The Nature Conservancy stated it will use a $900,000 commitment from Southwestern Energy Co. natural gas company to fund the first phase of the restoration of the Archey Fork area.

The organization announced Thursday November 8, 2012 the project will improve habitat for rare aquatic species and improve water quality at Greers Ferry Lake.

The Nature Conservancy has been working with various organizations to restore a 3.2-mile stretch of the Upper Little Red River at the confluence of the South Fork and Archey For, what was altered in the 1980s for flood control. Read more »

Oil prices rose above $85 per barrel on Thursday Nov. 8, 2012 as postelection volatility continued.

Crude oil rose 75 cents to $85.19 in afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That followed a decline of 5 percent on Wednesday, when traders were spooked by worries about budget negotiations in the U.S. Analysts also say that oil supplies and production are high, which tends to drive down prices. Read more »

A Marcellus Shale website has launched a campaign to educate those involved in this nation’s growing shale industry.

 The online "Shale Voter" guide, which was published by GoMarcellusShale.com, guide touches upon 7 key issues, among them: Taxes on Royalties, Hydraulic Fracturing, Cap and Trade, and Regulation of Green House Gas Emissions. The Voter Guide can be accessed at http://GoMarcellusShale.com Read more »

Hurricane Sandy had only a minor impact on Marcellus Shale production, several operators in the play said. "Our operations, including production, were not adversely impacted by the storm," Cabot Oil & Gas spokesman George Stark said. Talisman Energy took the necessary measures before the storm, said Berta Gomez, the company's media relations adviser.