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December 28, 2012

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News for the oil and natural gas industry

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Chevron chief sees few challenges to fracking in the U.S.
Chevron Chairman and CEO James Watson sees only a few hurdles to hydraulic fracturing in the U.S. During an interview, Watson acknowledged that some have concerns because they aren't used to the drilling technique. "And so we have to work through those with the governments. I think in due course we'll do that because they'll see the advantages to it," Watson said. San Jose Mercury News (Calif.) (free registration)/The Associated Press (12/27)

Breathe Easy with a High Pressure Breathing Air Loop System
Total Safety's patented High Pressure Breathing Air Loop System (HPLS) provides respiratory protection for projects requiring high quantities of breathing air. For respiratory protection services and equipment that you can trust, look to Total Safety to create the ideal respiratory environment for efficient operations. Total Safety.com

Industry News

Shell touts Ursa platform in Gulf
Royal Dutch Shell touted its Ursa tension leg platform in the Gulf of Mexico, which in 2009 was selected by the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest structure in the world. The platform's visible structure measures about 400 feet, but when its mooring tendons are factored in, it measures about 4,285 feet. Conditions at the site and engineering expertise prompted Shell to secure the platform with tension legs. FuelFix.com (12/27)

Noble addresses propulsion issues on drillship
Noble Corp. is addressing propulsion system issues on its Discover drillship, which Royal Dutch Shell used for its Arctic exploration project. The issues were identified by the U.S. Coast Guard last month. An internal review determined "certain other potential regulatory non-compliance issues ... including possible unauthorized collected water discharges outside the period of drilling operations," Noble said. San Antonio Express-News (12/27)

Oil production boom prompts new transportation spending
North America's energy production boom is prompting firms to set aside funding for pipelines and other infrastructure to transport oil and natural gas, observers say. Since the current U.S. pipeline network wasn't developed to accommodate the new production sites, companies are seeking innovative ways to move hydrocarbons, including through tanker trains and barges. "Now we have this tectonic shift where we can become an energy surplus nation. That means we have to transform, upgrade and rearrange our logistics," said Joseph Stanislaw, an independent senior energy adviser to Deloitte. The Wall Street Journal (12/27)

Exploration & Production

Colo. field is touted as main driver for U.S. oil production boom
An oil field in Weld County, Colo., is being touted as one of the main drivers for the U.S. oil production boom. "We plan to invest over $8 billion over the next five years here, so we're really excited," said Mike Dickinson of Noble Energy, which is significantly raising its output in the county. The field yielded over 83,000 barrels of oil in 2008, but this year production is anticipated to reach nearly 10 million barrels. CBS MoneyWatch (12/27)

Chevron announces 2 offshore natural gas finds in Australia
Two of Chevron's wells off the Australian coast struck natural gas, the company announced. The wells intersected net gas pays of 196 feet and 150 feet. "These discoveries in the Exmouth area are significant as they are located farther out from other discoveries in the greater Gorgon and Wheatstone development in the Carnarvon basin and indicate development potential in the broader region," said Melody Meyer, president of the company's Asia Pacific Exploration and Production unit. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (12/27)

Policy Watch

EPA chief to step down in January
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will resign from her post after President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address next month. "So I will leave EPA confident the ship is sailing in the right direction, and ready in my own life for new challenges, time with my family, and new opportunities to make a difference," Jackson said. During her time as head of the EPA, energy producers questioned the agency's emissions-reduction efforts and its measures to increase ethanol levels in gasoline without fully understanding potential effects on engines. Oil & Gas Journal (12/27)

Neb. regulator eyes January issuance of Keystone XL report
Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman could receive a final review of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline from the state's Department of Environmental Quality as soon as next week, said Brian McManus, a spokesman for the department. "Right now it's looking like early January, but I still don't have a definitive date" on the issuance, he said, adding the report is "very extensive." Heineman is expected to clear the project, observers say. Platts (12/27)

API News

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