The head of Chevron Corp.'s division that was created to run its recently acquired Marcellus shale natural gas interests in Pennsylvania said Fayette County is at the center of its long-term business plans and local hiring will gradually increase in the coming years.

Bruce Niemeyer, vice president of Chevron's Appalachian and Michigan Strategic Business Unit in Moon Township, discussed the corporation's plans to grow its Marcellus business and other industry developments at a Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Read more »

Oil prices rose above $113 a barrel Thursday April 28, 2011 in Asia to the highest since 2008 as a weakening U.S. dollar made commodities such as crude cheaper for investors with other currencies.

Benchmark crude for June delivery was up 51 cents at $113.27 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude reached $113.70 earlier in the session, the highest since September 2008.

The contract rose 55 cents to settle at $112.76 on Wednesday. Read more »

Macomb farmer Michael J. Vandenberg has asked St. Lawrence County for what he thinks he needs to keep his farm sustainable for the long term.

"I want to repurchase mineral rights that are owned by the county," Mr. Vandenberg told legislators Monday April 25, 2011. "The only reason I want the mineral rights back is to protect what's on the surface."

Mr. Vandenberg said he has artesian wells and valuable trees that he would not want disturbed if exploration of the mineral rights under his 99 acres was ever done. Read more »

Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. on Wednesday April 27th, 2011 announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of its Barnett Shale Tier 1 properties to KKR Natural Resources, the partnership formed between an affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) and Premier Natural Resources, for $104 million.

This sale is expected to close in mid-May and is subject to customary closing conditions and purchase price adjustments. Read more »