Shell enters Fayetteville Shale gas play in Arkansas.

Royal Dutch Shell continues to make inroads into onshore unconventional gas plays in the US. In its latest move, Shell has acquired interests in 70,000 acres of leasehold land in the Fayetteville Shale gas play in Arkansas through deals with four private companies.

This follows news of Shell's entry into the red-hot Barnett Shale gas play in North Texas last year (OD Oct.10,p2). In both cases, Shell appears to be the only supermajor to venture into either of these shale plays so far.

Shell said it has struck deals with Anvil Energy, Nor-Ark and American Shale Resources, which give it an acreage position in White and Woodruff counties in Arkansas. The company …