An article in the Evansville Courier & Press reports that Eagle Resources is planning to drill the New Albany Shale in Edwards County Illinois. They have paid $6/acre/year for the leases.

An article in Reuters explains that Statoil has a deal with Tennessee Gas Pipeline to transport Marcellus Shale natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York City and parts of New Jersey. This connection to cities on the east coast is part of what makes the Marcellus Shale gas play so important.

An article in the Vancouver Sun reports that most major oil companies have a strong interest in European shale gas plays. They are getting a slow start because there are currently very few rigs in Europe.

Range Resources has their 2009 production, reserves and drilling activity posted on the web. Their production increased 13% and their proved reserves were up by 18% with a leasehold position of 2.5 million net acres.

An article on The Vancouver Sun website explains how most of the major oil companies are looking for shale gas in Europe. A big problem is that there are currently very few rigs there.

An article on TheGlobeAndMail website reports on early results in the Utica Shale Gas Play in Quebec, Canada which could contain 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

The Houston Chronicle reports on the “Natural Gas Act” – legislation that could expand the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel by providing tax incentives for natural gas vehicles and refueling stations. Versions of the bill are in the House and Senate.

An article in The Vancouver Sun reports on a Canadian shale gas play known as the “Duvernay” that is expected to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in auction revenues to the Province of Alberta.

In addition to the large amount of natural gas being produced from shale several huge LNG projects expected to ship their first gas in 2014 and 2016. More in an article on the Gerson Lehrman Group website.

An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources is going to increase the number of inspectors assigned to oversee natural gas drilling by 50%. Fees paid by companies who want to drill in the state will also be will also be significantly increased.

An article on the Syracuse.com website reports that Chesapeake Energy wants to store 663 million (??) gallons of hydrofrack water produced in Pennsylvania in a well about a mile from Keuka Lake.

The House Commerce and Energy Committee is writing to oil field service companies to get information on the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and environmental impacts. More in an article in the Houston Chronicle.

An article on the MSNBC.com website reviews some of the investments that Asian countries are making in natural gas shales – both in the United States and in Asia.

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.

Drilling and hydrofracking a well in one of the natural gas plays such as the Marcellus or Haynesville requires at least a million gallons of water with chemical additives and will become salty when it comes in contact with subsurface brines. An article on the Reuters website explores this problem in New York.