Probably

The Marcellus Shale’s natural gas volumes are continuing to flow higher, but significant revisions in growth expectations by pipeline giant Williams Partners Ltd. (WPZ) has led one analyst to question whether the “excellent adventure” to establish a major natural gas hub is turning into a “bogus journey.”

Regulators in Alaska are proposing a comprehensive set of rules to govern hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state, and will accept public comments on the proposals through early February, when a public hearing is also scheduled.

Talisman Energy Inc.’s North American production from ongoing operations experienced a healthy increase in 3Q2012, but weak natural gas prices have the company and its new CEO, Hal N. Kvisle, trimming capital expenses (capex) as part of a plan to run a more streamlined operation in 2013.

The West Virginia Department of Revenue (DOR) has decided not to assign assessed value to oil and natural gas wellpad sites in the state, heeding the advice of a special committee of county assessors that doing so would pose a hardship to farmers who own surface, but not mineral, rights to their land.

With dry gas supplies ballooning, it’s probably a good thing that the industry grew demonstrated peak working capacity in underground storage caverns last year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). From April 2011 to April 2012, Lower 48 state capacity increased 3%, or 136 Bcf, to 4,239 Bcf, according to a new EIA report.

Noting that the cost of storage is probably three times cheaper today than five years ago, an energy trading firm executive made a pitch for a new marketing process for gas storage capacity at the LDC Gas Forum Midcontinent conference Tuesday in Chicago.

With dry gas supplies ballooning, it’s probably a good thing that the industry grew demonstrated peak working capacity in underground storage caverns last year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). From April 2011 to April 2012, Lower 48 state capacity increased 3%, or 136 Bcf, to 4,239 Bcf, according to a new EIA report.

The expanding U.S. supply of natural gas is providing a win-win for chemicals producers, their suppliers and customers. It’s “an unbelievable opportunity,” Jim Teague, COO of Enterprise Products Partners, told an industry audience in Houston.

What does the largest North American natural gas producer do when prices aren’t going its way? Move rigs to liquids plays, ExxonMobil investor relations chief David Rosenthal said Tuesday.