In Exxon Mobil’s reports in their Financial and Operating Review that LNG is expected to play an increasing role in meeting the world’s energy demand. They present their potential developments in (Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Australia, Qatar) regasification terminals (US east coast, US Gulf, Europe) – in addition to several existing facilities on a world map. Summary starts on page 37 of the .pdf document.

Development of the Marcellus Shale will require thousands of miles of new non-utility pipelines in Pennsylvania. These range from gathering system lines serving single wells to large transmission lines that transport gas to major markets. The state Public Utility Commission seeks additional authority to regulate these lines. See an article at iStockAnalyst.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Legislature is debating how to spend the income from leasing the rights to Marcellus Shale beneath public lands. Details at Pittsburgh Live.

The Houston Chronicle says that Chevron is making its largest ever investment in an offshore energy project. They hope to tap a huge gas field off the coast of Australia that will be used to supply their new Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects.

The City of Shreveport, Louisiana plans to spend some of their stimulus money to purchase five new buses that will run on compressed natural gas from the Haynesville Shale. More in the Shreveport Times.

The Legislative Gazette reports on an Albany press conference where business groups expressed opposition to a 5% tax on oil and gas production in New York.

“The House Republican Energy Task Force today unveiled at a Capitol news conference the “Energize PA” plan to expand natural gas drilling on 390,000 additional acres of state forest land during the next three years.

According to the Shreveport Times, lawmakers in Louisiana are working to get a tax credit for vehicle owners who switch their fuel from gasoline to compressed natural gas.

The Baker Hughes United States Rig Count was at 1126 on March 13. Natural gas is being drilled by 994 of these rigs. The Oil and Gas Journal reports that this is the lowest rig count since February, 2004.

The Oil and Gas Journal reports the results of Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation’s recent drilling in the Marcellus Shale of Pennsylvania. They say that the wells exceeded expectations.

This issue of Lock Haven University’s The Hemlock has a lengthy article about the Marcellus Shale, introducing a bit of geology, tracing a bit of history and presenting a large number of environmental concerns.

Some natural gas companies have failed to make payments on their lease agreements. What happens then? A short article on the PSU blog explains.

The township supervisors in Salem Township (southwestern Pennsylvania) passed an ordinance in 2005 that would regulate drilling on private land in the township. The contests over this ordinance have gone all the way to the State Supreme Court. The Court’s ruling is explained on Pittsburgh Live.

The rapid pace of Marcellus Shale leasing activity has slowed over the past few months but state regulators are still adapting to their new environment. An article in The Ithaca Journal summarizes some of the state government happenings in New York and Pennsylvania.

A number of natural gas companies are cooperating to launch the American Natural Gas Alliance which is expected to be a lobbying group to promote the use of natural gas. See an article in the Wall Street Journal for more details.