Research

Pennsylvania State University researchers have developed a method that may help producers more easily identify natural gas-rich areas in the Marcellus Shale for exploratory wells.

No link has been found after four years of study between natural gas production activities in the Barnett Shale of North Texas and methane in water wells outside of Fort Worth, academic researchers said Tuesday.

Occidental Petroleum Corp. (Oxy) and White Energy are evaluating the economic feasibility of a carbon capture project in West Texas that could help Oxy produce more Permian Basin oil.

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co. has signed a three-year joint agreement with MagnaBond LLC to develop technologies that could enhance cost-effective evaluation of well cementing, casing and tubing.

Six U.S. projects to test technologies for oil and natural gas development, including four in unconventional plays, have been selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) to receive $30 million total for cost-shared research and development.

Canadians will buy American if the United States border stays open for natural gas and oil flows, according to a defense of free trade crafted by the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI).

The University of Calgary, in collaboration with Mexican universities and research institutes, has received C$44 million (MX$646.94 million) in funding for four knowledge networks to support energy reforms in Mexico. The funding commitment follows from a partnership the university signed in December 2015 with the Mexican Ministry of Energy (SENER). The research focuses on four areas: heavy oil, mature and unconventional oil resources, pipeline loss reduction, and industry and labor market development. Research networks will be created through the University of Calgary’sGlobal Research Initiative in Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources. The networks will be led by the University of Calgary and the lead Mexican partner institutions: the Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo and Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Funding is administered by CONACYT, a national funding organization in Mexico that works to advance science and technology. Research will be developed over the next three years.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved Port Arthur Pipeline LLC’s (PAPLC) planned Port Arthur Pipeline Louisiana Connector Project for pre-filing review [PF17-5]. The project would entail construction of 135 miles of 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline; up to eight interconnects; receipt meter stations; and appurtenances in Evangeline, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, and Cameron parishes in Louisiana and in Jefferson County, TX. PAPLC also plans to construct a compressor station in Allen Parish, LA. The project would transport up to 2.0 Bcf/d of additional feed gas to the Port Arthur Liquefaction Project, which is being developed by Port Arthur LNG LLC and PALNG Common Facilities Co. LLC. PAPLC is expected to file an application for the pipeline project by October.

In the first lawsuit of its kind, an environmental group is claiming that ExxonMobil Corp. not only is leaking pollution beyond its permit limits into Boston Harbor, but it alleges that the supermajor did not prepare the oil storage terminal for the impacts of climate change.