By George P. Mitchell and Mark D. Zoback Natural gas is a wondrous fuel. It emits less carbon dioxide, less mercury, less nitrogen oxide, less sulfur oxide than any other hydrocarbon energy source. Natural gas is the perfect bridge fuel on the way to a less carbon-dependent economy. There is no question that accidents have [...]
The word is “fracking” is stirring a linguistic and political debate as controversial as what it defines. It’s not in the dictionary, the industry hates it, and President Barack Obama didn’t use it in his State of the Union speech — even as he praised federal subsidies for it. The word sounds nasty, and environmental [...]
As recently as 2001, the production of gas naturally occurring deep inside shale rock provided less than two percent of total U.S. natural gas production. Today, it is approaching 30 percent. As late as 2007, it was commonly assumed that the United States would be importing large amounts of liquefied natural gas from the Middle [...]
New York, which already has in place a rigorous permitting process for oil and gas drilling, has issued a revised environmental impact statement and proposed regulations that will govern high-volume hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The revised draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) was released on September 7 by the New York State Department [...]
The chief executive of oilfield services giant Halliburton says there are “fantastic and phenomenal opportunities” to expand shale drilling beyond North America, but that growth may come slowly. “There is a lot to be excited about in the shale plays, but there are obstacles that need to be overcome and that’s good because I don’t [...]
Recent Trends in the North American Pressure Pumping Market Have Serious Implications for Domestic and International Operators and Suppliers This article is the third and final in a series of articles on recent trends in the North American pressure pumping market and their implications for both North American and international operators. The author, Alexander Robart, [...]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will open a 60-day comment period starting Tuesday for the public to weigh in on the agency’s new proposed rules on air emissions from exploration and production activities, including hydraulic fracturing or fracking. Oil and natural gas drillers, environmentalists and other stakeholders will have two months to consider the proposed [...]
Recent Trends in the North American Pressure Pumping Market Have Serious Implications for Domestic and International Operators and Suppliers This article is the second in a series of three articles on recent trends in the North American pressure pumping market and their implications for both North American and international operators. The author, Alexander Robart, is [...]
Baker Hughes has completed its first unconventional hydrocarbon shale hydraulic fracturing and stimulation project in Argentina for YPF in the Neuquén basin. The multistage fracturing operation was performed using over 12,000 hydraulic horsepower and a total fluid volume exceeding 7,000 cubic meters. Also, Baker Hughes provided coiled tubing services for the project. YPF is currently [...]
Recent Trends in the North American Pressure Pumping Market Have Serious Implications for Domestic and International Operators and Suppliers Part I This article is the first in a series of three articles on recent trends in the North American pressure pumping market and their implications for both North American and international operators. The author, Alexander [...]
