Wider

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) is proposing to amend its rules relating to water protection to allow for a wider variety of recycling activities. The existing rules contemplate two categories of commercial recycling facilities: mobile and stationary. Since adoption of the rules in 2006, RRC has received an increasing number of applications for permits for facilities that fit neither category. Therefore, RRC proposed to create a third category: a semi-mobile commercial recycling facility. It proposes to authorize on-lease, non-commercial recycling of produced water and/or hydraulic fracturing (fracking) flowback fluid, and to clarify requirements for off-lease or centralized noncommercial recycling of produced water and/or fracking flowback fluid. It also proposes to amend the definition of “fresh makeup water pit” to allow use of such a pit in conjunction with fracking of an oil or gas well for the storage of fresh water or treated fracking flowback fluid used to make up fracking fluid for use in a new well. The changes are intended to reduce the demand for fresh water for fracking. The proposal was recently published in the Texas Register.

Royal Dutch Shell plc plans to invest a minimum of $1 billion a year in unconventional natural gas exploration in China, the producer’s top China executive said this week.

August natural gas futures rose Monday as traders anticipated the long-term storage deficit becoming wider. At the close August futures had risen 5.2 cents to $4.363 and September had added 4.1 cents to $4.371. August crude oil bounded higher, posting a gain of $1.95 to $96.89/bbl.

Shale producers should take seriously the questions and issues being raised by environmentalists and others with concerns about hydraulic fracturing (fracking), and be “open and transparent” about the composition of their fracking fluids, FERC Commissioner John Norris said Tuesday.

Concerned about volatility of natural gas prices and what that might mean for development of gas resources and wider use of the fuel, major energy producers, consumer groups, environmental organizations and others have formed a task force to examine how to bring more stability to gas markets.

Concerned about volatility of natural gas prices and what that might mean for development of gas resources and wider use of the fuel, major energy producers, consumer groups, environmental organizations and others have formed a task force to examine how to bring more stability to gas markets.

Two conservation groups want the federal government to impose wider restrictions on western oil and natural gas development to protect the greater sage grouse.

Two conservation groups want the federal government to impose wider restrictions on western oil and natural gas development to protect the greater sage grouse.

With long-time nation-leading customer growth rates slowing, Portland, OR-based Northwest Natural Gas is eyeing a wider, regional role with two infrastructure projects that will enhance natural gas pipeline and storage infrastructure on the West Coast. Those plans are proceeding as envisioned, according to Northwest’s CEO Mark Dodson. Northwest on Thursday announced increased earnings in 2007 of 17% and 21% for net income and earnings-per-share, respectively ($74.5 million, or $2.78/share).