Scotia

Provincial government support for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects has leaped east across Canada to Nova Scotia from British Columbia, according to evidence before the National Energy Board (NEB).

Fear of fracking prevailed Thursday in Atlantic Canada, where a provincial inquiry declared Nova Scotia is not prepared to allow the industry practice safely — and will not be ready any time soon.

More than a year after an eager East Coast provincial government named Canada’s lone liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal as a prime candidate to switch to revenue-generating exports, the plant refuses to be rushed into making the change.

Maritimes Canada natural gas consumers should consider taking up to 600 MMcf/d of firm pipeline capacity from the Marcellus Shale to ensure security of supply and avoid the $30/MMBtu gas prices seen last winter, ICF Consulting Canada Inc. said in a new study prepared for the Nova Scotia Department of Energy.

The Deep Panuke natural gas production facility offshore Nova Scotia is “closer to natural gas production but not quite there yet,” an Encana Corp. spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Encana Corp.’s Deep Panuke natural gas field offshore Nova Scotia, which has been in development in some form for more than 10 years, is scheduled to begin production before the end of June, according to the Dutch company that was hired to build and operate the production facility.

Canadian political leaders are refusing to let project delays and shaky markets lower high expectations for rapid development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from shale drilling in northern British Columbia (BC).

Apache Corp. has retained Scotia Waterous (USA) Inc. to sell about 49,500 net acres (80,000 gross) in East Texas, which at the end of 1Q2011 were producing a total of 41 MMcfe/d net. The acreage to be sold includes 490 proved developed producing wells, which are 80% operated. Proved reserves are estimated at 233 Bcfe, with proved and probable reserves of 338 Bcfe. Most of the total proved and probable reserves are in Freestone, Nacogdoches and Upshur counties; additional acreage to be sold is in Camp, Rust, Angelina, Gregg, Panola, Marion, Harrison, Leon and Limestone counties. Production comes from several producing intervals that include the Bossier, Cotton Valley lime, Travis Peak and Rodessa formations. The bid due date is Aug. 4; the effective date is Sept. 1. For information contact Edward Katterhagen at (713) 437-5064.

A disabled water pump was the cause of the shut-in of natural gas production from the Sable Island Field offshore Nova Scotia early Tuesday morning, a spokesman for operator ExxonMobil told NGI Wednesday.