Shale Daily

In the second biggest natural gas market in the United States, California energy officials have kept a keen eye fixed on shale gas, and their revised energy plans and forecasts next year and beyond will reflect a greater impact from North America’s energy game-changer, the author of the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) latest report on shale gas told NGI during an interview this week.

There were more than 14,000 oil and gas field operators in the United States last year, but the largest 100 of them as determined by total operated reserves accounted for nearly 90% of proved oil and gas reserves and included shale giant Chesapeake Energy Corp. and other companies active in the nation’s shale plays, according to a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report.

In a unanimous vote, Arkansas regulators have agreed to give the public access to the ingredients of hydraulic fracturing (frack) fluid used to stimulate wells in their state, but they can’t have the recipe. The new rule will apply to wells permitted after Jan. 15.

The Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) has set for hearing a complaint by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against Range Resources Corp. alleging methane contamination of residential water wells in Parker County in the Barnett Shale play (see Shale Daily, Dec. 9). The hearing date is to be Jan. 10. “Because this matter has now been set for hearing, and the commission will sit in judgment of the facts, the commissioners cannot comment on the case,” said RRC General Counsel Lindil Fowler. “However, RRC staff expects both parties, the EPA as well as Range Resources representatives, to appear before hearings examiners and testify as to the allegations…”

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) on Thursday proposed rules that would allow natural gas development projects — with conditions — in affected areas of the Marcellus Shale.

Marcellus Shale operators — and drilling opponents — waiting for the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to issue proposed natural gas development rules should get their wish Thursday morning, officials said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an emergency order against Range Resources Corp. that claims at least two drinking water wells in Parker County, TX, “have been significantly impacted by…methane contamination” from its oil and gas production facilities in the region.

The Fayetteville Shale in northern Arkansas not only appears destined for sustained significant growth well into the future but commands some of the highest shale pricing around. One of the chief signals of these optimistic expectations was the Dec. 1 start-up of service on Fayetteville Express Pipeline (FEP), providing a major addition to takeaway capacity for the shale’s producers.

Halliburton Co.said it has reached an agreement to turn over to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) all documents related to fluids used in the controversial hydraulic fracturing (fracking) process, ending a battle that could have landed in court.