Stunning

In a stunning setback for shale development in New York state, an appellate court ruled unanimously last week to uphold two local bans on oil and gas activities. Attorneys representing landowners and energy companies told NGI that they have already started the process to appeal to the top court in the state, the Court of Appeals.

A “stunning” increase in Texas oil and gas industry employment, which was revealed by revisions to recent workforce statistics, was driven by gains in the number of jobs supporting oil and gas exploration and production, said the economist who compiles the Texas Petro Index (TPI), a barometer of the industry’s health in the Lone Star State.

In a stunning setback for shale development in the Empire State, the New York State Assembly voted 95-40 on Wednesday to enact a two-year moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). The bill, A5424, now moves to the state Senate.

In a stunning setback for shale development in the Empire State, the New York State Assembly voted 95-40 on Wednesday to enact a two-year moratorium on high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). The bill, A5424, now moves to the state Senate.

In a stunning decision Friday, an appeals court in Washington, DC, vacated and remanded to the Department of Interior the five-year leasing plan for 2007-2012 for reconsideration, a decision that threatens to upset the current leasing schedule and raises questions about sales that already have been completed under the plan. The decision cited the agency’s failure to “properly consider” the environmental sensitivity and marine productivity of the different areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that are included in the leasing plan.

In a stunning decision Friday, an appeals court in Washington, DC, vacated and remanded to the Department of Interior the five-year leasing plan for 2007-2012 for reconsideration, a decision that threatens to upset the current leasing schedule and raises questions about sales that already have been completed under the plan. The decision cited the agency’s failure to “properly consider” the environmental sensitivity and marine productivity of the different areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) that are included in the leasing plan.

North American natural gas production is no longer opportunity-constrained, it’s market-constrained, as the swift, stunning growth of unconventional plays already has overtaken conventional drilling, according to industry leaders and energy pundits, who shared their expertise and advice at Cambridge Energy Research Associates’ CERAWeek in Houston.

North American natural gas production is no longer opportunity-constrained, it’s market-constrained, as the swift, stunning growth of unconventional plays already has overtaken conventional drilling, according to industry leaders and energy pundits, who shared their expertise and advice last week at Cambridge Energy Research Associates’ CERAWeek in Houston.

In a stunning defeat, the Montana Public Service Commission (PSC) unanimously rejected an Australian company’s $2.2 billion bid to buy NorthWestern Energy. The PSC said the purchase would put Montana consumers at risk for higher rates and poor service.