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India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. (ONGC) announced Friday that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ConocoPhillips to explore and develop shale and deepwater resources in India and North America.

Active rigs in U.S. shale and tight sands basins gained 1% in the week ending April 1 to hit 981 rigs, up from 972 the previous week, according to NGI’s Shale Daily Unconventional Rig Count.

Big spending by Big Oil in the U.S. shale plays is leading to a big-time recovery in global upstream capital spending, according to energy consultant Wood Mackenzie.

Michael J. Cianci Jr. has been appointed a FERC administrative law judge (ALJ). Cianci currently is the senior reservist for the U.S. Air Force Environmental Law and Litigation Division, serving in the rank of colonel. Since 2001 he has served as ALJ for the Social Security Administration in Cleveland and Phoenix. He also was the chief ALJ for the Phoenix office for more than two years. “Judge Cianci’s broad experience in both government and the private sector, including his positions as a chief judge and litigation attorney, along with his extensive knowledge of regulatory, environmental and natural resource issues will serve FERC very well,” said Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher. FERC’s Chief ALJ Curtis Wagner Jr. said Cianci’s “exceptional background…will be of great value in meeting our mission responsibilities.” From 1991 to 2001 Cianci worked for the Air Force as a civilian counsel in the Environmental Law and Litigation Division, where his case work included issues involving the Clean Water Act, third-party site clean-up issues and water rights litigation. He managed a field litigation office at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and supported water rights litigation for the Air Force throughout the West. Cianci previously worked in the Arizona attorney general’s office as an assistant attorney general representing several boards and commissions, including the State Land Department. Cianci also worked as a litigation attorney with the Arizona law firms of Snell and Wilmer, and Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre and Friedlander. After graduating from law school in 1978, Cianci served as a circuit trial counsel and assistant staff judge advocate with the Air Force where he was responsible for prosecuting major criminal cases over a five-state area, including murder, rape, espionage and robbery cases. Cianci graduated from the University of Arizona Law School in Tucson. In 1988 Cianci received a masters of law degree in Law and Marine Affairs from the University of Washington Law School, with a concentration in environmental and water law. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.

December natural gas futures Tuesday broke rank with the oil complex and gained ground. Traders cited near-term supportive weather forecasts as aiding the bullish cause but cautioned against any sustained advance. November futures rose 4.7 cents to settle at $8.021, and December gained 5.5 cents to finish at $8.354. December crude oil swan-dived $3.15 to $90.38/bbl.

According to those who matter most — the customers — the top interstate pipeline in North America is Ozark Gas Transmission and the number one Canadian pipeline is Nova Gas Transmission, say the results of the fifth annual Mastio Natural Gas Pipeline Customer Satisfaction Study released last week. The study covered 48 interstate, 14 intrastate and 10 Canadian pipelines, with 90% of the North American transporters represented.

According to those who matter most — the customers — the top interstate pipeline in North America is Ozark Gas Transmission and the number one Canadian pipeline is Nova Gas Transmission, say the results of the fifth annual Mastio Natural Gas Pipeline Customer Satisfaction Study released last week. The study covered 48 interstate, 14 intrastate and 10 Canadian pipelines, with 90% of the North American transporters represented.

Mississippi River Transmission (MRT) and Columbia Gas SystemInc. got very high marks for being responsive to their customers,according to the results of the latest pipelinecustomer-satisfaction study released last week by Mastio & Co.

Mississippi River Transmission (MRT) and Columbia Gas SystemInc. got very high marks for being responsive to their customers,according to the results of the latest pipeline customersatisfaction study released by Mastio & Co.