO still characterized this summer as “challenging” from a power supply perspective, noting that if the region experiences a prolonged heat wave, calls for conservation will be inevitable. More than 283 MW of new generation capacity came online the second half of 2011, and CAISO expects another 923 MW to be added this year by July 1, but most of its if renewable-based wind and solar projects that are intermittent and require backup from gas-fired and hydroelectric sources.
Where There’s Drilling in Pennsylvania, Tax Dollars Follow
Early indications point to natural gas development having a positive impact on state tax collections in counties in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale region, according to an analysis by Pennsylvania State University researchers.
Supply Glut, Warm Winter Cut Both Ways for Boardwalk
The conditions that have been keeping a lid on natural gas prices — unusually warm winter weather and robust gas supplies — had both positive and negative impacts on Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP’s (BPP) business in 1Q2012, according to CEO Stan Horten.
Moody’s: E&P Small Fry Getting Bump from Shales
Focusing on oil and natural gas liquids (NGL) has paid off for small exploration and production (E&P) companies, according to Moody’s Investors Service, as they are expected to gain from rapid production and reserve growth.