Chesapeake Energy says that they are cutting back their efforts in the Fayetteville Shale of Arkansas and that will enable them to focus on plays where natural gas liquids make important contributions to income. More at TheCityWire.com.

An abundance of natural gas in the Louisiana-Texas-Arkansas area has prompted Cheniere Energy to consider building the first LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminal in the conterminous United States. More at Businessweek.com

An article on the WXVT15 website reports that the Arkansas state department of Transportation director is blaming shale drilling trucks for causing damage to the roads.

The Arkansas Geological Survey is doing a great job keeping track of activity in the Fayetteville Shale Gas Play and making that information available to the public. Their maps show well locations, well types, horizontal leg direction, target formations, gas pipelines and are accompanied by a spreadsheet with well information.

Governor Mike Beebe points to the Fayetteville Shale Play and wind energy projects as bright spots in the Arkansas job climate. More in an article on BusinessWeek.com.

A boost for development of the Fayetteville Shale is work starting on the “Fayetteville Express Pipeline” that will carry about 2 billion cubic feet per day from Conway County, Arkansas to the Trunkline Gas Company in Panola County, Mississippi. More on this at Market Watch.

In a news release, Chesapeake Energy reports that they are the second largest leaseholder in the Fayetteville Shale gas play with 440,000 net acres. They expect to produce about 300 mmcfe net per day by the end of 2009 operating 18 rigs. Their estimated average yield per well is 2.4 bcfe.

An article on the Reuters website reports that Indigo Minerals, LLC is purchasing over 500 producing natural gas wells and undeveloped acreage in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas from Chesapeake Energy Corporation for $218 million.

A group of gas drillers in Arkansas is attempting to sue the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality over permitting methods for wastewater handling at drill sites over the Fayetteville Gas Play. More at the Oil and Gas Journal.

Pipeline activity related to the Fayetteville Shale natural gas play in Arkansas prompted a bill in a state House committee that would restrict a pipeline company’s ability to use eminent domain to construct gathering system lines. See the Severance Tax Blog for details.

A PowerPoint presentation titled “Fayetteville Shale Play: Reducing Environmental Impacts” by Dr. Gregory J. Thoma of the University of Arkansas is posted at the Arkansas Conservation Alliance website.

The Fayetteville Express Pipeline is a joint project between Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP and Energy Transfer Partners LP.  They are building a nearly 200-mile-long line to transport gas from the Fayetteville Shale to local distribution facilities.  More in Arkansas Business.

An article at TheCabin.net reports that two gas companies that drill the Haynesville Shale in northern Louisiana have acquired drilling permits in Columbia County in southern Arkansas. These are suspected Haynesville Shale wells.

Some of the first properties leased in the Fayetteville Shale natural gas play in Arkansas are approaching their five year anniversary. Mineral rights owners are wondering about their options. More at ArkansasBusiness.com

British Petroleum America announced that they have purchased, for $1.9 billion, a 25% stake in the Fayetteville Shale natural gas assets of Chesapeake Energy Corporation. As Chesapeake acquires new property in the Fayetteville play, BP will have the option to purchase a 25% stake.