A bill aimed at chemical disclosure in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) passed its first hurdle Tuesday in the California Senate, passing out of the Natural Resources and Water Committee with opposing industry groups and lawmakers all indicating that a compromise that should facilitate the measure’s continuing legislative journey is close at hand (see Shale Daily, June 14). AB 591 next goes to the Senate Environmental Quality (EQ) Committee.
Solutions
Articles from Solutions
Pickens, Turner Push Support for Natural Gas
The United States may be the only major nation without an energy plan, but the proposed New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (NAT GAS Act) could be the best current hope for filling this void, according to energy billionaire T. Boone Pickens, who spoke last Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, with a fellow billionaire and alternative energy advocate, CNN founder Ted Turner.
U.S. Energy Plan Absent 40 Years; NAT GAS Act to Help
The United States is the only major nation without an energy plan, and the proposed New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (NAT GAS Act) is the best current hope for filling this void, according to energy billionaire T. Boone Pickens, speaking Tuesday at the National Press Club with a fellow billionaire and alternative energy advocate, CNN founder Ted Turner.
Pennsylvania DEP to Operators: Stop Delivering Wastewater by May 19
At the direction of Republican Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, acting Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Mike Krancer on Tuesday called on all drilling operators to stop delivering wastewater from Marcellus Shale gas extraction by May 19 to 15 facilities currently accepting it, citing newly revised total dissolved solids (TDS) regulations.
NAT GAS Proposal Could Split Clean Fuel Lobby
Despite the pomp surrounding Wednesday’s introduction of the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (NAT GAS Act) to Congress, an investment bank warns the bill faces “significant” hurdles to passage.
Pennsylvania GOP Reintroduces NGV Incentives
Saying extraction is only “half of the job” of capitalizing on the Marcellus Shale, a group of Pennsylvania House Republicans reintroduced legislation on Wednesday to promote the use of natural gas vehicles (NGV) in the state.
Natural Gas for Transportation Bill to Be Reintroduced
U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-CT) Monday said he would reintroduce the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act (NAT GAS Act). Last year the measure failed to make it to a vote in the House of Representatives despite having wide support in the energy industry.
CERAWeek: Shale Plays Forcing Industry Innovation
Ironically, the oil and natural gas industry’s recent focus on shale plays, which was made possible by technological breakthroughs, has prompted more recent innovations, according to Jonathan Lewis, Halliburton senior vice president, drilling & evaluation.
Industry Brief
Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. subsidiary Energy Resource Technology GOM (ERT) said it has made a deepwater oil and gas discovery in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) at its Jake Prospect in Green Canyon Block 490 that it estimated at 50-75 Bcfe gross on a proved, probable and possible basis. The discovery well was drilled to 13,504 feet in 3,740 feet of water and encountered 134 feet of net oil and gas pay in a single sand interval. ERT said the well has been cased and temporarily abandoned for a future subsea completion. First production is estimated in mid-2011. ERT owns a 25% working interest in both the discovery well and Green Canyon Block 490. ERT also recently discovered 20 feet of oil and gas pay at its 75% owned and operated South Timbalier 145 Field. The discovery was drilled to 14,193 feet true vertical depth. That well is currently being completed and is expected to commence production this month.
Industry Briefs
ExxonMobil Corp. boosted its proven reserves in 2008 by 1.5 billion boe, more than replacing the amount of oil and natural gas it produced. The Irving, TX-based major said reserves added totaled 103% of the resources it produced last year. ExxonMobil had 22.8 billion boe of reserves at year-end 2008, split evenly between natural gas and oil. Excluding asset sales, the producer replaced 110% of its output. Using the Dec. 31, 2008 oil and gas prices required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to make reserves calculations, ExxonMobil replaced 136% of its output, the company said. Prices from a single day, it said, are not useful for making long-term investment decisions. At the end of 2008, ExxonMobil’s proved reserves base increased to 22.8 billion boe. The company’s reserves life, at current production rates, is 15.3 years. The portion of proved reserves already developed was estimated at 62%.