How long will the new natural gas shale plays be producing gas? 20 years? 40? More? This topic was discussed at IHS CERA conference last week in Houston. Some believe that they will be producing gas for a long time.

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.

The Shale Gas Drilling & Completions 2010 conference will be held in Houston, Texas on May 26 through May 28, 2010. The conference will deliver “key insight into applying cutting-edge drilling and completions techniques used throughout diverse shale projects in the US & Canada. Leading shale producers will share real life examples of their drilling and completions success and challenges – including experience from the Barnett, Haynesville, Horn River, Marcellus, Woodford and Fayetteville shale plays.” Quoted from the conference website.

An article at Bnet.com reports that Chesapeake Energy has an aggressive budget for 2009/2010 for exploration and production.

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.

“The U.S. Department of Energy announces the release of Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States: A Primer. The Primer provides regulators, policy makers, and the public with an objective source of information on the technology advances and challenges that accompany deep shale gas development.” Quoted from fossil.energy.gov. Download the .pdf

Ziff Energy Group has a press release on their website predicting that unconventional gas plays now active across North America will account for 53% of the continent’s gas production by 2020.

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.

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.

Fayetteville Shale Land Farms was ordered to stop collecting wastewater from Fayetteville Shale drilling sites because it was improperly handling the water. More at The Morning News website.

Low energy prices and lack of credit access are two key factors holding back development of the new natural gas plays such as the Marcellus Shale, Haynesville Shale, Fayetteville and others. More details at The Oil Drum.

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.

John Thaeler, CEO of Southwestern Energy Company says that drilling for natural gas in the Fayetteville Shale remains viable even after the recent fall in natural gas prices.  Read more at RedOrbit.

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.