DECEMBER 2021 Volume 64 No. 12 1221 Cover_Layout 1 12/7/2021 10:08 AM Page 1 THE ISSUE The " Better Business " Publication Serving the Exploration / Drilling / Production Industry DECEMBER 2021 Natural Gas White Papers Finance And A&D Stimulation & Completions Well Control Insurance Although commodity price environments call to mind images of a ship in choppy waters, U.S. independents have skillful " sea legs. " They are adept at navigating the industry's changing tides. AOGR's December issue opens with the Natural Gas Supply Association's analysis of wintertime natural gas markets. In December's Finance And A&D special report, a trio of experts consider some of the factors influencing the smartest ways to raise capital. Meanwhile, with new hires entering the oil and gas sector at a brisk clip, December's Well Control Insurance section provides a timely examination of risk management. The issue's special reports on Stimulation and Completions raise the curtain on creative solutions that are helping operators treat wells more efficiently, and how service companies are deploying frac spreads with more power and fewer emissions. Industry news includes a closer look at the Biden administration's proposed methane regulation, Congress' passage of an infrastructure bill and discussions about a spending bill, both of which contain measures specific to U.S. oil and gas producers. Cover design by Amanda DeMoss. Issue photography by Jim Blecha and courtesy of Liberty Oilfield Services. Happy Holidays! NEWS 14 | Executive Branch: White House says it will release 50 million barrels from SPR; Agencies propose new definition of WOTUS; Gulf lease sale attracts more interest and bids; Industry advocates question move to withdraw federal lands near Chaco Canyon; BLM says leasing EAs must weigh GHGs; Oil and gas groups blast DOI leasing report; EPA signals plan for stricter ozone NAAQS; USA and EU strike opaque steel deal; USA agrees to stop funding foreign fossil fuel plants; DOE funds CCS projects 22 | Industry Leaders: OOGA's Hammond moving to pro-gas TEA 23 | Mergers, Acquisitions: Continental buys some Permian assets from Pioneer; Bonanza Creek, Extraction and Crestone Peak rebrand combined company as Civitas; Southwestern Energy obtains GEP Haynesville; Brazos makes Delaware Basin buy and launches Midland Basin venture; Peregrine buys royalty interests in Green River Basin 33 | Federal Regulations: EPA proposes methane regulations for Biden's trip to Glasgow; Industry groups raise questions about NSPS 36 | Federal Legislation: Infrastructure bill passes with orphan well language; Senate will decide fate of spending bill COLUMNS 27 | Tech Connections DEPARTMENTS 10 | Calendar 12 | Oil & Gas Counts 14 | Industry Digest 29 | Washington Watch 78 | Industry Focus 81 | Classified Advertising 82 | Advertisers Indexhttp://www.bluetickkinc.com http://www.bluetickinc.com