“Penn State announced the formation of an education and research initiative on the Marcellus Shale to work with state agencies, elected officials, communities, landowners, industry and environmental groups to protect the Commonwealth’s water resources, forests and transportation infrastructure while advocating for a science-based and responsible approach to handling the state’s natural gas deposits.” Quoted from the Penn State press release.

Chesapeake Energy, Statoil and Sasol Petroleum International are partnering on a study of natural gas shales in the Karoo Basin of South Africa based upon archived core. More at NewsOK.com.

Chevron’s Clio-3 discovery well found 260 feet of net gas pay, making it the third consecutive deepwater discovery in the Carnarvon Basin offshore of Western Australia. These new wells are near Chevron’s Gorgon Project, the largest single resource natural gas project in Australia’s history. Full details at the Chevron press release.

EOG Resources is buying the shares of Galveston LNG, a company that hopes to build an LNG plant on the northern coast of British Columbia. EOG is also holds a major stake in the Horn River Shale Gas Play in the same area. More in an article at Reuters.com.

The Delaware River Basin Commission voted unanimously to stop all natural gas production drilling within the watershed until new regulations are approved. This could put a long hold on drilling in that area. More at Philly.com.

The United States Energy Information Administration admits that it has been overestimating the natural gas production for Texas and Louisiana. More at Reuters.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is going to start monitoring methane released into the atmosphere by the oil and gas industry. Some of these emissions occur while drilling. More at EPA.gov.

Will the natural gas contained in America’s shale be providing energy for the next 100 years? The CERAWeek conference looks at the future of U.S. shale gas. Details in a Reuters article.

Chevron has made what is thought to be the largest natural gas discovery in Bangladesh in more than a decade. More at AFP.

Ken Salazar, Interior Secretary says that he is recommending that natural gas be considered as an important part of the US Energy Policy because using it produces less greenhouse gas than other fossil fuels. More in a Grand Junction Sentinel article.