Oil prices slipped lower June 17 with front-month crude essentially flat in the New York market after a strong surge June 14 on reports the US will begin arming rebels in Syria. Natural gas was up 1% with favorable weather forecasts.

The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (OGP) has elected Gordon Birrell to serve as chair of its management committee. He was elected at the OGP’s recent annual general meeting in Brisbane.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has signed into law regulation for high-volume hydraulic fracturing, the governor’s office said in a news release.

Technological breakthroughs may have increased the world’s potential oil and gas resources significantly, but variables and uncertainties will determine how quickly and to what extent they are developed, participants emphasized during the opening day of the US Energy Information Administration’s annual conference.

Oil prices surged June 14, with front-month crude up 2% for the week on reports the US will begin arming rebels in Syria. However, natural gas was down 2.5% in the New York futures market because of forecasts of mild weather.

Natural Resource Partners LP, Houston, agreed to acquire an 11% working interest in producing assets in the Bakken and Three Forks formations in North Dakota and Montana from Abraxas Petroleum Corp. for $35.3 million, marking NRP’s entry into the Bakken formation.

Fergus Ewing, Scotland Minister for Energy, Enterprise, and Tourism, took the opportunity to talk to the foreign press following ceremonies hosted by Hydro Group, Aberdeen, to mark the first anniversary of Scotland’s Oil & Gas Strategy document.