The Mackenzie Valley Pipeline could be a casualty of the abundance of natural gas flowing from organic shale plays in many parts of the United States and other countries. The abundance of gas in many areas may delay its construction for decades. More at the National Post.

“At the end of 2008, domestic natural gas proved reserves reached their highest level since the U.S. Energy Information Administration began reporting them in 1977. Total U.S. proved reserves of dry natural gas rose by 6.9 trillion cubic feet from 2007 to 2008.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration report.

Pioneer Natural Resources reports that one of their wells in the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas has an initial flow of 11.3 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day. More in a Reuters article.

The American Petroleum Institute and PriceWaterhouseCoopers have prepared a report titled: “The Economic Impacts of the Oil and Natural Gas Industry on the U.S. Economy: Employment, Labor Income and Value Added”. It is a .pdf document.

The Energy Information Administration released a report on the potential for oil and gas development in the Arctic Ocean. That report states… “Given that the Arctic resource base is predominantly composed of natural gas and natural gas liquids, the importance of Arctic oil and natural gas resources is likely to be affected by the growing realization that shale beds in existing petroleum provinces around the world might be capable of producing 5,000 to 16,000 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.47 This potentially large shale gas resource could significantly defer the future development of Arctic natural gas resources.”

The Alabama Geological Survey has a summary publication titled “An Overview of the Floyd Shale & Chattanooga Shale Gas Play in Alabama“. This is a technical report that summarizes the geology and drilling activity that has recently occurred in Alabama.

Andrew Gould, CEO of Schlumberger, comments on government regulations related to the disclosure of hydrofracturing fluid chemistry.

New York state government has released their revised permitting standards for natural gas wells targeting the Marcellus Shale. However, New York City officials are calling for a ban on drilling in the watersheds that supply their drinking water. More in a Reuters article.

Range Resources reports a third quarter net loss of nearly $30 million even though their natural gas production levels broke a company record. The problem: low gas prices.

Much of the energy potential of the Arctic is based upon natural gas and natural gas liquids. As the shale plays in the United States and other parts of the world are developed they reduce the incentive for energy companies to tackle the challenging environment of the Arctic. From an EIA report on Arctic Ocean oil and gas potential.

Allen Brooks has prepared “Deciphering the US Natural Gas Market” a summary of trends in natural gas prices and the United States natural gas market for EnergyTribune.

From a speech given on October 8, 2009, by Peter Voser, CEO, Royal Dutch Shell…. “Shell is increasingly focusing on natural gas, the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. By 2012, natural gas will likely make up around half of our production.”

Energy industry executives debated the importance of natural gas shales at the Denver Peak Oil Conference – some think it is a “game changer”.

An Associated Press article presents the views of a geological consultant who believes that the production potential of natural gas from shales is overstated.

An article in the Calgary Hearld reports that Boeing and Skyhook hope to use dirigibles to deliver drilling equipment and supplies to Arctic drilling and pipeline construction projects in the Canadian Arctic. Cost and environmental impact motivated this unusual approach.