The new abundance of natural gas produced from shale plays in the 48 states is going to damage the economics of the North Slope, Alaska gas industry. An article in NewsMiner addresses the impact on production companies. An article on KTUU.com addresses the impact on pipeline projects.

An article on the Reuters website argues that the TransCanada Pipeline will still be need – after several major US gas plays are rapidly being developed.

A Houston Chronicle article reports that a proposed pipeline to carry natural gas from the North Slope, through Canada and on to markets in Alaska and the 48 states could cost up to $41 billion. A competing project would carry the gas to a proposed LNG facility at Valdez.

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.

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.”

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.

The North Carolina Geological Survey has a new publication – Open-file Report 2009-01: Shale Gas Potential in Triassic Strata of the Deep River Basin, Lee and Chatham Counties, North Carolina with pipeline and infrastructure data

Some people believe that low gas prices and a growing supply base in the forty-eight states threaten the viability of a proposed North Slope natural gas pipeline. More in a story at the Anchorage Daily News.

Someone has been bombing natural gas pipelines in Northeastern British Columbia. Some believe that it is a case of eco-terrorism against EnCana Corporation. More in an article at Canada.com.

A blog post on the Wall Street Journal website explains how an excess of production over current consumption might lead to the widespread shutting in of natural gas wells until the winter heating season begins.

Could a shortage of skilled welders or other types of workers hamper the development of oil and gas projects in the United States? These welders must produce flawless welds – sometimes under difficult field conditions. More at the New York Times.

New LNG facilities coming online in Qatar, Russia, Indonesia and other locations are in need of a market and US coastal areas not served by pipelines are natural targets. More in The State Journal.

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.

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.

BP and CoonocoPhillips planned to build a pipeline from the North Slope of Alaska connecting to natural gas markets in the Lower 48. The prospects for this project are faltering and some believe that unconventional gas discoveries have damaged the need for this pipeline. More in an article at Reuters.