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Within the last 52 weeks, shares of Cheniere Energy Inc. have been a basement dweller, trading as low as $3.17. However, Monday’s approval by FERC of the company’s plans to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capability on the Gulf Coast sparked a rally Tuesday. The stock had been climbing of late as it has appeared increasingly likely that LNG export will happen.

With the final pollution standards for the oil and natural gas industry due to be issued within days, the industry is hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. An official with the American Petroleum Institute (API) said the group hopes the rule will be “reasonable” and “achievable,” while at the same time stressing that industry does not oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts to reduce emissions from oil and gas operations.

Physical gas prices nationally fluctuated within a few cents of unchanged and closed slightly lower by about a penny in Monday’s trading as temperatures were expected to trend toward more seasonal readings in the Northeast and Midwest markets. Texas and the Gulf Coast edged lower, but Southern California points were steady to higher. At the close of futures trading May had risen 1.8 cents to $2.107 and June had gained 2.2 cents to $2.223. May crude oil closed the day down 85 cents to $102.46/bbl.

Exploration and production companies looking for ways to develop vast natural gas reserves deep within upstate New York’s Southern Tier have faced an “unwelcome” mat in recent years, with a state-imposed drilling moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking), as well as many town council-imposed drilling bans. However, producers now face another threat: the Preservation League of New York State.

Exploration and production companies looking for ways to develop vast natural gas reserves deep within upstate New York’s Southern Tier have faced an “unwelcome” mat in recent years, with a state-imposed drilling moratorium on hydraulic fracturing (fracking), as well as many town council-imposed outright drilling bans. However, producers now face what may be an even bigger threat: the Preservation League of New York State.

Seven Pennsylvania municipalities filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a new state law which gives shale gas-rich counties the ability to impose a 15-year impact fee on unconventional gas wells, claiming that it supersedes local authority over drilling and violates the state and U.S. Constitution.

California lawmakers are rekindling an effort that died last year to place chemical disclosure requirements on oil and natural gas producers that use hydraulic fracturing (fracking) well stimulation.

Low natural gas prices and increased supplies are reviving the chemical manufacturing industry within the United States as evidenced by the news last week that Dow Chemical Co. has authorized final engineering and lead-time equipment spending for a world-scale propylene production facility in Texas to take advantage of increasing supplies of U.S. shale gas as a feedstock.

Low natural gas prices and increased supplies are reviving the chemical manufacturing industry within the United States as evidenced by the news Wednesday that Dow Chemical Co. is authorizing final engineering and lead-time equipment spending for a new, world-scale propylene production facility in Texas, which will take advantage of increasing supplies of U.S. shale gas as a feedstock.