Rouge Fractures
April 30, 2012 | Durham University
“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. |
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Hydraulic Fracturing Isn’t the Problem
February 21, 2012 | University of Texas at Austin
“Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to extract natural gas has no direct connection to reports of groundwater contamination [...] many problems ascribed to hydraulic fracturing are related to processes common to all oil and gas drilling operations, such as casing failures or poor cement jobs.” Quoted from the University of Texas at Austin press release. |
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Dry Shale Gas Production Trends
February 13, 2012 | Energy Information Administration
The EIA Natural Gas Weekly Update has an interesting graph that tracks the month-by-month dry gas production growth from various shale gas fields in the United States. For example, it shows that production from the Haynesville Shale started to increase significantly in early 2009 and continued until today the Haynesville is the most prolific dry gas producer. |
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Texas: Fracking Chemicals and Water Consumption Reports
January 18, 2012 | The Texas Tribune
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. |
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Declining Royalty Payments from Natural Gas Wells
January 3, 2012 | Geology.com
Many property owners are very surprised when the royalties that they receive from a natural gas well on their property decline sharply. They are learning about production decline curves. |
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Learning about Oil and Gas Leases
December 5, 2011 | New York Times
An article in the New York Times reviews some potential rewards and problems that occur when a landowner decides to lease his property for oil and and gas development.
Related: Mineral Rights |
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Supersized Topographic Maps
December 4, 2011 | MyTopo.com
The folks at MyTopo.com are now printing supersized topo maps – large enough make a huge 5′ x 8′ (or 8′ x 5′) map that will look fantastic on the wall of your office, conference room, lobby, cabin or den. These maps are custom-centered on any location that you pick using their online map-making tool. Lots of smaller sizes are also available.
We are affiliates of MyTopo.com and receive a commission on sales. |
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Declining Production from the Barnett Shale
November 14, 2011 | Star-Telegram
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. |
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Barnett Shale: 100,000 Jobs and $65 Billion
September 29, 2011 | BizJournals.com
An article on the BizJournals.com website summarizes the economic impact of natural gas development in the Barnett Shale of Texas. |
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Oh No! Who Really Owns the Natural Gas in Shale?
September 23, 2011 | Business Week
Is natural gas part of the shale or is it a fugitive commodity that is not an integral part of any specific rock unit? Will a refined legal definition of natural gas in Pennsylvania overturn thousands of historic leases? |
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35 Wells on One Barnett Shale Drilling Pad
August 17, 2011 | Star-Telegram.com
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 of wells ever drilled from a single Barnett Shale pad. |
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Geographic History of Barnett Shale Drilling Activity
August 9, 2011 | Energy Information Administration
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 drilling activity throughout the Barnett Shale gas play.
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Shale Gas and U.S. National Security
July 22, 2011 | Baker Institute for Public Policy
The Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University has published a report titled: “Shale Gas and U.S. National Security”. “This study assesses the impact of U.S. domestic shale gas development on energy security and U.S. national security, with emphasis on the geopolitical consequences of rising supplies of U.S. natural gas from shale and the implications for U.S. foreign policy.” Quoted from the report summary. |
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Projections of North American Shale Gas Production
July 10, 2011 | FuelFix
The FuelFix website has an article that includes natural gas production projections for North American gas shale plays. It is interesting to note that projections of annual production for calendar year 2040 moved upwards from about 14TCF in 2009 to about 19TCF in 2011. |
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EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study Areas
June 27, 2011 | FuelFix.com
The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the potential for hydraulic fracturing activities to impact surface and/or underground sources of drinking water, beginning with well site development and progressing through well abandonment. Seven geographic study areas have been announced. |
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Impact of Barnett Shale Development on Groundwater Resources
April 5, 2011 | Texas Water Development Board
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. |
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Which is the Leader? Barnett or Haynesville Shale?
March 30, 2011 | Platts.com
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. |
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Foreign Ownership of United States Gas Shales
March 30, 2011 | The Ithaca Journal
A letter published in The Ithaca Journal complains about the many foreign companies who have purchased major stakes in United States gas shale companies. |
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EPA vs Texas Railroad Commission
March 22, 2011 | Washington Post
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. |
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Haynesville Shale is the Top Shale Gas Producer
March 19, 2011 | Houston Chronicle
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. |
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Natural Gas Drilling and Radiation in Water Supplies
March 11, 2011 | The Texas Tribune
An article in The Texas Tribune explores the question: “Does natural gas drilling put radiation in water supplies?” The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality says that they have not detected radionuclides in public water supplies and the Texas Railroad Commission reports that most drilling wastewater in Texas is returned to the ground. |
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Mitigating Natural Gas Development Problems in Texas
February 19, 2011 | Houston Chronicle
An article in the Houston Chronicle titled: “We Can Minimize Negative Side-Effects of Shale Drilling” explores some ways to mitigate some of the problems encountered in developing the Barnett Shale, Eagle Ford Shale and Haynesville Shale in Texas. |
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Texas Oil and Gas Production Continues to Rise
February 6, 2011 | RigZone
An interesting article on the RigZone website titled: “Texas O&G Production Grows; Coal Still Vital to Energy Needs.” Unconventional oil and gas plays such as the Barnett Shale, Eagle Ford Shale and Haynesville-Bossier have significantly increased the Texas production figures over the past few years. |
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Mineral Rights
January 13, 2011 | Geology.com
“If we go back in time to the days before drilling and mining, real estate transactions were fee simple transfers. However, once commercial mineral production became possible, the ways in which people own property became much more complex. Today, the leases, sales, gifts and bequests of the past have produced a landscape where multiple people or companies have a partial ownership of or rights to many real estate parcels.” |
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