Oil & Gas

Resource nationalism and its impact on infrastructure projects

by Peter Cassidy, Joseph Otoo | Reed Smith on 5/19/2013

Introduction - The global demand for natural resources continues unabated. As revenues increase and profits soar in the face of this demand, there has been a resurgence of “resource nationalism” with resource-rich host states...more

Summary of FERC Meeting Agenda - May 2013

by Donna M. Attanasio, Daniel A. Hagan, Earle H. O'Donnell | White & Case LLP on 5/16/2013

Below are brief summaries of the agenda items for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s May 16, 2013 meeting, pursuant to the agenda as issued on May 9, 2013. Agenda items E-3, E-13, E-17 have not been summarized as they...more

Colorado Legislative Session Ends Without Any Significant Oil and Gas Bills Passing

by Paul Enockson | BakerHostetler on 5/16/2013

On Wednesday, May 8, 2013, the Colorado legislative session came to a close without any significant oil and gas legislation being passed by the state legislature. The session was watched closely by the oil and gas...more

City of Philadelphia moves forward with plan to sell its regulated gas division

by Dawn Crowder, Wendell Holland, Mark Kropilak | Saul Ewing LLP on 5/15/2013

The Mayor of Philadelphia recently announced the hiring of two investment bankers to start the solicitation process for selling the city’s gas division. As a unique feature of this transaction, the gas division is regulated...more

A Look At Two Approaches To Oil And Gas Regulation

by Charles Sartain | Looper Reed & McGraw, P.C. on 5/14/2013

This is a tale of two regulatory schemes. First, there is the federal way, and I’m not making this up. First, there is the federal way, and I’m not making this up: In my last post we learned that if the BLM,...more

California Environmental Law and Policy Update - May 9, 2013

by David D. Cooke, Emily L. Murray, Sandi L. Nichols | Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis... on 5/10/2013

Environmental and Policy Focus - Gov. Brown joins move to rewrite California's Prop. 65 - The Sacramento Bee - May 7: Gov. Jerry Brown is throwing his weight behind a push to update Proposition 65, California's defense...more

DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Oil & Gas Litigation: New Decision May Impede Fracking on Federal Land

by King & Spalding on 5/10/2013

Recently, a California federal court blocked drilling on certain federal land located in California’s Monterey Shale Formation play. In reaching its decision, the court relied heavily on perceived risks of fracking, holding...more

DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Intellectual Property: Non-Practicing Entities (Patent Trolls) Target Oil and Gas Companies

by King & Spalding on 5/9/2013

As the number of patent infringement lawsuits brought by Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs) has increased, oil and gas companies have increasingly become targets....more

Alaska Passes Legislation to Support Energy Industry Projects

by Louisiana Cutler | K&L Gates LLP on 5/9/2013

The 2013 Alaska Legislature passed three significant pieces of legislation and appropriated hundreds of millions of dollars for projects that will support the energy industry before it adjourned in April, with a Republican...more

Fracking Stymied On Federal Lands In California

by Charles Sartain, Brooke Sizer | Looper Reed & McGraw, P.C. on 5/9/2013

In an opinion with as many acronyms as the Dallas Cowboys have draft-pick detractors, a California federal court in Center For Biological Diversity v. Bureau of Land Management, held that the BLM violated the National...more

Myanmar - New round of auctions for offshore oil and gas blocks: Baker & McKenzie

by John Mollard, David Ryan, Melinda Tun | Baker & McKenzie Australia on 5/9/2013

Introduction - The Myanmar Ministry of Energy (Ministry) has commenced an auction for 30 oil and gas blocks in the Myanmar offshore areas. The auction invites bids for 11 shallow water blocks and 19 deep water blocks,...more

New York Appellate Court Throws Curveball at Fracking Debate

by Luke Cantrell | Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell &... on 5/9/2013

The Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, unanimously rejected an appeal from Norse Energy Corporation, and affirmed the Town of Dryden’s right to prevent fracking through land use and zoning...more

Oil And Gas Law Insight: With Oil Reserves Estimate Doubled In Williston Basin, Opportunities For Growth Abound

by Jannelle Steger Combs | Leonard, Street and Deinard on 5/9/2013

The U.S. Geological Survey has doubled its previous estimate of the amount of recoverable oil within the Williston Basin to 7.4 billion barrels. While the Bakken formation is still a star in the play, the potential of the...more

New York Court Upholds Local Hydraulic Fracturing and Oil and Gas Development Bans

by Cassie J. Dallas | BakerHostetler on 5/8/2013

Last Friday, a four judge panel of a New York appeals court upheld two local zoning laws that prohibit activities related to oil and gas exploration and development, including hydraulic fracturing. The decisions in Norse...more

Energy Newsletter - May 2013

by King & Spalding on 5/3/2013

In This Issue: - DISPUTE RESOLUTION: - Oil & Gas Litigation: New Decision May Impede Fracking on Federal Land - Intellectual Property: Non-Practicing Entities (Patent Trolls) Target Oil and Gas...more

TRANSACTIONAL: Corporate / London: Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Bill: promising legislation beset by problems

by King & Spalding on 5/3/2013

The History - A “Petroleum Industry Bill” has created an unprecedented level of discussion for a new piece of legislation in Nigeria. Perhaps the level of interest should not come as a surprise given the extent to...more

Does Your Oil and Gas Company Use Temporary Workers?

by Carla Gunnin | Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell &... on 5/3/2013

In this memorandum, OSHA states that it will be reviewing the use of temporary workers during every inspection. OSHA has already been particularly interested in the oil and gas industry. In 2011, OSHA issued a special...more

Appeals Court Upholds Drilling Bans

by Thomas Puchner | Phillips Lytle - Renewable Energy on 5/3/2013

In twin decisions handed down today, the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department upheld two local zoning laws that prohibit activities related to oil and gas development (commonly referred to as “hydraulic...more

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Confirms The Dunham Rule

by Charles Sartain | Looper Reed & McGraw, P.C. on 5/3/2013

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Or, as said by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, “A rule of property long acquiesced in should not be overthrown except for compelling reasons of public policy or the imperative demands of...more

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Upholds Statewide Oil And Gas Conveyance Rules

by Jason Yearout | BakerHostetler on 5/3/2013

In October of 2012 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard oral argument on two key cases that potentially could reshape the laws and rules applicable to hydraulic fracturing in the state. We wrote extensively about these cases...more

Oil And Gas Alert - Collecting The Resource: North Dakota Gas Flaring Laws Amended

by J. Scott Childs | Leonard, Street and Deinard on 5/2/2013

On April 26, 2013, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple signed House Bill No. 1134 (HB 1134) into law, amending the state's flaring and oil and gas production tax statutes to promote reduction of natural gas flaring at the...more

Pa. Supreme Court Issues Decision in Butler Case

by Michael Connelly | Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC on 5/2/2013

On April 24, 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued its highly anticipated decision in the Butler v. Charles Powers Estate case. The Supreme Court decided to maintain the status quo in Pennsylvania by reaffirming the...more

Butler v. Charles Powers Estate: Owners of Marcellus Shale Gas May Now Rest Easily

by Joel Burcat | Saul Ewing LLP on 5/1/2013

The Dunham Rule is alive and well in Pennsylvania and thousands of titles to Marcellus shale gas will not be impacted by any change in the law. Pennsylvania’s peculiar rule of property law—that says that oil and gas are not...more

SCAQMD First in California to Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing

by Richard McNeil | Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. on 5/1/2013

The possible benefits (and possible burdens) of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in California have received significant media attention lately. Much of this attention has focused on the exploitation of the Monterey Shale...more

Part I – How will North Carolina Handle Forced Pooling?

by Jessica L. Kimble | Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC on 4/29/2013

By October 1, 2013, the North Carolina Mining and Energy Commission (“N.C. MEC”) must report its findings and recommendations for hydraulic fracturing to the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy and the Environmental...more

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