Crude oil production in November from seven major US shale plays is expected to drop 93,000 b/d to 5.12 million b/d, according to the US Energy Information Administration’s latest Drilling Productivity Report (DPR). That’s back up to the same level forecast for September after a somewhat smaller decline was projected for October. Source: News
API updates oil, gas shale resources development standards
The American Petroleum Institute issued new editions of its hydraulic fracturing standards to help operators continuously improve well integrity, groundwater protection, and environmental safety. The shale development standards, which API last updated in 2011, have worked alongside robust state regulations to ensure safe and responsible development with fracing for more than 65 years, the trade […]
Pennsylvania law okays treated coal-mining water for frac jobs
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law a bill intended to encourage more oil and gas companies to use treated coal-mine wastewater for hydraulic fracturing. The law was scheduled to become effective in December. Source: News
Utica shale may hold more oil, gas than earlier estimates, study says
The Utica shale, which underlies the better-known Marcellus formation, could hold far more oil and gas than previously estimated, the US Department of Energy’s Fossil Energy Office said. If the play’s commercial potential could be realized, it could be, geographically, the nation’s largest gas field, it indicated. Source: News
Total lets contract for unit at French refinery
Total SA has let a contract to Axens to supply technology for a vacuum gas oil hydrodesulfurization (VGO HDS) unit to be built as part of a €200-million modernization and overhaul of the 220,000-b/d Donges refinery near Saint Nazaire, France. Source: News
Orlen Upstream agrees to acquire FX Energy
Orlen Upstream Sp. z o.o., a wholly owned subsidiary of Polski Koncern Naftowy Orlen SA, has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Salt Lake City-based FX Energy Inc. Source: News
Kuwait finalizes contracts for grassroots refinery
Kuwait National Petroleum Co. (KNPC) has finalized a series of contracts to groups of oil and gas service providers for construction of its long-planned 615,000-b/d Al-Zour refinery complex in southern Kuwait as part of the company’s Clean Fuels Project (CFP). Source: News
IEA: Global oil market likely to be oversupplied through 2016
A projected marked slowdown in oil demand growth next year and the anticipated arrival of additional Iranian barrels—should international sanctions be eased—are likely to keep the market oversupplied through 2016, the International Energy Agency said in its October Oil Market Report. Source: News
Oil production starts from Kuparuk drill site in Alaska
ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. has started oil production from its Kuparuk drill site on Alaska’s North Slope (ANS). Known as Kuparuk Drill Site 2S, or DS2S, the project is expected to add 8,000 bo/d gross at peak production. Source: News
USD Partners to buy crude-oil rail terminal in Wyoming
USD Partners LP, Houston, reported plans to acquire 100% of the equity interests in a railroad terminal named Casper Crude to Rail LLC in Casper, Wyo., from Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners, Cogent Energy Solutions, and the Granite Peak Group for $225 million, subject to closing adjustments. Source: News