The Energy Information Administration now predicts that companies operating in U.S. shale formations will cut production by a record 570,000 barrels a day in 2016. Bloomberg Business. Dec 28 2015
Month: December 2015
Report: Most oil companies score low on fracking disclosures.
A small group of oil and gas companies have gotten better at disclosing the health and environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing, according to a report card for the industry released on Thursday. Houston Chronicle, Texas. Dec 18 2015
Fracking research collaborative cuts across state lines.
The Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative, with member groups in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, monitors economic development and the community impacts of energy extraction in the Marcellus and Utica shales. Midwest Energy News, United States. Dec 17 2015
http://midwestenergynews.com/2015/12/17/fracking-research-collaborative-cuts-across-state-lines/
UK to allow shale gas fracking beneath national parks.
British lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favor of the use of fracking to extract shale gas under national parks, weakening a decision against fracking in national parks made earlier this year and giving shale gas explorers access to more resources. Reuters. Dec 17 2015
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-shale-policy-idUSKBN0TZ28620151216
Workers wary of igniting natural gas as they try to stop leak near Porter Ranch
California regulators are taking precautions so that crews do not ignite leaking methane gas as they work to plug a defective well north of Los Angeles, the state’s oil and gas supervisor said Tuesday. Los Angeles Times. Dec 16 2015
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-workers-wary-of-igniting-natural-gas-20151215-story.html
Colorado gets nation’s first ‘health response’ program for oil and gas
Citizens can now report health problems they fear are from drilling or fracking. High Country News. Dec 10 2015
http://www.hcn.org/articles/colorado-gets-nations-first-health-response-program-for-oil-and-gas
Unique hazards of tar sands oil spills confirmed by National Academies of Sciences
Oil companies need to inform regulators which type of oil they are transporting in pipelines and tailor response plans accordingly, the report recommends. InsideClimate News. Dec 09 2015
Texas fracking zone emits 90 percent more methane than EPA estimated
The Barnett Shale’s emissions have been vastly underestimated, sweeping Environmental Defense Fund-backed study finds. InsideClimate News. Dec 08 2015
Fracking firms target sites close to Scottish cities
Major energy and fracking companies have made new bids to exploit large shale gas reserves close to many of central Scotland’s biggest towns and cities. The Guardian. Dec 08 2015
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/dec/07/fracking-firms-target-sites-close-to-scottish-cities