Wood Mackenzie analysts expect US exports of refined products to increase based in part on the outlook for US tight oil supplies, a WoodMac spokesman told the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers annual meeting Mar. 13 in San Diego.

Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board has begun its review of applications by Laricina Energy Ltd. for expansion of the Germain commercial demonstration oil sands project in the west Athabasca region.

Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. drilled a record number of wells and achieved record quarterly production totaling more than 657,000 boe/d during fourth-quarter 2011, and plans are on schedule for the Horizon bitumen upgrader to resume full operations by the end of March.

In plenary sessions Mar. 7 at IHS CERA Week in Houston, speakers echoed the message that the shale gas revolution in the US is beneficial to the economy by bringing jobs and security of supply and low prices for heating and electric power generation.

MarkWest Utica EMG LLC, a joint venture of MarkWest Energy Partners LP and Energy & Minerals Group, signed a letter of intent with Gulfport Energy Corp. to provide gathering, processing, fractionation, and marketing services in the liquids-rich southern corridor of the Utica shale.

The US natural gas industry must continue to focus on ensuring that shale gas is produced in an environmentally safe manner in concert with continuing to disclose information about operations to help minimize public opposition to development, panelists told conference attendees Mar. 5 at IHS CERA Week in Houston.

Spectra Energy Corp. is holding a nonbinding open season for its 230-mile Renaissance Gas Transmission project, a new pipeline system linking Marcellus, Utica, and Appalachian shale natural gas production to markets in Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee.

Inergy Midstream LP, UGI Energy Services Inc., and Capitol Energy Ventures Corp., a subsidiary of WGL Holdings Inc., plan to jointly market and develop a new interstate natural gas pipeline known as the Commonwealth Pipeline.

Alberta’s Energy Resources Conservation Board has opened applications for the Frontier Oil Sands Mines Project for comment after the operator agreed to a deal that would give it 100% interest in the development about 100 km north of Fort McMurray.