Targeted

Infrastructure, water and housing upgrades remain priorities in western North Dakota to keep up with the continuing robust growth in oil and gas development, according to a report released Tuesday by Gov. Jack Dalrymple.

A healthy slice of Marathon Oil Corp.’s $4.8 billion capital, investment and exploration budget for next year is targeted at the Eagle Ford Shale play in South Texas as the company continues to focus on liquids-rich assets in the United States.

While environmentalists and some citizens are opposed to the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to develop shale natural gas, experts — one of whom has studied fracking for more than 41 years — told a Senate committee the practice does not negatively impact drinking water or the environment.

Equitrans LP, a subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based EQT Corp., Wednesday said it has gotten the go-ahead from FERC to begin construction on a new pipeline in Pennsylvania and West Virginia that will provide additional takeaway capacity for Marcellus Shale gas producers.

EQT Corp. is selling its Big Sandy Pipeline in eastern Kentucky to Spectra Energy Partners LP for $390 million in cash. Most of the sale proceeds are targeted for Marcellus and Huron shale development.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Wednesday issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) of Equitrans LP’s proposed expansion of its natural gas pipeline system that would deliver Marcellus Shale gas to markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions.

Texas state Rep. Tank Parker (R-Flower Mound) has introduced companion bills that would make urban areas with significant oil and gas drilling a priority for inspections by the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) and double the potential monetary penalty for violations.

A targeted review by a multi-stakeholder group on Friday said Ohio’s program that regulates hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) of wells is well managed, although some improvements could be made.

Bison Pipeline LLC is scheduled to place the bulk of its pipeline project into service by Tuesday (Jan. 4).