Chesapeake Energy has been named to Fortune Magazine’s list of the 100 best companies to work for in the United States. More in an article at Oil Voice.

In late 2008, Statoilhydro, a oil and gas company of Norway purchased a large share in Chesapeake Energy’s Marcellus Shale holdings. An article in PressConnects explains that this purchase is part of Statoilhydro’s long-term plan.

BP and CoonocoPhillips planned to build a pipeline from the North Slope of Alaska connecting to natural gas markets in the Lower 48. The prospects for this project are faltering and some believe that unconventional gas discoveries have damaged the need for this pipeline. More in an article at Reuters.

An article in the Washington BizJournals explains how natural gas companies such as Chesapeake Energy, Range Resources and St. Mary Land & Exploration are making deep cuts in their lease acquisition budgets for 2009.

About 200 people attended a workshop in Shreveport, Louisiana titled “The Compelling Case for NGV’s”. The goal was to introduce businesses and government agencies to the idea of converting their vehicle fleets to locally-produced natural gas. More in the Shreveport Times.

After methane was detected in private water wells near their Marcellus Shale drilling sites in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, Cabot Oil and Gas has installed temporary residential water supplies and hired a hydrogeologist to determine where the gas is coming from. More in the Scranton Times.

A few people in Broome County, New York neglected to pay the property taxes on land above the Marcellus Shale. When they redeemed the properties they learned that the County had grabbed their mineral rights. More at PressConnects.

ADDED:  A more recent article on this topic.

The Cornell University Cooperative Extension Service has a website that will help landowners understand almost any aspect of leasing, royalties, drilling, development and environmental issues related to the Marcellus Shale in New York.

The Environmental Defense Fund has awarded a contract to Al Armendariz, an engineering professor at  Southern Methodist University to study the impact of natural gas exploration on local air quality.  More at the Fort Worth Business Press.

Methane accumulation is being blamed for a blast at an unvented water well in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. Some suspect that Marcellus Shale drilling near the well is responsible for the blast. More at Press Connects.

A panel to explore the issue of wastewater treatment associated with oil and natural gas drilling is being formed in Pennsylvania.   Wastewater injection, evaporation, treatment and recycling are potential methods of dealing with the problem.  More at iStockAnalyst.

The West Virginia Surface Owners’ Rights Organization is a group of people who are concerned about environmental and property owner’s issues related to drilling for the Marcellus Shale. They are urging state legislators to pass a Surface Owner’s Bill of Rights to protect property owners. More at the West Virginia Public Broadcasting website.

About 400 landowners who are members of the Kirkwood Gas Coalition have negotiated a deal to lease over 10,000 acres of Marcellus Shale gas rights for $4800/acre over eight years and a 15% royalty rate for the first billion cubic feet and 24% on subsequent production.  This is a higher than average signing bonus and a longer than average lease term.  More at PressConnects.

This article from the Calgary Herald reviews some of the Montney Formation and Muskwa Shale natural gas projects in play in British Columbia. The  author of this article clearly understands that there has been a sea change in the natural gas industry over the past two or three years.

Exxon Mobil has a lot of cash held in reserve and some energy analysts believe that that money will be used for an acquisition while the stock prices of many oil and natural gas companies are down.  An article at CNN Money speculates that Chesapeake Energy might be a target.