EPA to Shed Light on Fracturing Rules

Source: Houston Chronicle, Jennifer Dlouhy (4/27/11)

"EPA guidance is coming "very shortly," and is meant to clear up rules for natural gas producers."

Federal regulators will soon clarify the rules for natural gas companies that inject diesel fuel into the ground as part of their hydraulic fracturing operations, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency said Tuesday.

The guidance, which EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says is coming "very shortly," is meant to clear up rules for natural gas producers.

A congressional investigation concluded earlier this year that companies have not secured EPA permits before injecting more than 32 million gallons of diesel fuel and other fluids into the ground in fracturing operations between 2005 and 2009.

States historically have regulated hydraulic fracturing. The technique involves injecting mixtures of water, sand and chemicals including diesel fuel deep underground at high pressures to break up dense shale rock and release gas locked in it. Although Congress exempted most hydraulic fracturing activities from EPA's jurisdiction as part of a 2005 rewrite of the Safe Drinking Water Act, that exception does not apply to diesel -- even though the government only began to regulate it last year.

Jackson insisted that the EPA has authority to regulate diesel fuel in fracturing fluids.

"Our belief is that this is not exempt," she said. "That exception specifically says that diesel is not exempt. So if you are injecting diesel, that is a concern."

The move comes amid mounting environmental fears about the hydraulic fracturing process, which is being combined with horizontal drilling techniques to extract previously unrecoverable natural gas from shale formations across North America.

Option Partner to Continue Operations at Energy Firm's Texas Oil & Gas Project
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/23/2021)

The efforts will meet Torchlight Energy Resources' development requirements at Hazel.

Target Price Raised on Energy Firm Making 'Transformative Acquisition'
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/06/2021)

The terms and benefits of Earthstone Energy's purchase of an oil and gas company, an "eye-catching act of deal making," are presented in a ROTH Capital Partners report.

Energy Firm to Combine with Materials, Nanocomposites Company
Source: Streetwise Reports (12/16/2020)

Torchlight Energy Resources sees the transaction providing its shareholders "access to the multibillion-dollar markets that Metamaterial serves."

Oil & Gas Producer Reports on Thailand Operations
Source: Streetwise Reports (12/02/2020)

Pan Orient Energy Corp. reports on continuing drill operations in Thailand.

Energy Company Boosts Thailand Oil Production, Offers 'Low Risk Production Growth'
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/19/2020)

The highlights of Pan Orient Energy's third quarter are presented in a Mackie Research Capital Corp. report.

Texas Oil & Gas Firm to Sell Its Stake in Delaware Basin Project
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/18/2020)

For its interest, Torchlight Energy Resources is to receive $350,000.

Oil & Gas Firm Reports Q3 Operational, Financial Results
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/16/2020)

Pan Orient Energy and its joint venture partner continue producing and selling oil from its L53 Concession in Thailand, which are funding ongoing exploration work there.

Texas Oil & Gas Explorer Completes Fracking of Midland Basin Well
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/11/2020)

The next step for Torchlight Energy's well at Hazel is flowback, which is to start next week.

Altus Midstream Shares Flow Higher on Q3 Earnings and Plans for $1.50/Share Dividend in Q1/21
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/05/2020)

Shares of Altus Midstream Co. traded 170% higher after the firm reported Q3/20 financial results and announced plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share beginning in March 2021.