Resource

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) supervisors exerted no pressure on staff to complete resource management plans (RMP) and did not violate any federal laws before conducting the controversial December 2008 natural gas and oil lease sale in Utah, the Interior Department’s inspector general (IG) said in a report.

Energy executives are strengthening their workforces to prepare for the economic recovery, and to prepare for more unconventional natural gas and oil resource development, according to a survey.

Energy executives have begun to strengthen their workforces to prepare for the economic recovery and to ready for more unconventional natural gas and oil resource development, according to a new survey.

Energy executives have begun to strengthen their workforces to prepare for the economic recovery and to ready for more unconventional natural gas and oil resource development, according to a new survey.

The Interior Department last week took its first step toward allowing seismic studies of the oil and natural gas resource potential in federal waters off the Atlantic Seaboard — a move long awaited by producers.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the first step toward allowing seismic studies of the oil and natural gas resource potential in federal waters off the Atlantic Seaboard — a move long awaited by producers — will begin Wednesday.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the first step toward allowing seismic studies of the oil and natural gas resource potential in federal waters off the Atlantic Seaboard — a move long awaited by producers — will begin Wednesday.

Alta Mesa Holdings LP, a privately held energy producer based in Houston, on Wednesday agreed to acquire Meridian Resource Corp. for $26.8 million in cash and assume all of the company’s outstanding debt, estimated at about $96 million.

Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. subsidiary Energy Resource Technology GOM (ERT) said it has made a deepwater oil and gas discovery in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) at its Jake Prospect in Green Canyon Block 490 that it estimated at 50-75 Bcfe gross on a proved, probable and possible basis. The discovery well was drilled to 13,504 feet in 3,740 feet of water and encountered 134 feet of net oil and gas pay in a single sand interval. ERT said the well has been cased and temporarily abandoned for a future subsea completion. First production is estimated in mid-2011. ERT owns a 25% working interest in both the discovery well and Green Canyon Block 490. ERT also recently discovered 20 feet of oil and gas pay at its 75% owned and operated South Timbalier 145 Field. The discovery was drilled to 14,193 feet true vertical depth. That well is currently being completed and is expected to commence production this month.