FAULKNER COUNTY, Ark.—In January, the USGS announced results from its year-long groundwater study in the central portion of Arkansas' Fayetteville shale.

The Tuscaloosa Marine shale, located along the Gulf Coast in both Louisiana and Mississippi, is underexplored. "We're in the midst of trying to develop the commercial potential of the Tuscaloosa Marine shale resource," said Doug Hock, spokesman for Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. "Our focus is on reducing well costs."

Hess Corp. wants to divest its exploration and production assets in Indonesia and Thailand where it also is trying to sell its remaining downstream businesses, including terminals, retail, marketing, and trading divisions.

Southwestern Energy Co. plans to buy natural gas assets in Pennsylvania's Marcellus shale from Chesapeake Energy Corp. and its partners for $93 million.

Range Resources Ltd. has made an off-market share takeover offer for International Petroleum Ltd. Both companies are based in Perth.

Atlas Pipeline Partners LP has agreed to buy Eagle Ford shale natural gas gathering and processing company Teak Midstream LLC.

Rosneft and Marubeni Corp. signed a memorandum of cooperation covering possible joint oil and exploration and development as well as associated LNG project implement, the companies reported.

Samson Oil & Gas Ltd. agreed to acquire a net 1,225 acres in two drilling units in the Rainbow Project, Williams County, ND, involving the Bakken and Three Forks formations.

A joint venture of Centrica PLC and Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) has agreed to acquire the conventional part of Suncor Energy’s natural gas business in western Canada for $1 billion (Can.).