Rigs

The agency overseeing the regulating and inspection of oil and natural gas rigs has created a new online and telephone hotline for reporting misconduct and unethical behavior by both agency and industry employees.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Wednesday visited three Gulf of Mexico drilling rigs — two active and one idle — to receive updates on industry compliance with new inspection requirements and safety specifications for blowout preventers (BOPs) and well construction.

In an interview this week, former Minerals Management Service (MMS) director Johnnie Burton defended the agency’s oversight and inspections of oil and natural gas rigs in the Gulf of Mexico during her tenure.

Enterprise Products Partners LP Tuesday announced several projects to extend and expand its natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) infrastructure in South Texas and Mont Belvieu, TX, to accommodate growing volumes from the Eagle Ford Shale play.

The Interior Department issued a new directive Friday to oil and gas lessees and operators requiring them to submit information that addresses prevention measures for a possible blowout, and then followed up Monday with the swearing in of Michael R. Bromwich who will take over the restructuring of the Minerals Management Service into the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOE).

From a trough of 17 drilling rigs last summer to a current rig count that stands above 40, natural gas and oil producers are flocking to the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, which holds the potential for a big nest egg of returns.

From a trough of 17 drilling rigs last summer to a current rig count that stands above 40, natural gas and oil producers are flocking to the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, which holds the potential for a big nest egg of returns.

From a trough of 17 drilling rigs last summer to a current rig count that stands above 40, natural gas and oil producers are flocking to the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas, which holds the potential for a big nest egg of returns.

The costs to build and operate upstream facilities have plunged over the past six months, but they still have further to fall, according to IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates (IHS CERA).