Track

As Canada’s largest natural gas producer, Encana Corp. has built a track record for utilizing natural gas instead of diesel to power some of its drilling rigs, and as the price of natural gas has fallen the exploration and production (E&P) giant is even expanding to using liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the rigs.

As Canada’s largest natural gas producer, Encana Corp. has built a track record for utilizing natural gas instead of diesel to power some of its drilling rigs, and as the price of natural gas has fallen the exploration and production (E&P) giant is even expanding to using liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the rigs.

U.S. household expenditures for natural gas this winter are on track to be the lowest in nine years, while consumption is poised to finish the 2011-2012 heating season at a 10-year low, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Quicksilver Resources Inc. is on track to strike joint ventures (JV) by the end of this year to aid in the development of its West Texas and Horn River properties, CEO Glenn Darden told financial analysts Monday.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched a website to track oil and gas operations in the state, including those in the Marcellus Shale. The website includes reports on permitting and drilling figures, well inventories organized by county and operator, and violations. The DEP previously listed permitting and drilling information by month and production information twice each year, but the new website allows the public to view individual inspection reports. Additionally, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently created a website to help pipeline operators comply with new oversight requirements. Gov. Tom Corbett signed Act 127 in late December, making the PUC the “state agent” for the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration in Pennsylvania and giving the PUC oversight over most nonutility natural gas pipelines. Among other things, the act requires the PUC to create a registry of all nonutility gas and hazardous liquids pipelines in the state, and the website includes forms to help operators comply. The act takes effect on Feb. 20.

U.S energy policy is on the “wrong track” and has been for several years, said American Petroleum Institute (API) President Jack Gerard last week. He called for the government to make a “course correction” by opening more public onshore and offshore lands to producers, which he said would significantly bolster employment and increase revenues to the federal government.

U.S energy policy is on the “wrong track” and has been for several years, said American Petroleum Institute (API) President Jack Gerard on Wednesday. He called for the government to make a “course correction” by opening more public onshore and offshore lands to producers, which he said would significantly bolster employment and increase revenues to the federal government.

Tapping shale natural gas reserves — even when accounting for the challenges of hydraulic fracturing — is worth the risk, a majority of those polled told a recent survey. And eight out of 10 respondents said they link natural gas development with job creation and economic revival.

Both the regulatory and commercial processes are on track for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline linking western Canadian and U.S. Upper Midwest supply sources to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) region, TransCanada CEO Russ Girling told financial analysts Tuesday on a conference call. Under questioning, however, he admitted delays could sour current support the line enjoys from major shippers and refiners on both sides of the international border.