“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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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An injection well used to dispose of waste water produced by natural gas drilling in the Fayetteville Shale of Arkansas was thought to be causing hundreds of small earthquakes. The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission voted to close the disposal well but continue to allow injection activities associated with hydraulic fracturing process.
Arkansas has two significant natural gas plays in the Haynesville and Fayetteville Shales. A proposal to significantly increase the natural gas severance tax to 7% has some companies threatening to drill in other states.
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.
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.
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.
Scott Ausbrooks, of the Arkansas Geological Survey comments on the hundreds of small earthquakes that have been experienced near Guy and Greenbrier, Arkansas since waste water injection began at a nearby location.
“The potential effects of Fayetteville Shale gas extraction on Brewer Lake and Cypress Creek, Arkansas are being studied by the U.S. Geological Survey in partnership with Southwestern Energy and Conway Corporation.” Quoted from the USGS press release.
A letter published in The Ithaca Journal complains about the many foreign companies who have purchased major stakes in United States gas shale companies.
The small seismic zone that has been producing an earthquake swarm near Guy and Greenbrier, Arkansas has now produced a 4.7 magnitude earthquake – the strongest so far. The earthquake occurred on Sunday, February 27 at about 11:00 PM local time and at a depth of about 3 kilometers. See the USGS “Did you feel it?” map.
BHP Billiton, the worlds largest mining company which also holds major oil and gas interests, has purchased a $4.7 billion stake in the Fayetteville Shale from Chesapeake Energy.
An article at Bloomberg.com explores why some people would like to see severance taxes on natural gas in Arkansas rise by up to 500%. That could slow the development of the Fayetteville Shale gas play. Some speculate that might be why Chesapeake Energy is selling their $5 billion Fayetteville stake.
An article on the ABCNews site reports that Chesapeake Energy hopes to sell $5 billion in assets during calendar year 2012. Included in the sale are all of Chesapeake’s holdings in the Fayetteville Shale in Arkansas.
“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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