MPs back plans to allow fracking under national parks
Proposals to allow fracking under national parks have been approved by MPs amid accusations that ministers “sneaked” the move through a “parliamentary backdoor”.
shale gas
Chancellor accused of cutting energy efficiency support
The Chancellor has been accused of slashing support for energy efficiency measures, as figures show a surge in the number of excess winter deaths last year.
China triples proven reserves at top shale gas project
China has nearly tripled the size of proven reserves at its Fuling project, by far the country's largest shale gas find, according to an official from investor Sinopec Corp and an industry report.
US shale oil production at risk as debt shackles drillers
As much as 400,000 barrels a day of oil production is at risk as US shale companies like Samson Resources run out of money and are forced to slow drilling.
US shale firms slide deep into the red on low oil prices
North America’s leading independent oil and gas producers reported large losses in the second quarter despite cutting costs and increasing output. Ten of the largest independent oil and gas producers in the United States reported total losses of almost $15 billion between April and June, compared with profits of almost $3.5 billion a year earlier. Three more independents remained profitable, but reported net income of only $66 million, down from more than $1 billion in the second quarter of 2014.
Sewage flow becomes Williston’s oil bust indicator
The population of a U.S. oil boomtown that became a symbol of the fracking revolution is dropping fast because of the collapse in crude oil prices, according to an unusual metric: the amount of sewage produced. Williston, North Dakota, has seen its population drop about 6 percent since last summer, according to wastewater data relied upon heavily by city planning officials. They turned to measuring effluent because it was a much faster and more accurate way to track population than alternatives such as construction permits, school enrollment, tax receipts or airport boardings.
Shale gas helping Mickey Mouse – and Florida – keep the bills down.
Cheap natural gas in the north east United States is helping Walt Disney World in Florida cut its energy bills.
Opinion: Lancashire shale battle won, war not over
Lancashire County Council has rejected two planning applications over the course of the last week for hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’), on traffic, noise and visual impact grounds. One site was recommended for refusal on traffic grounds, but the other was recommended for approval and was turned down against Council Officers’ advice. This decision has generated the most interest of the two.
UK should embrace fracking, says Osborne
tain should embrace fracking or be condemned to higher energy bills and fewer jobs, George Osborne has said. The Chancellor also insisted he did not want to be part of a generation “that says all the economic activity was happening somewhere else in the world” as he reiterated his support for the extraction of underground shale gas.
Monitoring plan for fracking sites
Geology experts will carry out independent monitoring of two fracking sites in Lancashire if they are given the green light. The British Geological Survey (BGS) said it will expand its national monitoring programmes for environmental issues, including seismic activity and groundwater, to carry out detailed research in areas of the UK that may see shale gas extraction. This will include independent analysis of the controversial process of fracking at two proposed shale sites in Lancashire, if they are giving planning permission.
Hydraulic fracturing – promise or peril
Controversy over hydraulic fracturing (HF) or "fracking" for shale gas has split the bed-rock of public opinion. Proponents point to the promise that HF will shift the balance in global value chain energy supply.
Shale gas ‘not immediate solution’ to meet demand
Shale gas should not be seen as a silver bullet for the UK's energy issues, a North Sea boss at oil giant Shell told business leaders in Aberdeen.
Expansion at onshore operators organisation
An oil and gas association representing onshore exploration and production companies has recruited its first chief executive as part of expansion plans.
US domestic oil output soars
The US Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reported that average domestic production for 2012 will come in around 6.4million barrels per day, which is 800,000bpd up on the prior year.
Shale fires up US steel
The US shale-gas revolution, which has revitalised chemicals companies and is rebalancing North American energy supplies is also attracting a wave of investment in new steel plant.
Manipulating high energy prices
I was pleased to hear that the UK Government has agreed to investigate claims by a whistle blower that domestic gas prices are been rigged by traders in some of the companies involved.
Jury out over fracking vote
MEPs have voted against a halt to any new shale gas fracking operations in the EU - but said regulation of the industry should be subject to "thorough analysis".
Unearthing potential of shale gas
Energy companies working offshore are being urged to consider the huge potential in the onshore unconventional gas sector and learn more its global opportunities and challenges.
US duo get together to commercialise new microseismic technique
American companies PanAmerican Geophysical and NanoSeis are joining forces to commercialise the Narrow Beam Scan (NBS) microseismic technique developed by the latter to improve the detectability, spatial mapping, and understanding of the nature of microseismic events during the hydraulic fracturing process.
Total ploughing £1.4billion into US shale gas
French oil firm Total is investing £1.4billion in the development of US shale gas reserves in Ohio.
Dart ratchets up European unconventionals position
Australian-owned Dart Energy said today it had secured future sales of more than £446million after deals with onshore explorer Greenpark Energy and BG Group.
Unconventional gas ‘long-term solution’
Oil and gas industry professionals believe that unconventional gas is a long-term solution to the world's energy demands, according to a poll conducted at the World Petroleum Congress (WPC) in Doha this week.
Aberdeen ready to take the lead as gas gathering becomes annual event
Organisers of the inaugural Unconventional Gas conference held in Aberdeen last week have revealed it will become an annual event.
Unconventional gas kicks off in Aberdeen
UNCONVENTIONAL gas has stormed on to the US stage in the form of shale gas, but what are the prospects in Europe and elsewhere?
Shale gas advances and falling prices
This is a very interesting period for the gas industry both in the UK and overseas. The gas sector's share of total energy consumption has generally increased over the last decade, at the expense of oil and coal.