Rock

In Arkansas, home to the Fayetteville Shale, state Rep. Kathy Webb (D-Little Rock) has introduced a quintet of bills targeting the natural gas industry for greater scrutiny of drilling operations. The content of the proposed legislation shows that the lawmaker has hydraulic fracturing (fracking) on her mind.

Unconventional natural gas — most notably that found in shale rock — is transforming the gas industry. It will be transformational for major international oil companies, too. But that won’t happen right away, according to an analysis by consultant Wood Mackenzie.

Unconventional natural gas — most notably that found in shale rock — is transforming the gas industry. It will be transformational for major international oil companies, too. But that won’t happen right away, according to an analysis by consultant Wood Mackenzie.

Call Art Berman a shale skeptic. It’s not that he doesn’t think there’s a lot of recoverable natural gas deep within the rock. It’s just that he doesn’t believe producers are being up front about how much it ultimately will cost to recover.

Call Art Berman a shale skeptic. It’s not that he doesn’t think there’s a lot of recoverable natural gas deep within the rock. It’s just that he doesn’t believe producers are being up front about how much it ultimately will cost to recover.

Horizontal drilling into shale rock using multiple fractures (fracs) has “clearly” changed the game for the U.S. natural gas industry, but the drilling process also has the potential to give conventional gas formations, like tight gas sands, an economic boost, Raymond James & Associates Inc. said last week.

Horizontal drilling into shale rock using multiple fractures (fracs) has “clearly” changed the game for the U.S. natural gas industry, but the drilling process is showing the potential to give conventional gas formations, like tight gas sands, an economic boost, Raymond James & Associates Inc. said Monday.

Natural gas shale has forever changed the energy market in North America, and the amount producers are able to pull from the rock eventually will create a practical alternative to other forms of energy, including crude oil and coal, Chesapeake Energy Corp. CEO Aubrey McClendon said last Wednesday.

Natural gas shale has forever changed the energy market in North America, and the amount producers are able to pull from the rock eventually will create a practical alternative to other forms of energy, including crude oil and coal, Chesapeake Energy Corp. CEO Aubrey McClendon said Wednesday.