Previously

A total of 13,350 wells are expected to be drilled across Canada in 2012, 1,750 (11.6%) fewer than previously forecast but still 4% more than the 12,917 wells drilled in 2011, according to the Petroleum Services Association of Canada (PSAC).

Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI) and El Paso Corp. have agreed to a friendly, $38 billion buyout of the latter that KMI CEO Richard D. Kinder said is largely predicated on the growing role of natural gas in North America’s energy supply picture, thanks in large part to production from shale gas plays around the continent.

Higher than previously anticipated earnings in its natural gas distribution and ONEOK Partners segments will help generate $355-400 million of net income in 2012, a significant increase compared with ONEOK Inc.’s 2011 guidance of $325-345 million, the Tulsa-based company said.

Higher than previously anticipated earnings in its natural gas distribution and ONEOK Partners segments will help generate $355-400 million of net income in 2012, a significant increase compared with ONEOK Inc.’s 2011 guidance of $325-345 million, the Tulsa-based company said.

After previously noting that Critical Days for storage would become more common through the end of injection season, Columbia Gas (TCO) said Friday the gas days of Saturday through Monday would be deemed as such Critical Days. Based on its injection capacity and on forecasted firm requirements, TCO projected that all available injection capacity would be required to meet firm service obligations, with no likelihood of interruptible services. Withdrawals were not impacted. AutoPAL (Park and Loan) service would not be available through the weekend, TCO said.

A voluntary first-of-its-kind groundwater sampling program was launched this month by Colorado’s energy industry to “proactively” address concerns associated with drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Although previously committed to replacing its coal-fired power plants with natural gas generation in Colorado, Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy said Thursday it is buying another 200 MW of wind-generated electricity supplies as part of efforts to meet the state’s 2020 renewable portfolio standard (RPS) goal of 30%.

The “pace” of new hydraulic fracturing (fracking) equipment deliveries to North America’s onshore resource plays is back on track after a frustrating three-month delay caused by a wet spring in the Marcellus Shale, harsh conditions in North Dakota and delayed equipment deliveries, the CEO of Nabors Industries Ltd. said Wednesday.

A think tank is questioning the importance of Marcellus Shale development in Pennsylvania’s employment picture.