Practices

Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter has assembled an Eagle Ford Task Force charged with establishing best practices for development of the South Texas play based on input from across the industry and affected communities.

Citing his financial ties to the oil and natural gas industry, an attorney with a Washington, DC-based advocacy group has called on the Obama administration to replace the chairman of the subcommittee exploring the risks associated with hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

A comprehensive review of hydraulic fracturing practices in natural gas wells in the Marcellus, Barnett and Haynesville shales for the first time is to independently assess alleged groundwater contamination and seismic events, as well as the scope and effectiveness of gas patch regulations, according to the University of Texas at Austin (UT).

Nearly a week after a bill that would temporarily block hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Empire State landed on his desk, New York Gov. David Paterson has not decided if he will sign or veto the legislation.

The Pennsylvania House on Tuesday and the Senate on Wednesday separately voted in lame duck sessions to override Gov. Ed Rendell’s veto of an education bill. However, the severance tax on gas drillers that Rendell and some lawmakers had sought for more than two years was never considered.

Quebec’s shale gas could generate as many as 19,000 jobs and more than C$1 billion in annual royalties for the province, according to an economic benefits study issued on Friday.

ConocoPhillips has agreed to install pollution control equipment and implement other emission-reduction practices to reduce harmful emissions and conserve natural gas at its Argenta and Sunnyside compressor stations on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in the San Juan Basin near Ignacio, CO, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said. Under a settlement agreement with EPA, ConocoPhillips agreed to pay $175,000 in civil penalties. According to a complaint filed with the settlement, the producer allegedly violated provisions of its air emissions permit under Title V of the Clean Air Act. EPA said ConocoPhillips had cooperated in resolving the violations.

ConocoPhillips has agreed to install pollution control equipment and implement other emission-reduction practices to reduce harmful emissions and conserve natural gas at its Argenta and Sunnyside compressor stations on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation in the San Juan Basin near Ignacio, CO, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said. Under a settlement agreement with EPA, ConocoPhillips agreed to pay $175,000 in civil penalties. According to a complaint filed with the settlement, the producer allegedly violated provisions of its air emissions permit under Title V of the Clean Air Act. EPA said ConocoPhillips had cooperated in resolving the violations.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) Monday published a new guidance document outlining current best-industry practices for the proper drilling and cementing of wells that are being hydraulically fractured. The document, “Hydraulic Fracturing Operations — Well Construction and Integrity Guideline,” is designed to ensure that shallow ground water aquifers and the environment are protected throughout the drilling, completion and production phases of a well’s life, according to API. “The guidance document helps supplement and support existing state regulations to ensure that development of our nation’s abundant natural gas resources is safe and effective,” said API Upstream Director Doug Morris. A free .pdf of the guidance document is available at www.api.org/Publications/epstandards/. A hard copy may be purchased for $40 from www.api.org/publications or by calling IHS at (800) 854-7179.