Oil prices fell below $97 a barrel Thursday February 3, 2012 amid mixed signs about the strength of crude demand in the U.S., the world's largest economy.

By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for March delivery was down $1.05 to $96.56 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.. The contract fell 87 cents to settle at $97.61 on Wednesday. Read more »

After city leaders twice rejected their proposed Rush Creek drill site in southwest Arlington, Chesapeake Energy officials said it is unlikely that they will find an acceptable site where all 2,600 lease-holders can earn royalties. Read more »

Though the European debt crisis could add volatility to the energy market, there's no expectation of another global recession, a report said.

Delegates with the International Energy Agency, International Energy Forum and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries were hosts for a symposium on energy outlook in Riyadh this week.

In a brief statement, the agencies said their "experts reviewed uncertainties affecting the short-, medium- and long-term markets, including the impact of income levels and prices on demand." The statement offered few specifics. Read more »

A bill requiring shale well operators to upgrade safety procedures is headed to Gov. Tom Corbett's desk following final approval last Wednesday in the Senate.

The measure sponsored by Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp., requires operators of new and existing wells to provide sophisticated siting information to emergency responders and develop response plans to deal with accidents and spills. Read more »

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Select Energy Services, a leading provider of engineered water solutions to the oil and gas industry, today January 13, 2012 announced its acquisition of Elite Wellsite Services LLC, an oilfield services company based in Bridgeport, Texas servicing primarily the Barnett Shale.

"This acquisition further solidifies SES's established position in the Barnett Shale," said SES CEO John Schmitz. "Through this transaction, we are now able to offer more comprehensive water solutions to customers in North Texas including tank truck services." Read more »

West Virginia lawmakers probably have little interest in revisiting the Marcellus shale issue, after passing special session legislation that capped a months-long effort to craft regulations for the natural gas-rich reserve, top legislators said Thursday January 5, 2012. Read more »

Oil prices soared Tuesday January 3, 2012 as tensions grew over key Persian Gulf oil shipments.

Benchmark crude jumped by $4.13, or 4.2 percent, to end the day at $102.96 per barrel in New York. Read more »

More than three years after the state wildlife agency received nearly $30 million to lease thousands of acres of state lands for natural gas drilling, most of the windfall has been spent or obligated but the wells still are not producing.

Officials of the state Game and Fish Commission said last week they’re not sure when they will begin seeing any royalties from wells in the wildlife management area lands the agency controls.

“It has been slow in coming,” Assistant Game and Fish Director Mike Armstrong said. Read more »