Update

The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) Thursday said it plans to develop a proposed rule requiring companies who make chemical substances and mixtures used in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to report data on the chemicals.

Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, last week called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to update its application process for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to reflect the country’s shale revolution, and to ensure that the United States obtains the “greatest benefit” from this national asset.

Sen Ron Wyden (D-OR), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Tuesday called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to update its application process for exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reflect the country’s shale revolution, and to ensure that the United States obtains the “greatest benefit” from this national asset.

While water use for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in drought-stricken Texas is considered modest when compared to other uses, such as for agriculture, where the water is drawn from is a significant consideration, according to an analysis by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs to improve air emissions data for the oil and natural gas production sector, according to a report issued by the agency’s Inspector General.

In its second annual update on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from stationary sources, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tuesday said petroleum and natural gas systems produced about 6.8% of stationary source emissions, far less than the 67% contributed by power plants.

In an operations update Monday, San Antonio, TX-based Abraxas Petroleum Corp. said a recent Eagle Ford Shale well turned in solid initial performance. The company’s third well in the WyCross area has outperformed a previous top performer.

Resources for the Future (RFF) has released an update of its ongoing project to compare regulations in 31 states with current or near-future shale gas development. The latest series of maps shows more than 27 different elements of regulation nationwide.

In what it said would be its final update of evacuation and shut-in production statistics related to Hurricane Isaac, the Bureau of Safety Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said Tuesday that two production platforms and a single rig remained evacuated in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Based on data from offshore operator reports submitted as of 11:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday, BSEE estimated 4.73% (213 MMcf/d) of natural gas production and 4.16% (57,439 b/d) of oil output in the GOM was shut in. All of those statistics peaked in the immediate aftermath of Isaac, when BSEE reported 509 production platforms and 50 rigs evacuated, and an estimated 75.52% (3.264 Bcf/d) of gas production and 94.99% (1.311 million b/d) of oil production was shut in (see Daily GPI, Aug. 31).