Barnett Shale Energy Education Council
Throughout the United States, especially in communities with existing or potential oil-and-gas development, outside groups have moved in with a vengeance and agitated the population—resulting in bans against all exploration for hydrocarbons and/or the use of hydraulic fracturing. Expensive lawsuits have been filed and courts have repeatedly declared such bans as “unconstitutional.” The newest domino to fall is in Texas where Governor Greg Abbott, on May 18, signed House Bill 40 (HB40)—also known as the Denton Fracking Bill—which clarifies that an “oil and gas operation is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state.
Read MoreDenton’s ban on hydraulic fracturing has been in the news quite a bit recently, but there’s an issue that has been lost in much of that debate: taxes.
Read MoreDespite declining rig counts, the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts continued growth in natural gas production over the next two years. Previously, a common metric for estimating the production of natural gas was based on the number of gas-oriented drilling rigs in a particular region; however, in recent years, natural gas production has steadily increased, while the number of active rigs characterized as targeting natural gas has fallen dramatically.
Read MoreThe use of natural gas for fueling cars and trucks has been gaining ground in recent years. This move would get a big boost in Texas if the recently introduced bill S.B. No. 12 becomes law. Introduced by State Senator Carlos Uresti from San Antonio, the bill would mandate all 27,000 vehicles operated by the State of Texas to convert their fleets to natural gas.
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