The Department of Interior’s (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is considering moving its headquarters from Washington, DC, to a western state, according to elected officials and others in Colorado who attended a forum with the deputy secretary last week.
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Articles from West
Co-Tenancy Awaiting Signature by West Virginia’s Governor
West Virginia’s natural gas industry is “anxiously awaiting” Republican Gov. Jim Justice’s signature on co-tenancy legislation that would modernize the mineral law and better accommodate unconventional development in the state.

Led by Texas, U.S. Land Permitting at Multi-Year High, Says Evercore
U.S. land permitting is off to a hot start in November, standing at 2,106 as of last Friday (Nov. 10), but a seasonal slowdown may temper year-end results, Evercore ISI said Tuesday.
West Virginia NatGas Production Increased Slightly in 2016
Combined conventional and unconventional natural gas production in West Virginia increased again last year, albeit at a lower rate than in years past, according to data from the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Study Finds Appalachian Basin Ripe for Underground NGL Storage
In a critical step to furthering petrochemical development in the Appalachian Basin, a team of researchers has concluded after a one-year study that there are multiple options for underground natural gas liquids (NGL) storage in various formations throughout the region.

West Virginia Lawmakers Exploring Ways to Expand Shale Gas Development
Republican leaders in the West Virginia legislature have formed an interim committee to explore more ways the state can attract and increase shale gas development.

West Virginia Co-Tenancy/Joint Development Legislation Advances to Senate Floor
The latest version of a bill that would allow West Virginia’s natural gas producers to gather mineral owners into a large tract of land to better block-up acreage positions for horizontal drilling has been sent to the state Senate floor for consideration.
NatGas-Related Bills Advance, Hit Snags in West Virginia
The West Virginia House Judiciary Committee has rewritten a bill that would have exempted 29,000 oil and natural gas industry storage tanks from a 2014 law aimed at better protecting public water supplies.
Traders Mull Forecast Cold; Expiring January Seen Down A Nickel
The expiring January natural gas futures contract is set to open 5 cents lower Wednesday morning at $3.71 as traders tinker with the timing of anticipated market-moving cold next week. Overnight oil markets were mixed.

Evercore Increases 2017 U.S. Rig Count Outlook as Year Ends on ‘Hopeful Note’
Many people look back during the holiday season and reflect about how quickly the year has passed, but if “time flies when you’re having fun,” 2016 could not end soon enough for the oil and gas industry.