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International news for oil and gas professionals

Apache Corp., Houston, said it has partnered with Halliburton and Schlumberger to find ways to use natural gas to power hydraulic fracturing, one of the most energy-intensive processes employed by the industry.

Egdon Resources PLC said it is encouraged by results of a resource evaluation that indicates that geological conditions appear favorable for development of a potentially material shale on two UK East Midland licenses in which the company holds interests.

The ongoing shale boom and increasing use of hydraulic fracturing has comparative advantages that could drive US manufacturing growth, said Fitch Ratings analysts who believe low natural gas prices provide a competitive advantage for petrochemicals, steel, and other energy-intensive industries.

Denbury Resources Inc. agreed to acquire producing property interests in the Cedar Creek anticline of Montana and North Dakota from a wholly owned subsidiary of ConocoPhillips for $1.05 billion.

Anticipated US natural gas exports are expected to provide economic benefits to gas importing countries but probably will not trigger a significant rise in US gas prices, said a report released by Deloitte's Center for Energy Solutions.

In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, issued Jan. 8, the US Energy Information Administration forecasts a fairly loose oil market in the next 2 years, as higher global consumption will be more than offset by increasing global supply. Also, this STEO is the first to include monthly forecasts for 2014, EIA reported.

The US will continue to need hydrocarbons from the oil sands of Canada despite its rising output of light oil from tight formations, which nevertheless are reshaping markets for heavy Canadian material, says IHS.

Policies that encourage responsible development of more US oil and gas could significantly help the nation address its serious federal budget deficit and unemployment problems, US Chamber of Commerce Pres. Thomas J. Donohue said.

The idea that Colorado regulators faced setbacks seems confusing at first. In this context, however, "setback" refers to the required distance for oil and gas wells from an occupied building.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) proposed listing the Gunnison sage grouse as an endangered species. The bird's habitat in western Colorado and eastern Utah is similar to that of the greater sage grouse, and includes areas with high oil and gas potential, FWS said in its Jan. 11 Federal Register notice.

Global demand for fuel additives will increase 4.7%/year to 26.5 million tonnes in 2016, with demand in value terms advancing 8%/year to $59.4 billion. Total fuel-additive demand in volume terms is heavily dominated by gasoline oxygenates, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). In 2011, ether oxygenates accounted for 94% of total demand.