Significantly

The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) said it would “review and consider” an industry report’s claims that the agency has significantly overestimated methane emissions from natural gas well operations, particularly from unconventional wells using hydraulic fracturing. It contends, however, that its emissions estimates are based on the best data available.

Midstream operations in the Marcellus Shale are significantly expanding for Penn Virginia Resource Partners LP (PVR), after the partnership inked agreements with four of the biggest natural gas producers to extend its Lycoming County, PA, pipeline system to provide access to multiple markets.

Crosstex Energy LP will pay about $210 million to buy privately held pipeline services provider Clearfield Energy Inc., a deal that would significantly expand its crude oil and condensate services in the Utica Shale, the Dallas-based partnership said Tuesday.

Petsec Energy Ltd. has agreed to pay 35% of the costs to drill at least one well and as many as three others in a shale oil project in Alberta in exchange for a 24.5% working interest in shale oil leases covering 17,280 acres, the Sydney, Australia-based independent said. The seller was not disclosed.

Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Michael J. Cianci Jr. has certified an uncontested settlement resolving claims that Tuscarora Gas Transmission Co. significantly overrecovered its cost of service, making its current transportation rates unjust and unreasonable.

Oilfield services heavyweight Baker Hughes Inc. plans to “significantly” increase North American onshore infrastructure investments in several basins to make its operations more efficient and to prepare for the long term, CEO Martin Craighead said Tuesday.

Added gas processing capacity bringing the state’s total to 1 Bcf/d is expected to cut volumes being flared significantly. Currently 34% of North Dakota’s average daily gas production is being flared, but that is slated to change a lot over the course of 2012, according to Industrial Commission spokesperson Alison Ritter.

Chevron Corp. warned investors last week in an interim report that fourth quarter earnings would be “significantly” lower sequentially than in the third quarter, a signal that even Big Oil may not be immune to lower domestic natural gas prices, an analyst said.

Chevron Corp. warned investors late Wednesday in an interim report that fourth quarter earnings will be “significantly” lower sequentially than in the third quarter, a signal that even Big Oil may not be immune to lower domestic natural gas prices, an analyst said.