Process

Industry Briefs

SemGas LP has signed an agreement with Eagle Energy Co. to gather and process natural gas from its dedicated acreage in Region 1 of the Anadarko Basin in northern Oklahoma, the Tulsa-based SemGroup Corp. The agreement includes the installation of a 30 MMcf/d cryogenic plant in Hopeton, OK facility to support Eagle’s drilling activities into the Mississippi and Hunton geological formations. SemGas will continue to support Eagle’s drilling activity from its Nash, OK facility with further expansion capabilities available as needed, the company said. Founded in 2009, Eagle focuses on acquiring and drilling properties in the Mid-Continent. Its primary activity focuses on horizontal drilling in the Mississippian formation, where it has a leasehold position exceeding 50,000 acres and production weighted 60% oil. Eagle also has more than 50,00 net acres (primarily gas) in the Hunton Lime and Woodford Shale resource plays.

March 3, 2011

Schlumberger COO: U.S. Shale Technology Not Easily Transferred

The “brute force” drilling process that unlocked North America’s shale deposits won’t easily be transferred overseas, Schlumberger Ltd. COO Paal Kibsgaard said Wednesday.

February 28, 2011

Hydrofracking Draws Shareholder Resolutions

Potential risks of hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) well stimulation — particularly in natural gas shale plays — remain on the minds of activist energy company investors, some of whom are seeking more information on the practice and measures that could reduce associated risks.

January 27, 2011

Two Offshore Gas Leaks Under Investigation

An offshore platform about 93 miles south of Lake Charles, LA, in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) used to process natural gas has been evacuated following discovery of an underwater gas leak, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement.

January 20, 2011

Pennsylvania Groups Ask Corbett to Maintain Forest Drilling Moratorium

Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture) and 40 other state organizations have sent a letter to Gov.-elect Tom Corbett asking him to maintain the moratorium signed last year by Gov. Ed Rendell that prevents new leases for deep natural gas drilling in the state’s forests.

January 13, 2011

Pennsylvania Penalizes Chief Gathering for Discharge Violations

Chief Gathering LLC, a subsidiary of Chief Oil & Gas, has been fined $34,000 and has agreed to surrender a discharge permit for operations in four counties in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale area after “illegally discharging hydrostatic testing water at a pipeline project” in Lycoming County, PA, the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said.

January 12, 2011

Magnum Hunter Ramps Up in West Virginia

The first well drilled by Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. into the northwestern West Virginia portion of the Marcellus Shale tested at an initial production (IP) rate of 7.0 MMcfe/d and was producing as of Dec. 22 into the recently completed Eureka Hunter Pipeline system, the company said.

December 27, 2010

Chilton: CFTC Can Act Quickly to Rein in Markets

While the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) works its way through the regulatory process to set position limits on over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives trading, “there are things we can do right now, that we can implement in January if necessary,” to rein in an out-of-control market, Commissioner Bart Chilton said in testimony before a congressional committee Wednesday.

December 16, 2010

New York Fracking Ban Bill Vetoed; SGEIS Deadline Extended

Outgoing New York Gov. David Paterson took the high road on Saturday, vetoing a bill that would have codified into law a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state through May 15, and at the same time extending until July 1 a deadline for the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to prepare a supplemental generic environmental impact statement (SGEIS).

December 14, 2010

New York Assembly Approves Temporary Fracking Ban

A signature from outgoing New York Gov. David Paterson is all that is required for a temporary ban on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to become effective in the Empire State following the New York State Assembly’s approval of the measure on Monday.

December 1, 2010