unconventional

Recompleting wells isn’t anything new. Operators routinely evaluate previously drilled leaseholds to see if more production can be pulled from a field. With better-than-ever technology, however, producers today are finding they can reduce their drilling costs and extract substantially more oil and gas than they did when a well was drilled originally.

An increase in the fees charged for unconventional oil and gas well permits in Pennsylvania went into effect on Friday under a new flat-fee schedule that will not apply to traditional vertical wells.

The U.S. energy industry workforce continues to age and remains a serious hurdle that has to be overcome, according to analysts with Raymond James & Associates Inc.

Pennsylvania has a “well managed” and professional” regulatory program for oil and gas operations in the state, but should make four specific changes to how it regulates hydraulic fracturing (fracking), according to a report by the nonprofit State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations Inc. (Stronger).

The development and growth of unconventional natural gas supplies should remain an exclusive domain of the United States, according to a top executive with the energy trading arm of Royal Dutch Shell plc.

Produced water from oil and natural gas drilling sites that is treated at wastewater plants appears to create elevated levels of some of the “most toxic” chemicals, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

University of Michigan (U-M) researchers on Thursday issued seven technical reports that together form what they said is the most comprehensive state-focused resource on drilling, and in particular, unconventional drilling using hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

A biannual production report posted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) shows the state’s stable of unconventional gas wells produced a record 1.42 Tcf during the first six months of 2013.

Royal Dutch Shell plc, which earlier this month launched a review of its entire North American portfolio, is selling some of its operations in northwestern Colorado’s Niobrara formation, according to a spokeswoman.