The Wattenberg field is not a new shale play you are just hearing about, it’s produced 2.8 Tcf of gas since its discovery in 1970 and much of that output was made possible by hydraulic fracturing. This Forbes piece argues fracking is not new or untested, as many opponents claim, and the practice has been… Keep reading →
In an interview with Oilprice.com, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven, discussed what the IEA called back in 2011 “a golden age of gas”. This new era was ushered in by the scale of unconventional natural gas resources found in U.S. shale formations accompanied by the absolutely essential advances in technology… Keep reading →
Saudi Arabia announced an ambitious natural resource development project in the underpopulated Northern Borders region. Nearly $10 billion in investments and agreements will jumpstart construction on King Abdullah Wa’ad Al-Shamal City, which will include a 1,000 MW power plant and other infrastructure needed to support industrial activity. “President and CEO of Saudi Aramco Khalid Al-Falih… Keep reading →
Energy issue positives from President Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday night: Crediting surging domestic oil and natural gas production for adding jobs, creating economic growth and revitalizing the manufacturing sector. Recognizing that because of domestic output the U.S. “is closer to energy independence than we have been in decades.” Pledging to “slash bureaucracy” and streamline… Keep reading →
There were a handful high-profile hydraulic fracturing bans announced in Colorado and New Jersey communities in late 2013, and earlier in the year Vermont banned the controversial oil and gas well completion technique, the first US state to do so. However, Vermont and New Jersey don’t have significant natural gas resources, which makes the announcements… Keep reading →
Wednesday, 21 leading scientists, engineers and technical experts submitted a letter* to Governor Jerry Brown endorsing the benefits of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in California. The AP reported: The letter…comes after California adopted regulations requiring oil companies to test groundwater and disclose chemicals used in fracking. The group said the strict new rules, which become permanent in… Keep reading →
Life-cycle analysis has become all the rage within the environmental science community, particularly with regard to energy issues like the methane emissions footprint of natural gas development and the full range of environmental impacts associated with corn ethanol production. Leave it to the folks at Save on Energy to approach Christmas trees with the same… Keep reading →
This November, committees in Colorado and Massachusetts moved closer to banning hydraulic fracturing in all or parts of their states. These moves have coincided with a 3.6 magnitude earthquake in Northern Texas, the most powerful in five years and one of a startling 16 in the area during the month. The safety of fracking has… Keep reading →
Much has been made about natural gas serving as a bridge fuel until more renewable energy can be fed into the US power grid. While that’s a somewhat controversial concept – with hard-core environmentalists preaching zero fossil fuels and hydrocarbon industry folks pooh-poohing renewables for multiple reasons – this National Journal piece explains the wind-to-gas… Keep reading →
Opinion: Shale Gas A Boon to Public Health
By Dana BohanYou’ve probably heard that the United States is experiencing an unprecedented energy boom that is transforming our economy, enhancing our energy security, and creating a manufacturing renaissance — all thanks to hydraulic fracturing and the development of America’s massive oil and natural gas resources. But what you probably haven’t heard is that shale development has… Keep reading →