Nov 2010

Lawmakers must give gas producers fair and open market access if the US is to advance a supply revolution that has transformed its energy outlook, says the boss of one of the country’s largest developers

Weak gas prices, a surfeit of supply and soaring construction costs are the biggest barriers to Australia’s ambitions to create a world-leading unconventional liquefied natural gas (LNG) export business

It's not just an abundance of gas that is luring producers to the US shale plays – it’s also the promise of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and oil, which command higher prices at present than gas. And developers hoping to cash in on this one must make haste now, or miss their chance

US markets struggle with high natural gas reserves, pushing down prices

Shell and Nexen have joined the fold of companies supporting the export of production from Canada’s emerging shale-gas plays to Asian markets

Canadian government reduces royalties and brings in new regulations

Statoil wants to sign a deal to explore for shale gas in China, according to the company’s chief executive

Shell set to begin drilling for shale gas in two blocks in southwestern China by early 2011

Independent explorer San Leon has extended its shale-gas acreage in the Gdansk concession in Poland’s Baltic basin. But the company admits its plans to exploit the country’s reserves remain some way off

TNK-BP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore for shale gas in Ukraine, the first unconventional gas deal in the country

Unconventional oil’s share of world crude supply could rise above 10% by 2035, helping offset weaker conventional output, amid a sharp rise in Asian demand, says the International Energy Agency

US shale-gas developers have a new, powerful backer: the leader of the free world

Once the votes were counted in the US mid-term congressional elections there might have been a temptation within Canada’s oil-sands business to lean back and emit a sigh of relief

Depressed North American gas prices are forcing the largest operators in British Columbia’s (BC) shale-gas region to rein in their frenzied pace of activity. Over the past four years, Canada’s estimated gas-in-place has tripled to 300 trillion cubic feet (cf)

Chevron has entered the US unconventional-gas business with a $4.3bn deal to buy Atlas Energy, giving it a position in the Marcellus Shale and bringing it into partnership with India’s Reliance Industries

Technology to turn natural gas into diesel provides a golden opportunity to make a profit from shale-gas production, says an executive at Sasol, one of the world’s leading gas-to-liquids (GTL) firms. With US gas prices depressed, a large premium could be secured from selling ultra-clean diesel on world markets

The US’ Apache plans to drill its first shale-gas well in Argentina by the end of the year, prompting hopes the country, hit in recent years by energy shortages, could uncover a “huge” new domestic source of supply

Barnett Shale potentially has greater reserves than any offshore natural gasfield, which poses a problem for nearby Fort Worth

India and the US signed a shale-gas agreement during President Barack Obama’s trip to the country this week, allowing for the exchange of technologies to help develop new unconventional resources

CNOOC seals Chesapeake deal in Eagle Ford Shale; First entry of Chinese firm into US unconventional energy

Decision on $2bn “debtottlenecking” project due in “next couple of years”; development of unexploited leaseholdings a “matter of when” not if

Unconventional gas reserves in China could exceed 150 trillion cm

The application of new technologies to extract heavy oil and bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands is stepping up a gear

Relying on Russia for more than 40% of its natural gas, it should be no surprise Germany is eyeing its own unconventional reserves as means to diversify supply

Government sends investigators to Horizon oil-sands mine

Alberta energy minister Ron Liepert has revealed which energy executives he invited to form a controversial “kitchen cabinet” to advise him on energy policy

San Leon signs agreement to buy gas concessions from Mazovia Energy Resources

EOG Resources has signed an agreement to sell around 50,000 acres in Bradfield County, Pennsylvania, to Newfield Exploration

Hess Oil contracts KCA Deutag for its French Paris Basin permits

CNOOC seals Chesapeake deal in Eagle Ford Shale. First entry of Chinese firm into US unconventional energy

Development of Shell's unexploited oil-sands leaseholdings a "matter of when" not if. Vice-president for the oil sands, John Abbott, talks to PE Unconventional

The application of new technologies to extract heavy oil and bitumen from Alberta's oil sands is stepping up a gear

Natural gas must play a critical role in the battle to stop climate change, says one of North America's most powerful environmental groups

Freeport LNG and Macquarie Bank plan $2bn US export plant to tap US shale resources; Asia-Pacifc markets targeted...

NOC finds six new shales to explore; China could face 5bn cm/y gas shortfall by 2015

Lack of clarity on coal-CBM rights; Chinese resources could top 36.8 trillion cm

$1bn Hess transaction follows Williams and Plains All American deals; per-acre prices rise as Bakken play heats up

PTTEP deal adds another state-owned Asian firm to the oil-sands' development

South Africa steps up shale-gas hunt; CBM reserves could be "tens of trillions of cf"

Freeport LNG and Macquarie Bank plot $2bn US LNG-export plant; Asia-Pacific markets targeted

NOC finds six new shales to explore; China could face 5bn cm/y gas shortfall by 2015

Lack of clarity on Chinese coal-CBM rights; resources could top 36.8 trillion cm

Deal adds another state-owned Asian firm, PTT, to the oil-sands developments

$1bn Hess transaction follows Williams and Plains Bakken deals; per-acre prices rise as play heats up

Cygam Energy has begun drilling at the Sud Remada appraisal well, in southern Tunisia

A south Korean investment company is to spend C$100m ($99m) to buy 7.7m shares in an oil-sands operator

OGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes (OGX PGP) has found shale gas in the Parnaiba onshore basin, in northeastern Brazil

Region’s CBM reserves could be “tens of trillions of cf”; South Africa steps up shale-gas hunt