In 1969 an underground nuclear blast was tested as a well stimulation method at a Colorado site known as “Project Rulison”. Today drilling is not allowed near the site but some want access to the gas. Is it contaminated? More at Forbes.com.

Last month a bill was introduced in the House that calls for Federal regulation of hydraulic fracturing. Colorado Governor, Bill Ritter believes that the bill is uninformed and that comprehensive studies should be done before regulations are established. More at the Oil and Gas Journal.

Colorado Governor, Bill Ritter, says that natural gas is a “vital part of the New Energy Economy”. He also comments on several issues related to natural gas such as tax credits for gas vehicles, regulation of hydraulic fracturing and the potential future of the fuel. More at BizJounrals.com.

In some states where hydrofracturing is used to stimulate natural gas production many people are concerned that the chemicals used are considered to be “trade secrets” and not released. A new law in Colorado requires an inventory of each chemical used downhole during drilling, completion, and workover operations in amounts exceeding 500 pounds. More at the Oil and Gas Journal.

Bill Barrett Corporation has drilled two successful horizontal wells into the Gothic Shale in their Yellow Jacket prospect in the Paradox Basin of Colorado. Both wells flowed a few million cubic feet per day in initial testing. More at CNN Money.

Bill Barrett Corporation has drilled a horizontal well for natural gas in the Gothic Shale in the Paradox Basin near Yellow Jacket, Colorado. They completed the well with six fracture stimulation stages. Production rates are not known yet as they are still recovering the fracture stimulation fluid. Wells are also planned for the Hovenweep and Manning Canyon Shales. More in their quarterly report.