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A New Jersey Assembly panel on Monday approved legislation to ban the treatment, disposal or storage of wastewater from hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the state.

CONSOL Energy Inc.’s natural gas division said Thursday it produced a record 40.4 Bcf in 3Q2011, or nearly 13% more than the 35.8 Bcf produced in the year-ago period. Separately, Magnum Hunter Resources Corp. also reported strong results in Appalachia, but it said gas sales have been constrained because of “volume limitations” in some midstream infrastructure.

In a new national consumer poll, natural gas beat renewables and other forms of energy as to which projects should be considered for expansion, something an overwhelming majority of consumers also say would create badly needed jobs in a struggling economy.

Ten years on, drilling in the Barnett Shale has expanded the economy of the 24-county region in North Texas by 38%, according to a new study that said cumulative economic benefits of the Barnett from 2001 to 2011 include $65.4 billion in gross product for the region and $80.7 billion for the state.

After implementing capacity allocations last week in the East of Wrens, Savannah Line and Cypress Line delivery groups (see Daily GPI, Sept. 21) and then canceling them Friday, Southern declared new allocations Monday for those groups and said because their demand continues to exceed scheduled deliveries, they will be subject to an OFO Type 3 Level 1 Wednesday until further notice.

Seeking gas gathering capacity for its joint venture exploration and production operations in the Marcellus Shale, Ontario-based Epsilon Energy Ltd. said it has entered an agreement with its partners Chesapeake Energy Corp. and Statoil USA Onshore Properties Inc. to construct a new gathering system.

September natural gas traded lower, then higher Thursday as traders noted that the latest storage figure came in pretty much on target. September rose 0.9 cent to $3.931 and October gained 1.7 cents to $3.906. October crude oil rose 14 cents to $85.30/bbl.

The Pittsburgh region is poised to enjoy freedom from foreign energy and a new era of self-sufficiency, thanks to development of the Marcellus Shale, according to a recent report.

Almost three months to the day after first enacting a ban on natural gas drilling, the City of Wellsburg, WV, voted 5-3 on Tuesday night to repeal the measure.