Preserving

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), which governs water use for a portion of the Marcellus Shale, has launched an online reporting system for the Water Supply Charges Program (WSCP) to streamline operations. All reports beginning this year must be completed online; reporting and payment deadlines are unchanged.

The Blackfeet Nation in Montana and Florida-based Ecosphere Technologies said Tuesday they have agreed for Ecosphere to provide water treatment services to oil/gas operators using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on portions of the Native American tribe’s 3,000-square-mile reservation.

Two members of the five-member California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) have been confirmed by the state Senate, preserving their six-year tenures in the regulatory body. Commissioners Mike Florio, a former consumer attorney, and Catherine Sandoval, a former official with the Federal Communications Commission, were appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown and would have had to step down in February if the Senate had failed to act. Both of their terms are to expire Jan. 1, 2017. A third Brown appointee from last year to the CPUC, Mark Ferron, is still unconfirmed, but he has until mid-March to gain confirmation.

SM Energy Co. has agreed to sell its Marcellus Shale assets in Pennsylvania, including its entire 42,000-acre leasehold and associated pipeline assets in McKean and Potter counties, to a subsidiary of Houston-based Endeavour International Corp. for approximately $80 million, the companies said Monday.

Colorado has released a draft statewide plan aimed at preserving the sage grouse population in the state, while Wyoming has lifted its seasonal restrictions designed to protect the sage grouse.

Colorado has released a draft statewide plan aimed at preserving the sage grouse population in the state, while Wyoming has lifted its seasonal restrictions designed to protect the sage grouse.

As the battle rages on over shutting in natural gas wells for the purpose of preserving crude bitumen recovery from the Wabiskaw-McMurray formation located in northern Alberta, province regulators revised downward the number of gas wells they believe should be closed.

As the battle rages on over shutting in natural gas wells for the purpose of preserving crude bitumen recovery from the Wabiskaw-McMurray formation located in northern Alberta, province regulators revised downward the number of gas wells they believe should be closed.

After a brief foray in negative territory, natural gas futuresbubbled higher yesterday, preserving bulls’ 6-day and countingstring of price advances. With yesterday’s 4.2-cent rise, the Junecontract has climbed almost 40 cents from $3.01 lows notched on May5. June closed at $3.396.