The Mighty Marcellus Roars in PA – Production Up 55% in 6 Months

Now we know why it’s called “The Mighty Marcellus.” New production figures for the first six months of 2011 show that on all counts—natural gas, gas liquids, and even oil—the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania is producing a tremendous amount of new energy. Figures for the southwestern part of PA show a 55 percent increase in production over the previous six month period.

In this region [southwestern PA], which includes Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties, Marcellus drilling yielded:

• 127 billion cubic feet of gas
• 195,851 barrels of condensate
• 364,012 barrels of oil

That’s based on data for 2,143 unique wells, of which more than half were not producing for various reasons. Some haven’t been drilled. Some hadn’t been fracked yet. Others were waiting for a pipeline connection and 65 of the well permits were canceled or expired. EQT Corp. had the most prolific well in the state. The Morris Township well in Greene County produced nearly 3 bcf during the past six months.

Statewide, Marcellus companies pulled 432.5 billion cubic feet of gas out of the ground, along with 492,533 barrels of condensate and 364,183 barrels of oil.

Oh, and for those of you in New York State, your state’s Marcellus Shale production for the past six months (and the six months before that, and the six months before that)? Zero.

*Pittsburgh Business Times (Aug 16, 2011) – Marcellus Shale production jumps in southwest Pennsylvania