Quicksilver Resources posted earnings of $48.9 million, or 28 cents a share, in the fourth quarter as revenues declined to $216 million on lower natural gas prices.

The numbers compared unfavorably to earnings of $331.8 million, or $1.82 per share, on revenues of $240 million in the corresponding period of 2010, when the Fort Worth-based natural gas and oil producer recorded a $494 million gain from the sale of Quicksilver Gas Services. Read more »

Oil prices rose above $109 a barrel Friday February 24, 2012 and are approaching last year's highs as tensions increase over Iran's nuclear program.

Western nations fear Iran is building a weapon and have been trying to force it to open its facilities to inspection. Iran has refused, turning away international inspectors this week for the second time this month.

As tensions rise, investors are snapping up oil contracts in anticipation of a protracted standoff with one of the world's top oil exporters. Read more »

A nonprofit group has opened an office in western Pennsylvania to help the public with health concerns over Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations.

The Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project opened an office last week in McMurray, southwest of Pittsburgh, and says its mission is to support people "who believe their health has been, or could be, impacted by natural gas drilling activities." Read more »

Some landowners in Jackson County may not have rights to frac sand and other minerals on their property.

Jackson County soon plans to begin determining how many privately owned acres for which it holds mineral rights, a provision it’s attained when selling land.

What the county may or may not do with those mineral rights is yet to be seen. And that question comes at a time when sand mining is booming in the area. Read more »