Providers

Driven by the U.S. shale boom and low natural gas prices, the issue for local utility gas providers of extending their distribution pipeline systems is drawing re-examination by regulators and industry researchers.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., whose central operations are in the Marcellus Shale, said Monday it plans to use natural gas to power hydraulic fracturing (fracking) equipment in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Companion bills in the Florida legislature would tax providers of natural gas as a transportation fuel, rather than taxing natural gas vehicle (NGV) operators as is currently done. The measures would enact a 4-cent tax/motor fuel gallon equivalent of natural gas.

Driven by the U.S. shale boom and resulting low natural gas prices, the issue for local utility gas providers of extending their distribution pipeline systems is drawing re-examination by regulators and industry researchers.

California has a mandate to have one-third of its electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020, but energy planners and providers are hoping milder weather prevails this summer in the face of prospects of a permanent shutdown of one of the state’s two major nuclear generating plants.

While the state has a mandate to have one-third of its electricity come from renewable energy resources by 2020, energy planners and providers alike are hoping milder weather prevails this summer in the face of prospects for perhaps a permanent shut down of one of the state’s two major nuclear generating plants.

Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) services that have been under pressure in North America’s natural gas basins now are seeing some of the same impacts in the liquids-rich basins, Schlumberger Ltd.’s CEO said Friday.

Disclosure of the chemicals used for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) well stimulation is becoming the law of the land in the energy-rich Ark-La-Tex region, a natural gas breadbasket for the country, and elsewhere. However, in environmentally conscious California legislation to require disclosure has stumbled.

Producers’ increasing interest in liquids-rich gas plays that has made it necessary for midstream service providers to offer natural gas liquids (NGL) capabilities is what is suggested by last week’s pairing of Energy Transfer Partners LP (ETP) and Regency Energy Partners LP in a joint venture (JV) to do just that.