Articles by Charlie Passut

Natural Gas to Surpass Coal as PJM's Top Source Fuel in May

The head of PJM Interconnection, the regional transmission organization responsible for moving electricity over most of the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest, said natural gas is on pace to surpass coal as its primary source fuel by May 2015. Read More

BNK Says New Caney Shale Well Could Be Its Best to Date

BNK Petroleum Inc. said its latest well in southern Oklahoma's Tishomingo Field -- targeting the Caney Shale, a shallow oil formation in the Ardmore Basin -- is flowing back after the company's largest hydraulic fracture stimulation, and could be its best Caney well to date. Read More

Pennsylvania Legislature Passes Bill Calling for Monthly Unconventional Production Reports

Lawmakers in both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly have unanimously passed a bill requiring operators of unconventional oil and gas wells to report their production on a monthly basis, a similar practice in other major producing states. The bill is awaiting Gov. Tom Corbett's signature. Read More

Genscape Says Another Polar Vortex Won't Sap Supplies, Spike Prices

The upcoming winter season in the Lower 48 is expected to be warmer than the last one, but even if the polar vortex returns for a sequel, many factors would likely... Read More

EIA Expands Heating Oil, Propane Price Data Program to 38 States

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said it is expanding its program for collecting weekly residential heating oil and propane price data from 24 to 38 states this winter. Read More

Illinois Panel Postpones Vote on Fracking Rules Until After November Elections

A legislative panel in Illinois has delayed a vote on revised rules governing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) until its next meeting in November, following state and national elections. Read More

Columbia's New Penalties Rate Proposal Riles Shippers, Marketers

A proposal by Columbia Gas Transmission LLC to change the way it levies penalties for “takes” in excess of total firm entitlements, failure to interrupt service, and failure to comply with operational flow orders has raised the ire of natural gas shippers and marketers. Read More

USGS Probes Cushing Oil Hub After Quake Activity

With growing concerns about seismic activity tied to oil and natural gas operations in Oklahoma, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has deployed two seismic monitors to Cushing, OK, in the wake of a new swarm of earthquakes near the crude storage/transportation center. Read More

Virginia's Energy Vision Supports Pipelines, Offshore Drilling, Vehicle Conversions

Virginia will pursue offshore oil and natural gas drilling; support the improvement and expansion of intrastate and interstate gas pipelines; and expand... Read More

Maryland Resort Landowners Oppose Vertical Marcellus Drilling, But OK With Horizontal

A property owners' association in a popular western Maryland lake resort area said it opposes surface structures for vertical drilling for Marcellus Shale gas, but is amenable to horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) that accesses the play from a distance. Read More