5 Best Gas Stocks To Watch Right Now

Back in 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey gave an official estimate of how much total recoverable oil may be in the Bakken formation of North Dakota and Montana. At about 3.5 billion barrels, many thought it was a bit low. Now, after five years, the USGS has done another assessment and determined that the region will be able to produce more than double that amount.�

For those who have followed oil companies in this region, this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. The original assessement did not include some of the deeper formations, and people in the business believe that the 7 billion barrel estimate just released is still a bit conservative. In this video, Fool.com contributor Tyler Crowe takes a look at how investors should react to the news, and if it changes the investment thesis on Bakken-centric producers like Kodiak Oil & Gas (NYSE: KOG  ) .�

5 Best Construction Material Stocks To Buy For 2015: Petrodorado Energy Ltd (PDQ)

Petrodorado Energy Ltd. (Petrodorado), formerly Cap-Link Ventures Ltd., is engaged in petroleum and natural gas exploration and development activities in Colombia, Peru and Paraguay. The Company�� oil and gas interests are in the pre-production stage other than for two blocks in Colombia. As of December 31, 2010, Petrodorado�� oil and gas assets produced net 15,922 barrels of oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). As of December 31, 2010, it had participation in nine oil and gas blocks. In Columbia, the Company had Moriche Block, CPO-5 Block, Buganviles Block, La Maye Block, Talora Block and Tacacho Block. In Peru, its block included Block 135 and Block 138. In Paraguay, Petrodorado had Pirity Block. On October 27, 2010, it acquired all outstanding interest of PetroSouth Energy Corporation. In February 2010, Petrodorado, completed its acquisition of a 55% interest of the Talora Block. In February 2010, it closed the purchase of Holywell Resources S.A. (Holywell). Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ning Jia]

  The average size of its stores is 7,300 square feet with the size of its stores ranging from approximately 6,000 to 8,000 square feet. Its stores carry a product offering of approximately 19,000 stock keeping units (SKUs), generally consisting of a custom mix of product based on the stores' respective market. Its stores also have access to an additional assortment of 115,000 SKUs for same-day or next-day delivery from one of its 339 HUB stores or its network of 22 Parts Delivered Quickly (PDQ), facilities. Additionally, its customers have access to over 483,000 SKUs by ordering directly from one of its vendors for delivery to a particular store or other destination as chosen by the customer.

5 Best Gas Stocks To Watch Right Now: Encana Corporation(ECA)

Encana Corporation and its subsidiaries engage in the exploration for, development, production, and marketing of natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids. The company owns interests in resource plays that primarily include the Greater Sierra, Cutbank Ridge, Bighorn, and Coalbed Methane resource plays located in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the Deep Panuke natural gas project offshore Nova Scotia in Canada. It also holds interests in resource plays comprising the Jonah in southwest Wyoming, Piceance in northwest Colorado, Haynesville in Louisiana, and Texas resource play, including east Texas and north Texas. The company serves primarily local distribution companies, industrials, energy marketing companies, and other producers. Encana Corporation was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Dan Caplinger]

  1 (tie). Louisiana, March 29
  Louisiana climbs to the top spot by keeping property taxes below $750 and collecting just a 4% sales tax, although local options add nearly 5 percentage points to that figure and make the state one of the highest-collecting sales-tax states. Although extensive activity from energy producers Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) , Encana (NYSE: ECA  ) , and Plains Exploration (NYSE: PXP  ) in the Haynesville-Bossier shale play could boost incomes and lead to higher taxes, much of Louisiana's sales tax revenue comes from out-of-state tourists visiting the state, leaving the actual amount borne by residents even lower. A 6% income tax isn't enough to push Louisiana out of the top spot.

• [By David Smith]

  Other fracking goings-on
  While water is likely to remain a key consideration for hydraulic fracturing for years to come, there are several other items of importance currently swirling about with regard to unconventional drilling, which has been responsible for a 30% increase in U.S. oil reserves and a 90% incrasee in our gas reserves:

  The Environmental Protection Agency continues to move forward with its nationwide study of the potential effects of hydraulic fracturing on groundwater and drinking water. A resulting report is expected to be released in 2014. In the meantime, 31 experts from universities, scientific laboratories, and industry have been appointed to review what promises to be a landmark document. The EPA also has abandoned its interminable and controversial research into whether fracking by Encana (NYSE: ECA  ) fouled the water table in Pavillion, Wyo. The effort was a follow-up to a 2011 study by the agency, which purported to find a connection between Encana's operations and the contamination of an aquifer, has been turned over to Wyoming officials. They plan to release a final report next year. The Obama administration has set forth a proposed rule requiring oil and natural gas companies that drill on federal land to disclose the chemicals used in their hydraulic operations. It also would establish standards for well construction and waste disposal.

  A Foolish takeaway
  Hydraulic fracturing, it seems, will always be a target for environmental grousing and federal nitpicking. It seems unlikely, however, that it will ever be severely curtailed. On that basis, I'm increasingly becoming a proponent of Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK  ) , especially under its new management.

5 Best Gas Stocks To Watch Right Now: Enduro Royalty Trust (NDRO)

Enduro Royalty Trust (the Trust) is a statutory trust. On May 13, 2011, the Trust was formed by Enduro Resource Partners LLC (Enduro Sponsor) to own a net profits interest representing the right to receive 80% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from certain properties in the states of Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico (the Underlying Properties) held by Enduro Sponsor as of the date of the conveyance of the net profits interest to the trust. The business and affairs of the Trust will be managed by The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the Trustee). In addition, Wilmington Trust Company will act as Delaware trustee (the Delaware Trustee) of the Trust.

The Trust will enter into an administrative services agreement with Enduro pursuant to which Enduro will provide the Trust with certain accounting, bookkeeping, and informational services related to the Net Profits Interest. Enduro Sponsor is a privately-held limited liability company engaged in the production and development of oil and natural gas from properties located in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Statutory trust Enduro Royalty Trust (NYSE: NDRO  ) announced yesterday its July monthly distribution of $0.128817�per unit; it has paid a monthly dividend since November 2011. The distribution announced in May was $0.096825 per unit.

5 Best Gas Stocks To Watch Right Now: Chesapeake Energy Corporation(CHK)

Chesapeake Energy Corporation engages in the acquisition, development, exploration, and production of natural gas and oil properties in the United States. It also provides marketing and other midstream services. The company?s properties are located in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. As of December 31, 2010, it had interests in approximately 45,800 gross productive wells. The company?s proved reserves include 17.096 trillion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Chesapeake Energy Corporation was founded in 1989 and is based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Joel South and Taylor Muckerman]

  In the video below, Motley Fool energy analysts Joel South and Taylor Muckerman talk about what Chesapeake Energy's (NYSE: CHK  ) new strategy is going to look like, now that Aubrey McClendon is no longer the CEO. Joel discusses how the new strategy is a shift from an all-growth focus to one of maximizing the company's current resources, and he tells investors what led the new Chesapeake Energy to hit a strong quarter this quarter, and get back in the black.