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Gatti vs. State of Louisiana – a Challenge to Multiple-Well Pooling Orders in Louisiana

An interesting case has recently been filed in Louisiana challenging the authority of the Louisiana Department of Conservation to approve pooled units containing multiple wells. In Gatti et al. vs. State of Louisiana, et al., Number 589350, Division 23, filed in the 19th Judicial District Court in East Baton Rouge…

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BLM Agrees to Consider Effect of Oil and Gas Leasing in Montana on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The Bureau of Land Management has signed a settlement agreement in which it agreed to “suspend” oil and gas leases covering BLM lands in Montana until it has completed a review of the effect of oil and gas development on greenhouse gas emissions. The settlement was entered in Montana Environmental…

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EIA to Change Methodology for Estimating U.S. Gas Supply

The Wall Street Journal reported today that the Energy Information Administration will revise the way it estimates U.S. natural gas supplies, after concluding that its current method significantly over-estimates supply. An analysis has concluded that there are discrepancies of as much as 12% between the total gas supply (gas produced…

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Strauss Charges Texas Legislature to Look at Local Ordinances Governing Surface Use in Barnett Shale

Speaker of the House Joe Strauss has charged the House Committee on Energy Resources as follows for the next legislative session: “Survey current local ordinances governing surface use of property in oil and gas development. Recommend changes, if any, to the authority of the Railroad Commission to regulate the operation…

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Devon Appeals Temporary Field Rules for Carthage (Haynesville Shale) Field

In a previous post I reported on the application of Devon Energy asking the Texas Railroad Commission to include in the new Field Rules for the Carthage (Haynesville Shale) Field a provision allowing it to drill horizontal wells across lease or pooled unit boundaries.  These new rules apply to wells…

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Chesapeake Shale Plays

Chesapeake Energy Corporation summarized its activities in the country’s “Big 6” shale plays in its Operational Update issued on February 16. The report reveals the huge impact Chesapeake has had on shale plays from New York to South Texas. Chesapeake is the eighth largest E&P company ranked by total assets…

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More Contoversy Over Hydraulic Fracturing

The debate over the safety of hydraulic fracturing continues. The Environmental Working Group, a Washington-based non-profit environmental advocacy organization, has issued a white paper, “Drilling Around the Law,” calling for fracking to be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and to require public disclosure of chemicals used in frac…

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Dish Mayor Calvin Tilman Testifies at Railroad Commission

The Mayor of tiny Dish, Texas, north of Fort Worth, continues to stir up controversy with his claims of air pollution from oil and gas activities causing health concerns in his community. The mayor appeared at the RRC’s January 12 open hearing. You can watch his testimony here (go to item 17…

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Interesting Comparison of Wellhead and Residential Gas Prices Across States

The information below is from the Energy Information Administration.  Note the wide variation in City Gate and Wellhead Prices among different states:   Below is the same information in graph form.  Why would average residential gas prices in Texas be $12.88 per mcf, while residential prices in California and Minnesota —…

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Exxon Mobil’s Proposed Acquisition of XTO Energy Revives Questions about Hydraulic Fracturing

Exxon Mobil announced that it would acquire XTO Energy in an all-stock deal worth $41 billion. The acquisition is viewed as Exxon’s decision to enter the domestic onshore gas shale play, which to date has been developed almost exclusively by independent producers. But the deal includes an exit clause in…

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