The leading states for natural gas production during 2011 were: Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Together they produced 65% of US natural gas.
More at Energy Information Administration.Texas Gas
Rouge Fractures
“The chances of rogue fractures due to shale gas fracking operations extending beyond 0.6 kilometres from the injection source is a fraction of one percent, according to new research led by Durham University. The analysis is based on data from thousands of fracking operations in the USA and natural rock fractures in Europe and Africa.” Quoted from the Durham University press release.
More at Durham University.
Activity in the Eagle Ford Shale Doubles
A report on drilling activity in the Eagle Ford Shale on the FuelFix.com website says that the number of new wells drilled in the first quarter of 2012 is double the number drilled in 2011.
More at FuelFix.com.
Economic Impact of the Eagle Ford Shale
An article on the MySanAntonio.com website explores the success and economic impact of the Eagle Ford Shale which produced nearly 5 million barrels in 2010 and over 20 million in 2011.
More at MySanAntonio.com.
Objections to Natural Gas Flaring
Drilling for oil in the shale formations of Texas and North Dakota often results in the flaring of natural gas – as some of these areas are not served by natural gas pipelines. Although this practice is somewhat of an industry tradition it is drawing increasing criticism because it wastes a non-renewable energy resource, is an economic loss, produces air pollution and contributes to climate change.
More at FuelFix.com.
State Crude Oil Trends
Five states account for over 50% of the USA’s crude oil production with production rapidly increasing in Texas and North Dakota.
More at Energy Information Administration.
Who Owns the Groundwater Below Your Farm?
While the ownership of oil and natural gas beneath a property has been rather well defined there are still significant uncertainties about who owns the ground water.
More at Statesman.com.
Haynesville Deceleration
Four years ago the Haynesville Shale began generating lots of jobs and income for northern Louisiana. Now many companies are redirecting their activities from dry gas to areas where natural gas liquids and oil can be produced from shale – walking away from the boom areas that previously experienced rapid growth.
More at Shreveport Times.
Permian Basin Oil Boom
An article on the FuelFix.com website looks at how growing production from shale in the Permian Basin of West Texas has surprised even the most experienced drillers.
More at FuelFix.com.
How Some Drillers Are Responding to Low Natural Gas Prices
An article in The Advocate explores who Encana Corporation and other natural gas drillers are responding to natural gas falling nearly $10 per thousand cubic feet since 2008.
More at The Advocate.
Eagle Ford Shale
The Eagle Ford Shale is a black shale with a high organic carbon content in central Texas. I has become one of the most important economic generators in central Texas.
More at Geology.com.
Texas: Fracking Chemicals and Water Consumption Reports
A new regulation will require drillers in Texas to report the chemicals in their hydraulic fracturing fluid and the amount of water used to frack each well.
More at The Texas Tribune.
Irrational Natural Gas Prices?
Lots of factors contribute to the natural gas prices paid by residential customers. Long term contracts and distant supply sources can hold residential prices high even though natural gas is locally in abundance. Residential customers in Arkansas, Lo…
More at Energy Information Administration.
Gas Fracking
Jadela Oil recently used 5000 barrels of liquid propane and butane to frack a horizontal well in Maverick County, Texas. When gas is used for fracking it can be recovered and sold or recycled instead of being a disposal problem.
More at Caller.com.
Gulf of Mexico – Energy Infrastructure
The Energy Information Administration has an interactive map that displays energy infrastructure features in the Gulf of Mexico region. It includes power plants, transmission lines, LNG terminals, natural gas hubs, pipelines, oil ports, refineries, ac…
More at Energy Information Administration.
Declining Production from the Barnett Shale
An article on the Star-Telegram.com website explores declining production from the Barnett Shale of Texas – the rock unit that supported the first important use of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
More at Star-Telegram.
How Natural Gas is Taxed in 19 Different States
The Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research has prepared: Taxation of Natural Gas: A Comparative Analysis. This publication reviews the many methods of taxing natural gas 19 different states. You might be surprised at how many …
More at Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research.
Barnett Shale: 100,000 Jobs and $65 Billion
An article on the BizJournals.com website summarizes the economic impact of natural gas development in the Barnett Shale of Texas.
More at BizJournals.com.
35 Wells on One Barnett Shale Drilling Pad
Devon Energy has drilled over 4,700 wells in the Barnett Shale field since 2001. Today they are in the process of drilling 35 horizontal wells, all at different compass directions, from a single 12-acre pad. This is believed to be the largest number …
More at Star-Telegram.com.
Geographic History of Barnett Shale Drilling Activity
The Energy Information Administration has an interesting animated map on their website that shows the geographic spread of drilling activity in the Barnett Shale around Fort Worth, Texas. It also shows the introduction and spread of horizontal drillin…
More at Energy Information Administration.
BHP Billiton to Buy Petrohawk for $12 Billion
BHP Billiton, the world’s largest mining company headquartered in Australia, has agreed to purchase Petrohawk Energy for $12.1 billion. Petrohawk is an independent oil and natural gas company with a focus on exploration and production of shale plays within the United States. The company has significant activity in the Haynesville, Lower Bossier and Eagle Ford Shales of Texas and Louisiana.
More in the Petrohawk press release.
$3.5 Billion for Eagle Ford Acreage
According to a report on FuelFix.com, Marathon Oil will acquire 141,000 net acres of Eagle Ford Shale holdings in Atascosa, Karnes, Gonzales and DeWitt counties, Texas for $3.5 billion.
LNG Export from Sabine Pass, LA/TX
“DOE issued conditional authorization to Cheniere Energy’s application to export LNG from its Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana. Cheniere plans to retrofit the existing import terminal to give it liquefaction capability. Cheniere has been authorized to export up to 2.2 Bcf/d of natural gas from the facility for a period of 20 years.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration Weekly Natural Gas Update.
Eagle Ford Shale – Thousands of Jobs
The Houston Chronicle reports that oil and gas drilling in the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas has generated a need for workers – not only with the companies doing the drilling but also with the companies that provide technical services, materials, logistics support and more.
Eagle Ford Shale: Greatest Economic Driver in South Texas
In an article on the FuelFix website, David Porter, Texas Railroad Commissioner (the Railroad Commission regulates natural gas drilling for the State of Texas), says that the Eagle Ford Shale has the potential to be the greatest economic driver in the history of South Texas.
Impact of Barnett Shale Development on Groundwater Resources
The impact of hydraulic fracturing on ground water supplies is a concern in almost every area where the well stimulation method is employed. The Texas Water Development Board has published an informative study: Northern Trinity/Woodbine GAM Assessment of Groundwater Use in the Northern Trinity Aquifer Due To Urban Growth and Barnett Shale Development. Get the report here.
Which is the Leader? Barnett or Haynesville Shale?
The Energy Information Administration recently reported that production from the Haynesville Shale had surpassed Barnett Shale production. Now, energy statisticians are arguing over the numbers. More at Platts.com.
Eagle Ford Shale Landowners vs Army National Guard
The Texas Army National Guard wants to buy 22,232 acres of land over the Eagle Ford Shale and owners of the land under consideration don’t want to sell because they want to keep the land for potential oil and gas royalties. More in the Houston Chronicle.
Eagle Ford Shale – An Economic Engine
The Houston Chronicle is a close watcher of the oil and gas industry – especially in Texas. Here is a quote from a recent HC article…. “Development of the Eagle Ford shale [...] shows promise of being the most important economic generator South Texas has ever seen.
EPA vs Texas Railroad Commission
The Railroad Commission has jurisdiction of natural gas drilling in Texas and the commission disagrees with the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the cause of domestic water well contamination in North Texas. EPA claims that Barnett Shale drilling has caused the problem. More in the Washington Post.
Haynesville Shale is the Top Shale Gas Producer
According to an article in the Houston Chronicle, the Haynesville Shale of Louisiana is now producing more natural gas than the Barnett Shale of Texas, running at a rate of about 5.5 billion cubic feet per day.
How Much Gas in the Utica Shale?
The Utica Shale has a larger geographic extent than both the Marcellus Shale of the Appalachian Basin and the Barnett Shale of Texas. It is also has a much larger total volume. Will its gas producing potential exceed that of the Marcellus and Barnett. An article on the Seeking Alpha blog explores this question.
Eagle Ford Shale Generates $3B in 2010
The San Antonio Business Journal has an article titled: “Eagle Ford Shale produced $3 billion for South Texas.”
Eagle Ford Shale: One of the Nation’s Biggest Oil and Gas Fields
An article in the Houston Chronicle, a newspaper that closely follows the oil and gas industry in Texas and worldwide, refers to the Eagle Ford Shale as “one of the nation’s biggest oil and gas fields.”
What is the Wolfcamp Shale?
The Wolfcamp Shale is a rock unit that drillers are starting to tap for natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids. The play extends across west Texas and a short distance into New Mexico. More at Right Side News.
Landowners Sue Chesapeake Energy for Backing Out on a Deal
Several landowners in Texas are going after Chesapeake Energy for promising to lease their Barnett Shale properties and then backing out of the deal. More on a Christopher Helman blog post at Forbes.com.
Can the Nitrogen Content of Natural Gas Determine Its Source?
Natural gas has been found in two private water wells in Parker County, Texas. The nitrogen content of the gas may determine if Barnett Shale drilling activity by Range Resources is the source or if the source is shallower rock units. More in the Washington Examiner.
Where Did That Gas Come From?
Two household water supplies in Parker County, Texas are contaminated with methane. EPA says that the gas came from Range Resources wells drilled into the Barnett Shale. Range Resources says that the gas came from the Strawn Formation which is much shallower. More in a Star-Telegram.com article.
Master Plan for Barnett Shale Pipelines
In a competitive rush to lease natural gas properties a pattern of drilling is established. Then pipelines to transport the gas to market must be built to service that pattern with companies still competing instead of cooperating. An editorial in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram calls for a pipeline master plan.
Texas Rule 37 and Holdout Landowners
The Texas Railroad Commission’s Rule 37 is the subject of an editorial in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The author explains how this rule that regulates the spacing of oil and gas wells seems to be used to as a way to avoid dealing with Barnett Shale holdout landowners.
