This article from the Shreveport Times explores how some property owners make a lot of money from development of the Barnett Shale natural gas field and other property owners just a short distance away have a negative impact without compensation.

Chesapeake Energy is looking for a 25% partner in its Marcellus Shale natural gas leases.  They are in discussions with multiple partices and anticipate a close to the transaction by the end of year.  More details in their news release.

Dune Energy has a news release announcing the sale of its Barnett Shale leases, located in Denton and Wise Counties (Texas) for $41.5 million. There was no mention about the buyer or the number of acres involved.

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.

A video on the Barron’s website discusses the potential of mergers and acquisitions in the US Energy patch related to the shale gas plays that are occurring in many parts of the country. Dimitria DeFotis says that the assets of some of these companies are not reflected in their stock price even with the recent declines in gas prices factored in. A Barrons article on this topic.

Some speculation at the Seeking Alpha blog about the major oil companies getting into the organic black shale natural gas business. This might happen through buy-outs or lease purchases as the small companies have a huge head start in acquiring the best acreage.

Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation traded acre-by-acre a large number of New Albany Shale leases in an effort to optimize their holdings. The trading partner in this deal was not mentioned. See the report at YourOilAndGasNews.com.

A Penn State Cooperative Extension seminar contained some interesting advice from an attorney to property owners about natural gas leases and royalties. Details at the CitizenVoice website.

Rex Energy says that they sold 79,000 acres of holdings over the New Albany Shale in Indiana for $8.4 million. They plan to use the money on their Marcellus Shale exploration projects. More at Market Watch.

Chesapeake Energy closed the deal on a sale of its Arkoma Basin Woodford Shale leases to British Petroleum America, Inc. for $1.7 billion in cash. Chesapeake’s goal is to monetize properties that they purchased early at low prices and spend that money acquiring acreage in plays such as the Haynesville, Marcellus and Barnett. More in a Chesapeake news release.

This isn’t about natural gas but another form of energy in shale. In Sweden the Alum Shale is mineralized with uranium – enough that it is an exploration target. Mineweb gives the details on Aura Energy’s uranium play in Sweden.

Mineral laws are different between Louisiana and Texas. In Texas if you buy mineral rights from a fee simple owner you get to keep them. However, in Louisiana if you don’t produce in the first ten years the rights go back to the original owner. This makes a lot more activity in Louisiana because lots of rights revert back to the landowner.

A transcript (MS Word File) of Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy, written testimony to the The Select Committee on Energy Independence & Global Warming – July 30, 2008. Also an article and short video at NewsOK.com.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is leasing over 10,000 acres of mineral rights and 26,000 surface acres in Yell County and Van Buren County to Chesapeake Energy for about $29,000,000. More details about the transaction and the Game and Fish Commission’s decision to allow this at RedOrbit.com.

Chesapeake Energy has recently sold portions of its holdings on large tracts of natural gas shale leases. ArkansasBusiness.com reports that a Chinese firm is interested in their Fayetteville Shale leases.