Geology News
Natural Gas Current Events

USGS has published: “Landscape Consequences of Natural Gas Extraction in Fayette and Lycoming Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004–2010″ as an open file report.

The University of Tennessee is seeking bids from companies interested in leasing the natural gas rights on 8,600 acres it owns in Morgan and Scott counties.

The Energy Information Administration has published: “Technically Recoverable Shale Oil and Shale Gas Resources: An Assessment of 137 Shale Formations in 41 Countries Outside the United States“.

“In this report we briefly review the geology of the Mancos Shale in Arizona and consider its potential to yield hydrocarbons with horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.” Quoted from the Arizona Geological Survey document repository.

Comments on the Mancos Shale in AZ and NM in the Arizona Geology blog.

After starting a rapid activity decline in 2010, the Haynesville Shale which spans between northeast Texas and northern Louisiana is starting to heat up.

Natural Gas prices continue to recover from the recent low set in Spring, 2012. The Henry Hub spot price is back up above $4.00.

LNG export, gas-to-liquids and manufacturing projects have produced a renewed level of interest in the Haynesville Shale of northern Louisiana.

In the past several years a number of very large oil and natural gas discoveries off the coast of East Africa have positioned several countries to become major exporters of energy.

March oil output from the Eagle Ford Shale of Texas was up 77% (from 298,000 barrels per day to 530,000 barrels per day) when comparing March 2012 with March 2013.

Some initial drilling has shown that the Pearsall Shale of Texas (a rock unit below the Eagle Ford) has the ability to yield oil and natural gas. Leases are still being acquired.

“Mexico imported a record volume of natural gas in 2012, about 2.1 billion cubic feet per day, which was up 21% from 2011. Natural gas flows from U.S. pipelines accounted for about 80% of Mexico’s overall natural gas imports in 2012.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration press release.

California’s Monterey Shale could hold twice as much oil as the Bakken or five times as much as the Eagle Ford. How much it yields might be determined by challenging geology or citizen opposition.

An NPR podcast explains why landowners in Oregon oppose pipeline projects that will transport natural gas across the state of Oregon to the Pacific coast where the gas will be condensed into a liquid for export to Asian countries.

Some United States oil and gas companies are interested in buying blocs in the Bay of Bengal, now that the United States has established relations with Burma (Myanmar).

Twenty years ago the people of Maine switched from burning coal and will to burning oil. Now they are moving to natural gas.

“Algeria is the largest natural gas producer and second largest oil producer in Africa. [...] Algeria’s national oil and gas company, Sonatrach, dominates the country’s hydrocarbon sector, owning roughly 80 percent of all hydrocarbon production. By law, Sonatrach is given majority ownership of oil and gas projects in Algeria.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration report.

“Governor Sean Parnell today announced an exploration proposal for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 1002 Area, which the state has developed and is offering to help finance.” Quoted from the Governor’s press release.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline plans to build a pipeline from the Utica Shale play in Ohio to an LNG export facility in Louisiana.

When natural gas prices rise heating a home with gas becomes more expensive. Many other activities become more expensive. One concern about exporting natural gas is that lots of people (and industries) will see their expenses go up. An article on the Christian Science Monitor website explores who will see higher prices.

“A new study by scientists at Duke University and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) finds no evidence of groundwater contamination from shale gas production in Arkansas.” Quoted from the Duke University press release.

The UK is the largest producer of oil and the second largest producer of natural gas in the European Union; however, they still are a net importer of both of these fuels.

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Energy companies have submitted permit requests for 20 natural gas export projects. The projects will create jobs, income for natural gas companies and property owners, and improve our trade balance. Opponents believe that exports will increase prices and accelerate the landscape impact of drilling activity.

A natural gas pipeline between the Utica Shale in Ohio and natural gas consumers in Ontario, Canada has been proposed by a group of transmission companies.

A RigZone.com article explains why the natural gas from shale boom that has occurred in the United States is not making much of a bang in many other countries.

Natural gas is cleaner and more economical as a fuel for passenger vehicles than gasoline, but sales of cars that run on natural gas have been very slow. A Washington Post article explains the problems.

Royal Dutch Shell has made major investments in developing conventional and unconventional natural gas resources in several parts of the world, building LNG terminals to prepare it for distant markets, develop the first floating LNG facility and develop new methods to convert natural gas into liquid fuels.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court decided not to overturn over 100 years of property transactions in a case involving the ownership of natural gas produced from the Marcellus Shale. Shale gas is not to be treated differently from natural gas produced from a conventional reservoir.

“All the natural-gas industry needs is a gizmo in the basement of your house to convert your natural gas into electricity. “

The National Ground Water Association has published an information guide for people who have private water supply wells located near oil and natural gas drilling. They explain the types of water quality concerns that might be present and explain the options of water well testing.