Ever since Gasland came out and hydraulic fracturing became a hot topic that everyone, even people with no knowledge of the field, had an opinion about, the federal government has sought to use the issue for political gain. When people in Pavillion, Wyoming, complained about their drinking water and claimed…
Another independent study titled “America’s New Energy Future: The Unconventional Oil and Gas Revolution and the US Economy,” released recently concluded that shale oil and gas drilling and development has helped create 1.75 million jobs in the last few years in the United States. The study also indicated that there…
There is more evidence from yet another study, the “Hydraulic Fracturing Study“, published in October 2012, that concludes that hydraulic fracturing, or fracing, is safe and does not pollute either air or water or cause earthquakes. This study was prepared for Plains Exploration & Production Co., an independent oil and…
American Petroleum Institute‘s Chief Economist John Felmy has warned policymakers that unnecessary duplicate regulations could obstruct the development of unconventional oil and gas plays in the US. He pointed out at a news conference in Washington, DC that these plays have already created jobs and helped improve economic conditions in…
Another company is increasing its presence in South Texas in the Eagle Ford Shale. Penn Virginia Corporation has increased its holdings by 4,100 net acres in Gonzales and Lavaca counties for $10 million. This brings the company to 31,000 net and 41,100 gross acres in the Eagle Ford. In Gonzales…
Sanchez Energy Corporation, a fast growing independent oil and gas company based in Houston, Texas, announced recently that it will accelerate its 2012-2013 drilling in the Eagle Ford shale play. This shale play covers 11 million acres from the Mexican border in South Texas to East Texas near Louisiana and…
The Texas Petro Index is put out by the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, an organization that represents the interests of the oil and gas industry in Texas with the state and federal government. The TPI is a composite index of upstream economic indicators and was created by economist Karr…
As we’ve seen time and time again, at least in Texas, state government is in the best position to regulate the energy industry in areas such as hydraulic fracing. Texas has done a good job of using its laws and its court system to deal with the issue in a…
There is good news for anyone wanting to make a career in the growing field of gas development! This year, after more than a dozen years, students will be able to study for a degree in natural gas engineering at Texas A&M University, Kingsville. When the university’s engineering program started…
Texas gas retailers are in for a tough time. The federal Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit ruled earlier this year in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on a challenge to the introduction of a higher corn ethanol blend in gasoline. The new higher blend would contain…