Here’s this week’s most important shale gas stories:

( 1 ) Ex-Chesapeake CEO Raises $1.7 Billion to Drill

Aubrey McClendon, the former CEO of Chesapeake Energy, started a new energy venture several months ago, American Energy Partners.

Now, according to Reuters, McClendon has raised $1.7 billion to drill on acreage in Ohio.

Read it:

“Proceeds will initially be used to acquire and drill on about 110,000 acres in the southern portion of the Utica Shale.

Drilling operations will begin with one rig in the fourth quarter of 2013, and the firm plans to increase drilling activity to at least 12 rigs over the next 2 to 3 years, the firm said.”

» Via: Thompson-Reuters › Ex-Chesapeake CEO McClendon raises $1.7 billion to drill in Utica Shale

( 2 ) Pennsylvania Stream Cleanup Underway after Contamination

Last week the news broke that one Pennsylvania’s rivers is now slightly radioactive because of a wastewater treatment facility nearby.

According to State Impact Pennsylvania, regulators have known about the contamination “for over two years.” Regulators knew that radioactive material in treated oil and gas wastewater was accumulating near a discharge pipe.

Read it:

“The radium levels found near the Josephine facility by a company contractor in 2012 were similar to those reported by the Duke University researchers last week. One sample found downstream of the Franklin plant was even higher.

In its order, DEP said “the direct radiation levels from the sediments pose no immediate exposure risk to the general public passing by the stream, or to employees of the facility.” Last week, the Duke researchers said there is a risk that the radiation could slowly bio-accumulate in aquatic bugs and, eventually, fish.”

The DEP settlement requires Fluid Recovery Services to remediate the waterways around the wastewater treatment plans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency settlement requires the companies to upgrade the plants to the tune of $30 million.

» Via: State Impact Pennsylvania , Study, cleanup under way in PA streams contaminated by wastewater radiation

( 3 ) Beijin Switching from Coal to Natural Gas?

United Press International reports that Beijing is planning to build four natural gas power plants by the end of next year. That’s good news for China’s citizens who regularly deal with excessive smog and pollution, it could also be good news for America’s natural gas producers.

The power plants are expected to produce 7.2 gigawatts of power.

The natural gas plants will be replacing coal-powered plants that have less output and produce more pollution.

Read it:

“The four existing coal-fired power plants now have a total generation capacity of about 2.7 gigawatts and burned 9.2 million tons of coal in 2012, accounting for 40 percent of Beijing’s total coal consumption. The plants will be closed when the gas-fired facilities are operational.”

» Via: United Press International › Beijing aims to switch from coal to natural gas 

( 4 ) Trains, Ships and Automobiles

With America’s increasing production of natural gas has come the increase of natural gas powered vehicles. For instance, Chevy and GMC just announced an expansion of compressed natural gas versions of trucks and vans.

But now, according to Penn State Extension, some companies are looking to power locomotives and ships with natural gas.

General Electric is currently working on a train engine that runs on both diesel and natural gas. A Finnish company, Wärtsilä will provide China with the world’s first diesel-liquid natural gas engine for use in tugboats.

» Via: Penn State Extension › Duel Fuels for Trains and Ships