Reduced

Consumption of natural gas in both the United States and Mexico is on the rise, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), which once again revised its natural gas price forecasts upward for the rest of 2013 and 2014.

A lawsuit filed by a several Barnett Shale mineral owners accuses Chesapeake Energy Corp. of selling natural gas to an affiliate for a reduced price and basing royalty payments on those sales, which violates the terms of the lease agreements.

With significantly reduced profits for 4Q2012 and all of last year, Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp. senior management pledged Wednesday to better manage costs at its utility and related operations, and to push for more growth initiatives this year, including the spread of natural gas for use in transportation.

Rosetta Resources Inc. said it achieved double-digit growth in production and proved reserves while it “significantly reduced” well costs during 2012. The company said it replaced 472% of production from all sources at a reserve replacement cost of $10.03/boe.

Halliburton, Apache Corp. and Caterpillar have developed a dual-fuel technology for using natural gas and diesel to operate pumping equipment used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) at oil and gas well sites.

Natural gas byproducts now being processed at a nearby plant in Alberta for Shell Canada Ltd.’s refinery have reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and given the company a competitive edge, officials said last week.

Natural gas byproducts now being processed at a nearby plant in Alberta for Shell Canada Ltd.’s refinery have reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and given the company a competitive edge, officials said Thursday.

Raymond James & Associates Inc. energy analysts last week modestly reduced their near-term outlook for U.S. drilling activity and raised expectations for 2013, but only slightly. Drilling activity in the coming year still is “much lower than consensus expectations,” but the natural gas rig count should begin to stabilize.

Raymond James & Associates Inc. energy analysts on Monday modestly reduced their near-term outlook for U.S. drilling activity and raised expectations for 2013, but only slightly. Drilling activity in the coming year still is “much lower than consensus expectations,” but the natural gas rig count should begin to stabilize.