Since

Lamar McKay, who has served as chairman and president of BP plc subsidiary BP America since 2009, will take over as CEO of the Upstream business unit effective Jan. 1. In his new role McKay, who has worked for BP for 32 years, would lead the operator’s combined upstream businesses, which include the exploration, development and production divisions, together with the strategy and integration team. The upstream divisions were created in 2010 following the Macondo deepwater spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which led to a major reorganization designed to improve risk management and global standards. McKay would report to Group CEO Bob Dudley. McKay’s successor has not been announced.

Independent exploration and production (E&P) operators in the United States have faced a funding dilemma since they began rushing into unconventionals. With more resources than capital, many have taken loans that have increased their debt, or they’ve sought out joint venture (JV) partners to pay for drilling expenses.

Independent exploration and production (E&P) operators in the United States have faced a funding dilemma since they began rushing into unconventionals. With more resources than capital, many have taken loans that have increased their debt, or they’ve sought out joint venture (JV) partners to pay for drilling expenses.

Tapping all of the potential in U.S. shale natural gas isn’t a given; it requires changes to, and investment in, basic energy infrastructure, including an expansion of the U.S. pipeline and storage network, according to KKR & Co. LP.

The Town Board of Onondaga, NY, voted Monday to extend its moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for three months, or until the board passes an ordinance either allowing or prohibiting the practice.

A report issued by American Clean Skies Foundation last Thursday projects that technology-driven changes in oil and gas production since 2007 will lead to annual employment gains of 835,000 to 1.6 million new jobs nationwide by 2017 — more than the entire U.S. auto manufacturing industry — and increase the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by $167 billion to $245 billion net.

A report issued by American Clean Skies Foundation Thursday projects that technology-driven changes in oil and gas production since 2007 will lead to annual employment gains of 835,000 to 1.6 million new jobs nationwide by 2017 (more than the entire U.S. auto manufacturing industry), and increase the country’s gross domestic product by $167 billion to $245 billion on a net basis.

North Dakota again set new all-time highs for oil and natural gas production, drilling permits issued and producing wells in August, according to the latest report from state Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) Director Lynn Helms. The average price for sweet crude was up, too.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) named Gil Bujano as director of the commission’s oil and gas division. Bujano has been serving as the acting director since March and is a 28-year veteran of the commission. He began his employment at the commission in 1984 at the San Antonio RRC district office and also has worked in the Abilene, Pampa and Houston district offices. After serving as assistant director in the Houston district office, Bujano transferred to Austin in June 2009 to supervise the commission’s technical permitting unit. In August 2010, Bujano was promoted to deputy director of the oil and gas division.