Significant

The tax break for high-cost natural gas wells in Texas — which is of particular importance to producers active in the state’s shale plays — continues to draw attention from lawmakers wrangling with a $27 billion budget shortfall.

For U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to pick up steam, the current significant wholesale gas price differences between North America and other major global markets will have to continue in the long term, according to Sempra Energy’s head of its LNG operations, speaking at Sempra’s financial analysts conference Wednesday in New York City.

A pipeline project to deliver Marcellus Shale ethane from Pennsylvania to Canadian markets was announced Tuesday by MarkWest Liberty Midstream & Resources LLC and Sunoco Logistics Partners LP.

Texas state Rep. Tank Parker (R-Flower Mound) has introduced companion bills that would make urban areas with significant oil and gas drilling a priority for inspections by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) and double the potential monetary penalty for violations.

Although Pennsylvania does not have a severance tax on natural gas production, the state is starting to collect more tax revenues from counties with significant Marcellus Shale development activity than from counties without it, according to a new report from Penn State University.

Although Pennsylvania does not have severance tax on natural gas production, the state is starting to collect more tax revenues from counties with significant Marcellus Shale development activity than from counties without it, according to a new report from Penn State University.

A new report on the merits of developing Alaska’s Arctic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) states the move would create “significant economic effects,” and would generate thousands of jobs and billions in payroll and tax revenue.

In a state with significant energy and environmental issues, Wyoming’s new Gov. Matt Mead announced his appointments to various boards and commissions, including a number that deal with the energy sector. In most cases Mead went with incumbents, such as his reappointment of Kathleen “Cindy” Lewis to the three-member Public Service Commission. Similarly, Thomas Doll was reappointed as director and Donald Basko as a member of the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. These appointments require confirmation by the state Senate by the end of this month. Other appointments were to the Energy Resources Council, Enhanced and Improved Oil Recovery Commission, Environmental Quality Council, Geological Survey Board, Infrastructure Authority, and Pipeline Authority. The oil recovery panel appointment was new — Tom Fitzsimmons, succeeding Gail Chenoweth; and the infrastructure and pipeline panel selections were reappointments — Kyle White and Duane Zavadil, respectively.

Board members of the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) are mulling a report they received Tuesday that recommends significant policy changes for gas drilling near schools and are expected to discuss the items early next month. However, the executive director of the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council (BSEEC) told NGI’s Shale Daily the document they are holding is essentially “a hoax.”