The War of Escalating Bans: A look at the King bills filed in response to Denton, Texas

    As you know, the City of Denton, Texas voted to enact an ordinance banning the use of hydraulic fracturing as a completion method within the city limits.  That ordinance is now in effect but subject to two pending suits filed by the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA) […]

Keeping it Wild

Texas recently made an enormous acquisition of a key tract on the Texas coast.  The Powderhorn Ranch comprises more than 17,000 acres of pristine areas for fishing, birds, hunting and just dropping into the green expanse.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation took the lead but there are many many partners […]

Water Issues for Texas ranch owners

Everyone in Texas now understands that water is critical to the future. Ranch owners and operators have known this for decades.  As water grows more scare in rural Texas, the changing rules of water policy and regulation have to be understood.  The framework around surface water and groundwater supplies is […]

Unconventional Shale Regulation in China

China is zealously pursing the scaled production of its unconventional resources.  The Ministry of Land and Resources has been charged with seeing that happen.  This goal faces a steep curve.  The Ministry hosted a US Department of State delegation to Beijing this spring.  Over the course of several days, US […]

Rural Texas is not that Big Anymore

If you follow ranching, land use or are generally interested in the consequences of population growth in Texas, take a few moments to review this Land Trends presentation prepared by Texas A&M University.  It’s the best I have seen. Tx Land Trends Release (Email Version)

Some Quotes in the News this Week

As a sign of how pressing many of the policy considerations surrounding shale production, we were quoted a few time this week in publications. Industry in Need of a New Approach First, D Magazine CEO had a column on looking back at the Barnett, really a prism to view the […]

Federal Judge W Smith Imposes 6 Million in Attys Fees Against Sierra Club

Here is Judge Smith’s Order in the EFH case:   WacoEFHOrder