Energy companies are currently challenged to find enough skilled workers to fill open positions. Maersk has developed a digital game – “Quest for Oil [1]” – to stimulate interest in energy careers.
[1] http://questforoil.com/
More at Maersk.Exxon CEO on LNG Terminal Approval Process
“I don’t want to start on this process if you tell me its going to take five years for you to get around to my application…”
More at Reuters.
Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction
USGS has published: “Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Fayette and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004–2010″ as an open file report.
More at USGS.
University of Tennessee Gas Leases?
The University of Tennessee is seeking bids from companies interested in leasing the natural gas rights on 8,600 acres it owns in Morgan and Scott counties.
More at The Tennessean.
Shale Oil and Shale Gas in 41 Countries
The Energy Information Administration has published: “Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: An Assessment of 137 Shale Formations in 41 Countries Outside the United States”.
More at Energy Information Administration.
Mancos Shale Hydrocarbon Potential in Arizona
“In this report we briefly review the geology of the Mancos Shale in Arizona and consider its potential to yield hydrocarbons with horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.” Quoted from the Arizona Geological Survey document repository.
Comments on the Mancos Shale in AZ and NM in the Arizona Geology blog [1].
[1] http://arizonageology.blogspot.com/2013/03/is-there-oil-and-gas-potential-in.html
More at Arizona Geological Survey.
New Activity in the Haynesville Shale
After starting a rapid activity decline in 2010, the Haynesville Shale which spans between northeast Texas and northern Louisiana is starting to heat up.
More at Longview News Journal.
Natural Gas Price Trends
Natural Gas prices continue to recover from the recent low set in Spring, 2012. The Henry Hub spot price is back up above $4.00.
More at Energy Information Administration.
New Interest in the Haynesville Shale
LNG export, gas-to-liquids and manufacturing projects have produced a renewed level of interest in the Haynesville Shale of northern Louisiana.
More at TheNewsStar.com.
East Africa as a Major Energy Exporter
In the past several years a number of very large oil and natural gas discoveries off the coast of East Africa have positioned several countries to become major exporters of energy.
More at Energy Information Administration.
Eagle Ford Oil Output Rises
March oil output from the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas was up 77% (from 298,000 barrels per day to 530,000 barrels per day) when comparing March 2012 with March 2013.
More at Bloomberg.
Oil from the Pearsall Shale
Some initial drilling has shown that the Pearsall Shale of Texas (a rock unit below the Eagle Ford) has the ability to yield oil and natural gas. Leases are still being acquired.
More at FuelFix.com.
Record Mexican Natural Gas Imports
“Mexico imported a record volume of natural gas in 2012, about 2.1 billion cubic feet per day, which was up 21% from 2011. Natural gas flows from U.S. pipelines accounted for about 80% of Mexico’s overall natural gas imports in 2012.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration press release.
More at Energy Information Administration.
Potential of the Monterey Shale?
California’s Monterey Shale could hold twice as much oil as the Bakken or five times as much as the Eagle Ford. How much it yields might be determined by challenging geology or citizen opposition.
More at National Geographic.
Oregon Landowners Oppose LNG Project
An NPR podcast explains why landowners in Oregon oppose pipeline projects that will transport natural gas across the state of Oregon to the Pacific coast where the gas will be condensed into a liquid for export to Asian countries.
More at National Public Radio.
Oil from the Bay of Bengal?
Some United States oil and gas companies are interested in buying blocs in the Bay of Bengal, now that the United States has established relations with Burma (Myanmar).
More at The Hill.
Energy Shift in Maine
Twenty years ago the people of Maine switched from burning coal and will to burning oil. Now they are moving to natural gas.
More at Portland Press Herald.
Algeria Oil and Natural Gas Report
“Algeria is the largest natural gas producer and second largest oil producer in Africa. [...] Algeria’s national oil and gas company, Sonatrach, dominates the country’s hydrocarbon sector, owning roughly 80 percent of all hydrocarbon production. By law, Sonatrach is given majority ownership of oil and gas projects in Algeria.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration report.
More at Energy Information Administration.
ANWR Oil and Natural Gas Assessment
“Governor Sean Parnell today announced an exploration proposal for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 1002 Area, which the state has developed and is offering to help finance.” Quoted from the Governor’s press release.
More at Office of the Governor (Alaska).
Utica Shale Gas for Export as LNG
Tennessee Gas Pipeline plans to build a pipeline from the Utica Shale play in Ohio to an LNG export facility in Louisiana.
More at BizJournals.com.
Who Takes a Hit When Natural Gas Prices Rise?
When natural gas prices rise heating a home with gas becomes more expensive. Many other activities become more expensive. One concern about exporting natural gas is that lots of people (and industries) will see their expenses go up. An article on th…
More at Christian Science Monitor.
Arkansas Shale Gas and Water Quality
“A new study by scientists at Duke University and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) finds no evidence of groundwater contamination from shale gas production in Arkansas.” Quoted from the Duke University press release.
More at Duke University.
UK Oil and Natural Gas Report
The UK is the largest producer of oil and the second largest producer of natural gas in the European Union; however, they still are a net importer of both of these fuels.
More at Energy Information Administration.
May 1 to May 15 Most Popular
Why Natural Gas Cars are Selling Slowly [1]
What is Sunstone? [2]
Natural Gas Could Kill Fuel Diversity [3]
Large Hurricane on Saturn [4]
Who Becomes Dominant After a Mass Extinction? [5]
Diamond Dust over Saskatoon [6]
The Bone Worm [7]
[1] http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/02/natural-gas-vehicles-havent-caught-on-yet-heres-how-that-could-change/
[2] http://geology.com/gemstones/sunstone/
[3] http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2013/05/opinion_increased_reliance_on.html
[4] http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/m/news/index.cfm?release=2013-149
[5] http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=127749&WT_mc_id=USNSF_51&WT_mc_ev=click
[6] http://epod.usra.edu/blog/2013/04/multiple-light-pillars.html
[7] http://scrippsnews.ucsd.edu/Releases/?releaseID=1351
More Debate on Exporting Natural Gas
Energy companies have submitted permit requests for 20 natural gas export projects. The projects will create jobs, income for natural gas companies and property owners, and improve our trade balance. Opponents believe that exports will increase price…
More at Bloomberg.
Utica Shale to Canada Pipeline?
A natural gas pipeline between the Utica Shale in Ohio and natural gas consumers in Ontario, Canada has been proposed by a group of transmission companies.
More at Ohio.com.
Shale Boom Not Happening Outside USA
A RigZone.com article explains why the natural gas from shale boom that has occurred in the United States is not making much of a bang in many other countries.
More at RigZone.com.
Why Natural Gas Cars are Selling Slowly
Natural gas is cleaner and more economical as a fuel for passenger vehicles than gasoline, but sales of cars that run on natural gas have been very slow. A Washington Post article explains the problems.
More at Washington Post.
Shell Bets Big on Natural Gas
Royal Dutch Shell [1] has made major investments in developing conventional and unconventional natural gas resources in several parts of the world, building LNG terminals to prepare it for distant markets, develop the first floating LNG facility and develop new methods to convert natural gas into liquid fuels.
[1] http://www.shell.com/global/future-energy/meeting-demand/natural-gas/shell-natural-gas.html
More at New York Times.
PA Supreme Court on Who Owns Shale Gas
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided not to overturn over 100 years of property transactions in a case involving the ownership of natural gas produced from the Marcellus Shale. Shale gas is not to be treated differently from natural gas produced fro…
More at Mondaq.com.
Natural Gas Could Kill Fuel Diversity
“All the natural-gas industry needs is a gizmo in the basement of your house to convert your natural gas into electricity. “
More at NJ.com.
Testing Water Wells Near Natural Gas Wells
The National Ground Water Association has published an information guide for people who have private water supply wells located near oil and natural gas drilling. They explain the types of water quality concerns that might be present and explain the o…
More at National Ground Water Association.
How Trucks Running on Natural Gas Lower Prices for You
The Christian Science Monitor has an article that explains how some trucking companies are turning away from diesel fuel in favor of natural gas and how that switch can mean lower prices (and cleaner air) for you.
More at Christian Science Monitor.
CNG Filling Stations in North Carolina
Utility companies, city governments, county governments, school districts, and trucking companies are building CNG fueling stations in North Carolina. In addition to serving their owners, the pumps are available to dispense CNG to the public.
More at NewsObserver.com.
Natural Gas Imports from Eastern Canada
The amount of natural gas being imported from eastern Canada into the United States has dropped to about 1/2 of the average of the previous five years.
More at Energy Information Administration.
A 90 Degree Shift in Drilling
As recently as 2008, most of the drilling activity in the United States was being done with vertical wells. Today most of the wells being drilled are horizontal.
More at Energy Information Administration.
Stranded Natural Gas
Stranded gas is natural gas in discovered conventional gas and oil fields that is currently not commercially producible for either physical or economic reasons. USGS has published a new report titled: Role of Stranded Gas in Increasing Global Gas Supp…
More at United States Geological Survey.
Landscape Disturbance and Shale Gas Extraction
The United States Geological Survey has published: “Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Allegheny and Susquehanna Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004–2010″. This document explains metrics used to assess the disturbance caused by drilling pads, access roads, pipelines and other gas related activities.
More at USGS.
Chinese Shale Investments
China has more oil and natural gas in shale than the United States but they have produced very little. Instead they are joint venturing with companies working in the United States to learn about the technology.
More at Business Week.
Chinese Shale Investments
China has more oil and natural gas in shale than the United States but they have produced very little. Instead they are joint venturing with companies working in the United States to learn about the technology.
More at Business Week.
