Wednesday

BP plc is putting its U.S. wind energy business on the market to refocus on growing its oil and natural gas operations, the operator said Wednesday.

General Electric (GE) on Wednesday unveiled plans for a $110 million Global Research Center in Oklahoma dedicated to driving innovation and technological advancements in the oil and gas sector, which in turn would allow products to be brought to market faster.

America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) last Wednesday announced that Martin J. Durbin, a top lobbyist at the American Petroleum Institute (API), has been named president and CEO, effective May 1. Durbin comes to ANGA after serving as executive vice president at API, where he led advocacy efforts on behalf of the oil and gas industry (see related story).

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) chief Tommy Beaudreau said Wednesday federal officials would meet their obligations regarding offshore activity, but the automatic sequestration imposed by Congress is presenting “enormous challenges.”

America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) Wednesday announced that Martin J. Durbin, a top lobbyist at the American Petroleum Institute (API), has been named president and CEO, effective May 1. Durbin comes to ANGA after serving as executive vice president at API, where he led advocacy efforts on behalf of the oil and gas industry.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday and, among other things, talked up potential exports of liquefied U.S. gas to Germany.

A train derailment near the town of Parkers Prairie, MN, Wednesday morning spilled 20,000-30,000 gallons of crude oil into a field, but frozen, snow-covered ground was “a saving grace” that should keep environmental damage to a minimum, a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) spokesman told NGI’s Shale Daily. Fourteen of the Canadian Pacific Railroad train’s 94 cars derailed and oil from three of them was leaked, the spokesman said. “They’re going to be able to recover most, if not all” of the oil, according to MPCA spokesman Dan Olson. No injuries were reported.

As part of its ongoing $100 million annual clean transportation program, California energy officials approved another $5.58 million in grants Wednesday to multiple projects, and separately a regional air pollution control board added $3.8 million for hydraulic hybrid gas-powered and other heavy duty fleet vehicles operating in the air quality region.

A diverse coalition of often opposing forces Wednesday launched a center to provide producers with certification of performance standards for shale development and established the first 15 standards designed to ensure safe and environmentally responsible development of the Appalachian Basin’s shale gas resources.