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As another indicator of what sub-$3 natural gas prices can produce, MDU Resources Group Inc. will be selling some of its gas assets this year — albeit small ones — and raising its proportional amount of oil production from its exploration and production (E&P) mix in the Bakken, Niobrara, Heath, Big Horn Basin and other shale plays, senior executives told analysts during the company’s 4Q2011 earnings conference call.

While lower profits in its merchant generation business and a decrease in weather-related energy sales hampered Dominion Resources Inc.’s full-year and 4Q2011 earnings, the Richmond, VA-based company said it has made “significant progress” in developing infrastructure projects to serve the robust shale gas production from the Marcellus and surrounding plays.

North Dakota’s oil/natural gas boom continues to be a mixed blessing for state energy planners, and future pipeline infrastructure’s adequacy is one of many questions state officials hope to have some answers for by mid-year. A study is under way by the state Pipeline Authority to determine if existing infrastructure will be adequate.

California regulators last Friday revised a proposed decision for offering an option to smart meters for customers alleging health problems related to the wireless devices. It is the advanced meters for electric customers that have caused controversy for a small portion of customers at Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E).

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has fined Talisman Energy USA Inc. $51,478 for a well control incident that prompted the company to shut down all North American hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) operations in early 2011.

Copano Energy LLC and Magellan Midstream Partners LP have formed of a joint venture (JV) to deliver Eagle Ford Shale condensate to Corpus Christi, TX. The JV’s project will make use of new and existing pipeline infrastructure.

Cheniere Energy Inc., which has been developing domestic gas liquefaction and export capability on the Gulf Coast in Louisiana, said Friday it is seeking to do the same in Corpus Christi, TX, with a facility that would be primarily supplied with gas from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas.

As the city of Dallas’ Gas Drilling Task Force works to finalize the recommendations it is scheduled to make later this month to city council, members Tuesday came to a decision on a few items.

Wyoming is analyzing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) findings of high levels of benzene and other chemicals, including petroleum-related compounds, at two monitoring test wells installed near natural gas drilling locations around Pavillion, WY.