A study of seismic activity near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport by researchers from SMU and UT-Austin reveals that the operation of a saltwater injection disposal well in the area was a “plausible cause” for the series of small earthquakes that occurred in the area between October 30, 2008, and May 16, 2009.

Calvin Tillman, the Mayor of Dish, Texas gave a two hour presentation on how to prevent the harmful effects of natural gas drilling at the Elmira Heights Theater in Elmira Heights, New York. He encouraged local officials to “take control” of what happens in their jurisdiction. More at The Online Leader.

Pioneer Natural Resources reports that one of their wells in the Eagle Ford shale of Texas had an initial production rate of 17 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. A fantastic yield for a shale well.   More in a Reuters article.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality conduced toxic vapor tests to detect hazardous emissions from natural gas drilling sites in the Fort Worth area. None of the 126 sites tested had contaminant levels that exceeded regulatory standards.  More in a Star-Telegram article.

Devon Energy announced that one of their Haynesville Shale wells in East Texas had an initial flow of 31 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. This might be the highest initial flow from the Haynesville. Read more about the well at NASDAQ.com

Pioneer Natural Resources reports that one of their wells in the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas has an initial flow of 11.3 million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent per day. More in a Reuters article.

In response to a series of small earthquakes near the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, Chesapeake Energy has shut in two saltwater disposal wells that injected water into underground rock units. They say that their closing is a “precaution”. Scientists can’t say for sure if the earthquakes have any relationship with gas production or saltwater disposal. More in an article at Star-Telegram.com.

In a news release, Chesapeake Energy reports that they are the second largest producer in the Barnett Shale gas play. They expect to increase their Barnett Shale production from 655 mmcfe net per day to 725 mmcfe net per day by the end of 2009. They are operating with 18 rigs.

In a news release, Chesapeake Energy reports that they hold over 510,000 net acres in the Haynesville Shale gas play and are the largest leaseholder. They are the most active driller in the play with 29 rigs and expect to be producing 275 mmcfe of natural gas per day net by the end of 2009. Their estimated average yield per well is 6.5 bcfe.

A few small earthquakes beneath a Barnett Shale natural gas field in Texas has many people talking that the quakes might be related to the withdraw of gas. More in the Star-Telegram.

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.

An article in the Star Telegram reports that Chesapeake Energy posted a loss of $866 million for the fourth quarter of 2008 and that they might be looking for a large company to partner with them in the Barnett Shale gas play.

The Environmental Defense Fund has awarded a contract to Al Armendariz, an engineering professor at  Southern Methodist University to study the impact of natural gas exploration on local air quality.  More at the Fort Worth Business Press.

This Denton Record-Chronicle article recounts in some detail the challenges and disappointments faced by a family in Argyle, Texas, living with an unwanted natural gas well operating in the lot immediately behind their house.

After several years of steady increases in Barnett Shale production and income the trend might be about to change. Fewer wells are being drilled and lower gas prices are being paid. This article at istockanalyst.com looks at the future of the Barnett Shale natural gas play.