Request

Ten years ago the Permian Basin, first drilled nearly a century ago, was considered passe for oil and gas exploration. Today, however, a new generation of explorers and midstream operators has made the basin one of the hottest tickets on the reservoir circuit and there are no signs that the lights will be dimming anytime soon.

The backer of an initiative to raise the severance tax Arkansas charges natural gas producers has appealed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to scrutinize two energy producers for their indirect funding of anti-tax hike groups and what those groups are telling voters.

At the request of the oil and natural gas industry, the Obama administration will extend the public comment period on proposed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rules governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

At the request of the oil and natural gas industry, the Obama administration will extend the public comment period on proposed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rules governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

At the request of the oil and natural gas industry, the Obama administration will extend by two months the public comment period on proposed Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rules governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

Hearings resumed Wednesday in New Mexico on a request from the state’s two main energy industry groups that the state’s “pit rule” be modified to make it more cost effective. An official with the state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department indicated that additional hearings may be required by the Oil Conservation Commission (OCC). New Mexico’s Independent Petroleum Association (IPA) and Oil and Gas Association (OGA) have continued to seek administrative changes to state rules for handling natural gas and oil drilling production waste (see Daily GPI, May 22). Earlier, IPA and OGA representatives told the OCC that their costs are rising to comply with the pit rule, and ranchers expressed environmental concerns. After five days of testimony in May, the OCC was taking additional input and that was expected to require additional hearings beyond the one now scheduled for Friday (June 22). A final determination by the OCC will not come up until about a month after hearings are concluded, according to a state resources department official.

The Ohio House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted in favor of an energy bill that also creates new rules for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state. The bill is to be sent to Gov. John Kasich for his signature.

A bill that would create rules governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) passed a key committee in the state House of Representatives on Wednesday and is scheduled to be submitted to the full House for a floor vote on Thursday.

New Mexico has completed initial hearings on a request from the state’s two main energy industry groups that the “pit rule” be modified to make it more cost effective. The hearings are scheduled to continue June 20 in Santa Fe, NM.