Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Monday, Nov 14, 2011

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:

Consensus on Drilling Still Eludes Lawmakers
Wheeling News
Two meetings this week should determine whether West Virginia lawmakers will tackle Marcellus shale drilling rules this year, but the main players involved in the months-long quest for compromise appear as divided as ever.

Chesapeake: Cracker Still Part of Equation
Wheeling News
Chesapeake Energy’s agreement to send 75,000 barrels of ethane from the local region to Texas each day should not harm the chances of a cracker facility locating in the region, a Chesapeake official believes.

Myths and realities of horizontal drilling and fracking in Ohio
Daily-Jeff.com
There has been much clamor over the use of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracing," to unlock vast resources of not only natural gas but also oil in Ohio.

Energy coalition plans more forums
PressConnects.com
The Dryden Safe Energy Coalition plans more regional forums on topics such as legal issues, economic opportunities versus risk, alternative energy and small modular nuclear power, and national energy policy following a forum last week on gas drilling, the group announced.

Utica Oil May Yield Gasoline
Wheeling News
Oil produced from Ohio’s Utica Shale may soon be processed into gasoline, as Marathon Petroleum Corp.

Common Cause wants PA to limit contributions by the Marcellus shale gas industry
Valley News Dispatch
The state must institute campaign contribution limits to prevent undue influence on legislative decisions such as that wielded by the Marcellus shale gas industry, public interest group Common Cause says in a recent report.

Gas producers, generators joining forces
SNL Financial
Power generators with gas-fired plants are starting to consider strategic partnerships with shale gas producers, according to the senior managing director of FTI Consulting Inc.