Is Asia Ready for a Shale Gas Revolution?

The oil and gas industry has its own version of The Amazing Race, and it involves scouring the globe for analogues to North America's great oil and gas shale plays, like the Bakken and the Barnett. All sorts of Asian energy players have struck joint ventures with independents like Chesapeake Energy and Encana, in part to gain knowledge that can be applied in their own backyard. It's very early days yet, but let's see what sort of activity is happening over in that part of the world.

Enerplus acquires acreage in Bakken, Marcellus shale plays

Enerplus Resources Fund, Calgary, said it bought several Bakken and Marcellus assets and sold its Kirby oil sands lease.

ExxonMobile's Purchse of XTO is a "Game-Changing" moment

The thought of a corporate behemoth settling in Arkansas with the size, breadth and market-moving influence of Wal-Mart would undoubtedly be big news.

Yet unbeknownst to most, oil giant ExxonMobil has quietly acquired huge stakes in Arkansas's Arkoma and Fayetteville Shale plays when it purchased Fort Worth-based XTO Energy in late June in an all-stock deal worth $30 billion.

And many Wall Street analysts and energy experts say the XTO deal is a "game-changing" moment in the nation's energy outlook, signaling a shift in the never-ending hunt for new energy sources.

Shale Developments Boon to Pipeline Companies

he Oil & Gas Pipeline Industry remains one of the strongest competitors in the energy sector, as the number of major pipeline construction projects, upgrades and expansions continues to increase. The growing number of projects is primarily due to the intense development and drilling activities in the shale play producing areas, which have accounted for up to 33% of major construction activities and expansion projects.

Inflection Energy Offers up to $2,750 an Acre with 20% Royalty Payments in Broome County, NY

BINGHAMTON -- Broome County officials are set to announce today a new $7.8 million offer for the mineral rights to about 3,200 acres of county-owned land for natural gas extraction.

The offer is from Denver-based Inflection Energy LLC, the same company that made a July offer to the county that was ultimately rebuffed.

India's Reliance Industries to Partner With Chesapeake Energy

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is in advanced talks to buy a stake in Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s Eagle Ford shale gas field in Texas, two people familiar with the development said.

Obscure Regulator Hits Brakes on Northeast Shale Drilling Rush

Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) has imposed a moratorium on Marcellus drilling in Pennsylvania's Wayne and Pike counties.

Utica Shale Gains Ground

The Utica Shale saw some development by the oil and gas industry during the second quarter of 2010, as many exploration and production companies attempt to gain first mover status in various shale plays in North America.

Effect of Pugh Clauses on Drilling Activity

"Consider these comments from Aubrey McClendon, CEO of Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) at Bentek Energy LLC’s Benposium earlier this summer: 'If I had my druthers we’d be running no more than a couple [rigs]…You’d be surprised how much drilling is not voluntary today.' "

Sumitomo to Pay Rex Energy $140 Million for U.S. Shale Gas Venture Stake

Sumitomo Corp., Japan’s third- largest trading company, agreed to pay Rex Energy Corp. about $140 million for a 30 percent stake in a gas venture in the Marcellus Shale region in the U.S.