Ohio government officials and industry experts met for a shale symposium hosted by law firm BakerHostetler LLP on Thursday, offering their opinions of what the challenges will be in the Utica Shale as the play develops.
Symposium
Articles from Symposium
Most Wells in Utica ‘Very Good,’ Says Ohio Regulator
Ohio government officials and industry experts met for a shale symposium hosted by law firm BakerHostetler LLP, offering their opinions of what the challenges will be in the Utica Shale as the play develops.
Industry Briefs
Another sign of the shifting world energy market caused by the shale gas revolution is a $7 billion contract announced this week that directs the export of coal — no longer needed in the United States — to India from Kentucky and West Virginia. The 25-year agreement was lauded by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, who called it “an example of a great new market for Kentucky resources.” Kentucky coal companies will export about 9 million tons of coal per year to India’s Abhijeet Group. The coal is being purchased from Kentucky-based affiliates of FJS Energy LLC. A supply glut of natural gas, much of it from shale, has driven gas prices lower than coal this year and intensified the environmental push toward coal-to-gas fuel switching for power generation (see Daily GPI, Aug. 16; Aug. 6). The 25-year contract is an indication that coal producers see stiff competition from natural gas continuing for their product in the United States.
University to Study Water Wells Contaminated by Methane
Temple University announced Wednesday that three faculty members will investigate the source of methane gas that has contaminated water wells near Marcellus Shale drilling sites in Susquehanna County, PA, and will also study how the debate over hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is affecting public policy.
Producers, Pipelines Debate Procedures
Natural gas producers and interstate pipelines squared offagainst each other at FERC’s symposium on reform of its complaintprocess Monday. Both sides agreed that expedited handling ofcomplaints by the Commission was a top priority, but they partedsharply on the need for formal complaints to be processed anddisposed of by FERC by certain deadlines.