Talk

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) staffers planning to go Down Under over the holidays to escape talk of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and their market impacts might want to reconsider. LNG and gas markets are a source of controversy in Australia, too.

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) staffers planning to go Down Under over the holidays to escape talk of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and their market impacts might want to reconsider. LNG and gas markets are a source of controversy in Australia, too.

Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell is on a trade mission to talk up exports of liquefied Alaskan gas to Asian markets. Parnell is slated to meet with Japanese and South Korean officials and business leaders over the coming days. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry arranged a meeting of Parnell and executives from companies such as Samsung C&T, STX Energy, Daesung Industrial Co. Ltd., Korea Midland Power Co., GS Global Co., LG International Corp., Hyundai Heavy Industries and Korea Kumho Petrochemical Co. Ltd. Parnell recently met with the CEO of Kogas to discuss Alaska’s role as an LNG exporter and the state’s desire to boost exports with an in-state gas pipeline. Alaska’s major oil and gas producers and TC-Alaska are working with the Alaska Pipeline Project on the commercialization of North Slope gas with a specific focus on a large-scale liquefied natural gas project in Southcentral Alaska (see Daily GPI, July 31).

Naturally occurring methane in New York water wells could serve as a baseline to measure the quality of the water supply if and when natural gas drilling is expanded and high-volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is allowed, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said in a new report. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce any day a decision about whether to allow more gas drilling to proceed.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association (LOGA) is launching a television show, called “The Energy Zone.” It will be the only television talk show in the state focused on the oil and gas industry. The show premieres Tuesday, Aug. 7. The 30-minute show will be hosted by LOGA’s Gifford Briggs. Briggs will host interviews with industry insiders, elected officials, field experts and many others. It will be televised weekly on Cox 4 on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., and Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Additional airings for the Acadiana Region will begin on Friday at 6:30 a.m. and will occur throughout the week on the Acadiana Open Channel. LOGA is also negotiating air times for the Shreveport and Ark-La-Tex region. For more information, visit www.theenergyzone.tv.

In a state where water historically has dominated the energy discussion, there is more talk of oil and natural gas development, following the state’s adoption of new rules and regulations governing the expected increase in exploration and production (E&P) activity.

Canadian provincial and federal authorities are sending signals that they mean business when they talk about a shift in energy export strategy into overseas markets and away from traditional reliance on the United States.

Canadian provincial and federal authorities are sending signals that they mean business when they talk about a shift in energy export strategy into overseas markets and away from traditional reliance on the United States.

Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy Corp. eschewed all talk on Wednesday that its North American onshore properties are anything but stellar by announcing a $1 billion increase to the 2012 capital spending budget, with nearly all of the money to be focused on exploration efforts in the company’s in-house unconventional portfolio.