Significantly

A joint venture (JV) of Battelle and Winner Global LLC expects to begin building its first unit in April to respond to a potential water shortage facing oil and natural gas companies that are engaged in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) activities in the Utica and Marcellus shales in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

With significantly reduced profits for 4Q2012 and all of last year, Spokane, WA-based Avista Corp. senior management pledged Wednesday to better manage costs at its utility and related operations, and to push for more growth initiatives this year, including the spread of natural gas for use in transportation.

Guidelines put in place last year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite the drilling permit application process have significantly reduced the agency’s backlog, DEP said Thursday.

Guidelines put in place last year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to expedite the drilling permit application process have significantly reduced the agency’s backlog, DEP said Thursday.

ExxonMobil Corp. and Russia’s state-owned OAO Rosneft have agreed to expand a 2011 strategic cooperation agreement that significantly expands exploration and development plans, and offers Rosneft a big stake in the Point Thomson, AK, natural gas and condensate project.

Production from North American shale plays will continue to keep natural gas prices from increasing significantly any time soon, Royal Dutch Shell plc CEO Peter Voser told financial analysts in London Thursday.

Production from North American shale plays will continue to keep natural gas prices from increasing significantly any time soon, Royal Dutch Shell plc CEO Peter Voser told financial analysts in London Thursday.

The price of domestic natural gas isn’t going to increase significantly any time soon, said Royal Dutch Shell plc CEO Peter Voser, but that didn’t stop the company from having its best fourth quarter since 2006.

Rosetta Resources Inc. said it achieved double-digit growth in production and proved reserves while it “significantly reduced” well costs during 2012. The company said it replaced 472% of production from all sources at a reserve replacement cost of $10.03/boe.