A Bureau of Land Management (BLM) field office in southwestern Colorado has released a preliminary environmental assessment calling for 21 parcels and 24,324 acres to be included in an upcoming natural gas lease sale. The draft assessment pared an initial proposal to include 22 parcels and up to 29,811 acres, mostly in Gunnison County, CO, in the auction, which is scheduled to be held Aug. 9. Under the BLM program, obtaining the leases is the first part of a multi-step process in which each lease holder would have to obtain a drilling permit, which would entail another environmental assessment of the individual drilling plans for each lease. It is all part of BLM’s master development plan and its use of multi-well development to help manage federal lease development. Before any exploration and development work can start, however, there will be site-specific reviews and analysis completed as called for under the National Environmental Policy Act, BLM officials said.
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Well Completion Air Emissions Eyed in Colorado
A joint health assessment in a Colorado oil and natural gas field has concluded that air pollution-spurred health concerns have to be added to the environmental precautions surrounding well development and, more specifically, hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
North Dakota to Study Power Needs for Shale Gas Production
A study of the electricity needs in the oil/natural gas patch was funded Monday by the North Dakota Industrial Commission for upcoming work to be overseen by the state’s power transmission authority. Separately, the commission also authorized paying for another study of future natural gas growth in the state.
Chesapeake Defends Itself Against Rolling Stone Portrayal
Chesapeake Energy Corp. last week defended itself against an article in an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine that the producer is claiming contains several inaccuracies.
Rolling Stone Portrayal Contains ‘Same Old Debunked Theories,’ Chesapeake Says
Chesapeake Energy Corp. defended itself against a story in an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine that the producer is claiming contains several inaccuracies.
Chesapeake Defends Itself Against Rolling Stone Portrayal
Chesapeake Energy Corp. defended itself against a story in an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine that the producer is claiming contains several inaccuracies.
Group Challenges Pennsylvania Air Quality Regulations
An environmental group is challenging how Pennsylvania combines air emissions from interconnected Marcellus Shale infrastructure for regulatory purposes.
Oregon LNG Project Could Be Sleeper in Export Race
At least one knowledgeable handicapper in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export race in the United States thinks one upcoming long shot, the Jordan Cove LNG Project along the south-central Oregon coast, may prove to be a big winner.
Winter Gas Prices Seen as Lowest Since 2001-02 Heating Season
The average natural gas futures prices for the upcoming heating season will be less than $4/MMBtu, the lowest level entering the winter months since 2001-2002, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.
Traders Mull Weather, Strong Rig Count; July Advances
July natural gas futures rose Friday as traders calculated that expected warmer weather would pare storage injections in upcoming weeks. At the close July had added 3.6 cents to $4.229 and August was up 3.3 cents to $4.250. August crude oil gained 14 cents to $91.16/bbl following a $4.39 plunge on Thursday.