Several

Goodrich Petroleum Corp. officials said they were “extremely pleased” with results from several wells in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS), while the company’s “balanced portfolio” saw net crude oil production climb to 1.1 million bbl in 2012, a 70% increase over 2011.

Goodrich Petroleum Corp. officials said they were “extremely pleased” with results from several wells in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS), while the company’s “balanced portfolio” saw net crude oil production climb to 1.1 million bbl in 2012, a 70% increase over 2011.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu is stepping down, following several other key energy and environmental officials, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson. “I informed the president of my decision a few days after the election that [my wife] and I were eager to return to California. I would like to return to an academic life of teaching and research but will still work to advance the missions that we have been working on together for the last four years,” he said. Chu in a letter to his employees highlighted some of the progress made while serving in the administration, including forming a $45 million inter-agency effort last year by Interior, DOE and EPA o research hydraulic fracturing (fracking) during fiscal 2013. He also cited DOE’s role in capping BP plc’s blown Macondo oil well in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Salazar, who oversaw a moratorium on offshore drilling after the BP oil spill and the restructuring of the agency, will step down in March (see NGI, Jan. 21). Jackson resigning following President Obama’s State of the Union speech on Feb. 12, bringing to an end a sometimes tumultuous four-year tenure (see NGI, Jan. 7).

Seneca Resources Corp., the exploration and production subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Co., said Tuesday that six recently completed wells targeting the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania are among the most productive ever drilled in the play, according to initial test results.

DCP Midstream LLC and DCP Midstream Partners LP made several management and board changes effective Jan. 1. Tom O’Connor will retire as CEO of DCP Midstream but will remain chairman of the board for both DCP Midstream and DCP Midstream GP LLC, the general partner of DCP Midstream Partners, “until an appointed time in 2013.” Wouter van Kempen, formerly COO and president of DCP Midstream, will become CEO and president of DCP Midstream and CEO of the general partner. William Waldheim, president of the general partner, will join the general partner’s board. And, as had previously been announced, Mark Borer retired as CEO of the general partner on Dec. 31.

DCP Midstream LLC and DCP Midstream Partners LP made several management and board changes effective Jan. 1. Tom O’Connor will retire as CEO of DCP Midstream but will remain chairman of the board for both DCP Midstream and DCP Midstream GP LLC, the general partner of DCP Midstream Partners, “until an appointed time in 2013.” Wouter van Kempen, formerly COO and president of DCP Midstream, will become CEO and president of DCP Midstream and CEO of the general partner. William Waldheim, president of the general partner, will join the general partner’s board. And, as had previously been announced, Mark Borer retired as CEO of the general partner on Dec. 31.

DCP Midstream LLC and DCP Midstream Partners LP made several management and board changes effective Jan. 1. Tom O’Connor will retire as CEO of DCP Midstream but will remain chairman of the board for both DCP Midstream and DCP Midstream GP LLC, the general partner of DCP Midstream Partners, “until an appointed time in 2013.” Wouter van Kempen, formerly COO and president of DCP Midstream, will become CEO and president of DCP Midstream and CEO of the general partner. William Waldheim, president of the general partner, will join the general partner’s board. And, as had previously been announced, Mark Borer retired as CEO of the general partner on Dec. 31.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) voted unanimously on Thursday to clarify several portions of Act 13, the state’s omnibus Marcellus Shale law, as to how it pertains to levying an unconventional natural gas drilling impact fee.

Higher natural gas and oil resource estimates should continue through 2013 for several onshore unconventional areas, especially in “pockets of the Permian Basin,” the Niobrara formation, as well as the Eagle Ford and “super-rich” Marcellus and Utica shales, according to Credit Suisse.