NATURAL GAS
Recognizing the need to upgrade New York’s energy infrastructure in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Governor Cuomo’s plans would fundamentally redesign the state’s power system. In his 2013 State of the State report, the Governor highlighted increased grid resiliency, renewable power integration, and reduced dependence on centralized power systems. Governor Cuomo’s proposals follow an interim report…...
The California Department of Water Resources (CDWR), the state’s largest power consumer, has decided to terminate its contract with a coal-fueled power plant in Nevada, with the contract set to expire in 2013. CDWR will switch to natural gas-fueled power, as part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The decision came as…...
On December 5, 2012, the DOE released its much-awaited study by NERA Economic Consulting on the macroeconomic impacts of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from U.S. The study projects that U.S. will gain net economic benefits from LNG exports. The report demonstrates that the shale gas revolution can provide a much needed economic lift as lawmakers…...
On December 3, 2012 Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a draft Secretarial Order to harness the potash rich reserves of southeast New Mexico for oil and gas extraction alongside potash mining. The new plan intends to put an end to the prolonged legal dispute between the two industries over extraction rights by establishing “drilling islands” and…...
Utica shale has seen two-fold rig count growth over the past year as drillers in the northern U.S. continue moving away from the Marcellus gas play and into the Utica oil play. Key Takeaways: Utica is becoming a preferential play for drillers because of its rich oil and natural gas liquid (NGL) content Oil-rich eastern Ohio prompts…...
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to shale gas extraction are much lower than previously cited estimates and assumptions, according to a new report from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The study, released on November 26, 2012, shows that companies are using green completion technologies to capture most of the emissions rather than vent or flare…...
With the election over, President Obama’s energy priorities will emerge as new rules and regulations are finalized under existing law. The balance of power in Washington is the same as it was prior to the elections– President Barack Obama will serve another four years and Congress will continue to be divided with a Democrat-controlled Senate…...
Under President Obama’s second term, energy industry officials and analysts are keen on the Administration’s priorities for the energy sector, envisioning regulatory reforms and policies to advance the nation’s energy and economic security. Key areas to watch include Keystone XL Pipeline talks, recognizing the primacy of states in regulating oil and natural gas development, and…...
Sequestration refers to a package of automatic $1.2 trillion across-the-board spending cuts that is a part of the 2011 Budget Control Act (BCA), passed in August 2011. The spending cuts would affect some 1200 government programs, including those that fund energy research and development initiatives. The cuts are scheduled to begin on January 2, 2013…...
The finalized details for the Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 229, released on October 25, 2012 open all available unleased areas in the region for energy development. According to the details released by the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM), over 20 million acres offshore of Texas will be offered for oil…...
Findings from a study by Plains Exploration & Production Co (PXP) released on October 10, 2012 show that hydraulic fracturing in the Inglewood Oil Field, Los Angeles does not add to the risk of seismic activity or environmental pollution in the region. The study, being the first of its kind in California, is important for…...
Schlumberger Limited expanded its Scanner Family by adding a new high-definition spectroscopy service, which is capable of measuring a bigger array of elements in real time. Announcing the expansion on October 8, 2012, the company stated that the new service provides critical reservoir data that previously required lengthy and complex lab testing methods. Schlumberger, a…...
