Rush

A rush for liquids-rich natural gas and tight oil embedded in dense rock formations, using shale drilling methods imported from the United States, is bailing the Alberta government out of sinking deeply into the red.

There are risks facing the natural gas industry that could upset the current “gold rush” mentality, said speakers Tuesday at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) summer meeting in Los Angeles. Reserves estimates are but one concern.

In a low-gas price environment, it’s woe that befalls the gas producer that overpays for midstream services or transportation. And because the industry’s pace has quickened as companies rush to develop shale plays, the risks of overspending at contract time are greater today, Rodney Waller, Range Resources Corp. senior vice president, told a Houston audience earlier this month.

In a low-gas price environment, it’s woe that befalls the gas producer that overpays for midstream services or transportation. And because the industry’s pace has quickened as companies rush to develop shale plays, the risks of overspending at contract time are greater today, Rodney Waller, Range Resources Corp. senior vice president, told a Houston audience last week.

Expecting a rush of new pipelines to support growing Marcellus Shale production, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed two bills last week that give state regulators more oversight over intrastate pipelines.

Expecting a rush of new pipelines to support growing Marcellus Shale production, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed two bills this week that give state regulators more oversight over pipelines in the state.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) introduced legislation Thursday to establish an escalating fee on the “tens of millions of acres of public lands” that oil and natural gas producers have under leases but which are not producing. The objective of the measure is to compel companies to produce on existing leases before they can acquire new leases, a Markey spokeswoman said.

Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) said he and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) planned to introduce legislation Thursday to establish an escalating fee on the “tens of millions of acres of public lands” that oil and natural gas producers have under leases but which are not producing.

As exemplified by a Monday New York Times column touting the natural gas gold rush in shale, alternative fuel transportation applications are one of two outlets for the supply bonanza. They include compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), which are both increasingly attractive to fleet and heavy-duty vehicle markets.