An article in the Denver Post discusses horizontal wells being drilled by Nobel Energy in the Niobrara Formation of Colorado. The wells go horizontal for about 9000 feet and cost about $8 million each.
“Algeria is an important oil and natural gas producer and a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Algeria’s hydrocarbons sector accounted for 60 percent of its budget revenues, 36 percent of its GDP, and over 97 percent of its export earnings in 2010.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration country report.
El Paso Corporation seeks government authorization to export up to 1/2 billion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas per day from its Elba Island, Georgia terminal.
The United States has a glut of natural gas and prices are much higher in other parts of the world – especially Asia. Should the United States begin exporting natural gas as LNG. That would generate income but would also raise the price of gas in the United States.
Instead of using 5 to 6 million gallons of water to fracture a well in the Utica Shale of eastern Ohio, a company plans to use LPG (liquid petroleum gas or propane).
Although Vermont is one of the last places that might be drilled for oil or natural gas, Governor Peter Shumlin signed a bill that will ban hydraulic fracturing.
At the same time a bill in the North Carolina legislature would legalize hydraulic fracturing.
Falling natural gas prices have reduced the value of acreage acquired with the intention of producing natural gas. Some companies could decide to write-down the value of those assets in their accounting statements.
After a long moratorium on Marcellus Shale drilling in New York, a variety of proposed regulations and local bans on drilling could render millions of leased acres as worthless.
Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron may receive rights to develop shale gas fields in Ukraine. The country currently imports most of its natural gas from Russia.
A study done by Geoscience Australia estimates Australia’s natural gas resource at about 390 trillion cubic feet. The country’s offshore resources is being aggressively developed by projects that are expected to produce LNG that will be exported to Asia.
Researchers monitored the response of wildlife and plants in parts of New Mexico where there is significant human activity and noise related to natural gas production.
The Oil On My Shoes website provides an introduction to petroleum geology and information about career opportunities in the oil and gas industry. Check it out.
The Energy Information Administration expects electricity generation from coal to decline by about 15 percent in 2012 as generation from natural gas increases by about 24 percent.
Power companies are using record amounts of natural gas to produce electricity. In February 2012, 34% more gas was used than in February 2011. Even with that level of use, natural gas prices remain low.
An AP article reports that drillers produced about $4.7 billion worth of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia during 2011.
The leading states for natural gas production during 2011 were: Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Together they produced 65% of US natural gas.
Natural gas from shale currently costs half as much as coal per BTU. Producing electricity with natural gas from shale is more efficient than coal. Natural gas from shale produces less CO2 than coal when it is used to generate electricity. What’s the problem?
In their Natural Gas Weekly Update, the Energy Information Administration reports that “the natural gas rotary rig count, as reported by Baker Hughes Incorporated on April 27, decreased by 18 to 613 active units. Meanwhile, oil-directed rigs decreased by 9 to 1,328 units.” Rig counts are approaching their lowest levels since the shale gas boom began.
Royal Dutch Shell’s Chief Financial Officer, Simon Henry, reports that Chinese gas shales can be more challenging than shales in the United States, however, they can produce gas at well below the liquefied natural gas import price.
For the past four years the Haynesville Shale has generated economic growth in parts of Louisiana. Declines in natural gas prices have drillers moving their rigs to more profitable targets.
With the price of natural gas at $2 or below lots of coal-fired power plants are converting to natural gas – and the price of Wyoming coal has fallen by 45 percent.
“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.
A report on drilling activity in the Eagle Ford Shale on the FuelFix.com website says that the number of new wells drilled in the first quarter of 2012 is double the number drilled in 2011.
Just a few years ago terminals to import liquefied natural gas were being built on the eastern and Gulf coasts of the United States. Now, these terminals are idle or operating at fractional capacity. Some companies are interested in converting them into LNG export facilities.
“The law provides for the imposition of a drilling impact fee and the expenditure of the funds generated by that impact fee to local and state purposes specifically outlined in the law. The law also contains a mechanism as to how the fees shall be distributed. A significant portion of the fees generated will be used to cover the local impacts of drilling while several of state agencies will also receive funding for a variety of other purposes.” Quote from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
An article on the Bloomberg.com website explains how some states are responding to the correlation between wastewater injection and shallow earthquake activity. Injection well disposal of hydraulic fracturing wastewater is declining rapidly as natural gas drilling operations are recycling more of their wastewater instead of sending it to injection wells.
An article on the MySanAntonio.com website explores the success and economic impact of the Eagle Ford Shale which produced nearly 5 million barrels in 2010 and over 20 million in 2011.
An article on TheIntelligencer.net website explains how the geography of natural gas drilling in West Virginia is shifting from the dry gas areas that consists of most of the state to a few counties in the northern panhandle where wells yield natural gas liquids.
The United States has an new abundance of natural gas – so much that prices have fallen dramatically. However, natural gas prices in other parts of the world are still relatively high. Should the United States respond by exporting natural gas? What would happen to prices and supplies if enormous quantities of natural gas were exported?
The views of Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy and John Richels, CEO of Devon Energy on the future of natural gas are summarized in a TulsaWorld.com article.
This report summarizes a geology-based assessment of undiscovered conventional oil and gas resources of priority geologic provinces of the world, completed between 2009 and 2011 as part of the United States Geological Survey World Petroleum Resources Project.
Information about the topography of the ArcticOcean seafloor is becoming more important as the area’s energy resources attract attention and countries prepare their exclusive economic zone claims.
“USGS scientists discuss the opportunities and impact associated with hydraulic fracturing. Doug Duncan, associate coordinator for the USGS Energy Resources Program, addresses the increasing role that unconventional oil and gas resources play in the nation’s petroleum endowment. USGS hydrologist Dennis Risser discusses some of the major water availability and quality challenges associated with natural gas development, with a focus on the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. Bill Leith, associate coordinator the USGS Hazards Program, concludes by discussing the potential connection between disposal of waste fluids from hydraulic fracturing and earthquakes.” Quoted from the USGS video release.
“Hydraulic fracturing is rarely used in Arizona and thus is not a threat. There are no shale-gas wells in Arizona and there has been no horizontal drilling and no hydraulic fracturing associated with those types of wells.” Quoted from the Arizona Geological Survey article.
“EIA expects electricity generation from coal to decline by about 10 percent in 2012 as generation from natural gas increases by about 17 percent. EIA forecasts that electricity generation from coal will increase by about 7 percent and generation from natural gas fall by 3 percent in 2013 as projected coal prices to the power sector fall slightly while natural gas prices increase, allowing coal to regain some of its power sector generation share.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration press release.
An article on the Forbes.com website explores the use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel in China. “At the end of 2010, more than 80 cities across China had gas refilling facilities and the number of CNG/LNG refill stations totaled more than 1,000.” They appear to be way ahead of the United States.
“Between 1980 and 2010, global consumption of dry natural gas rose from 53 trillion cubic feet to 113 Tcf. Although consumption in North America saw the slowest regional growth in percentage terms (29%), the region accounted for more than 25% of the world’s natural gas consumption.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration press release.
Natural gas drillers are doing their part to consume an abundance of inexpensive natural gas – they are converting their vehicles and drilling rigs from diesel to natural gas.
The New York Times has a article that explores the use of natural gas in manufacturing. It is used in a variety of industries, including: steel, petrochemicals, fertilizer, plastics and more.
The Oklahoma Geological Survey has published a “Position Statement on Triggered or Induced Seismicity” that was motivated by many people attributing recent earthquake activity to fluid injection.
“A new Shale Resources and Society Institute [...] will serve as a resource to help the public, policymakers and other stakeholders understand shale’s potential as an energy resource. The goal of the institute is to provide accurate, research-based information on the development of shale and other unconventional resources.” Quoted from the University at Buffalo press release.
Drilling for oil in the shale formations of Texas and North Dakota often results in the flaring of natural gas – as some of these areas are not served by natural gas pipelines. Although this practice is somewhat of an industry tradition it is drawing increasing criticism because it wastes a non-renewable energy resource, is an economic loss, produces air pollution and contributes to climate change.
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