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21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jun 30 – Jul 6

For the week of June 30 – July 6, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica decreased from the previous week, likely due to the July 4th holiday. There were 21 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, down six from 27 issued two weeks ago. The Keystone State (PA) issued 13 new permits. EQT and its recently acquired Olympus Energy received a combined five permits scattered across three counties: Allegheny, Greene, and Washington. Snyder Brothers received four permits in Armstrong County. BKV scored three permits in Wyoming County. Range Resources received a single permit in Washington County. Read More “21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jun 30 – Jul 6”

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Big Green Attacks Revived NESE, Constitution Pipeline Projects

Well, you knew this was coming. Radicalized green groups are gearing up to challenge two recently resurrected Williams pipeline projects: The Constitution Pipeline, a 124-mile, 660 MMcf/d greenfield (brand new) pipeline from the gas fields of northeastern Pennsylvania (in Susquehanna County) into and through New York to Schoharie County; and the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, designed to increase Transco pipeline capacity and flows of Marcellus gas heading into New York City and other northeastern markets. Read More “Big Green Attacks Revived NESE, Constitution Pipeline Projects”

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Some M-U Molecules on REX Pipeline Could Get Bumped for Permian

We still marvel, to this day, at how Tallgrass Energy Partners turned what looked like a financial disaster into an economic bonanza. Tallgrass built the Rockies Express (REX) pipeline, which stretches from Colorado and Wyoming to Ohio, just in time for the shale revolution to take hold. Whoops! Talk about bad timing! A significant portion of REX, its Zone 3 pipeline from Missouri to Ohio, was in danger of drying up in 2012 due to the increase in Marcellus/Utica gas production (see REX NatGas Pipeline Faces Stiff Competition from Marcellus). Tallgrass did an about-face, reversing the flow of REX to run from Ohio to Missouri a year later, in 2013 (see REX Reverses Pipeline Flow from OH for Mystery Utica Customer). Since that time, volumes along the Zone 3 portion of REX have continued to increase. A lot of Marcellus/Utica gas now flows from our region to the Midwest by hitching a ride on REX—some 3.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). However, M-U molecules will have to compete with cheaper molecules from the Permian if Tallgrass goes forward with a plan to build a new connecting pipeline from the Permian to REX. Read More “Some M-U Molecules on REX Pipeline Could Get Bumped for Permian”

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EQT, KeyState Still Committed to ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Projects

Yesterday, MDN informed you that CNX Resources is still considering (but not yet 100% committed) to a plan to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) using coalbed methane (see Plan for Sustainable Aviation Fuel at PIT Changes, KeyState Out). The article, sourced from the Pittsburgh Business Times (PBT), referenced the fact that the future of the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) is in question. In a follow-up to that story, the PBT has a new article that proclaims both EQT Corporation and KeyState Energy, with projects that are part of the ARCH2 Hub, remain committed to those projects, regardless of what happens to ARCH2. Read More “EQT, KeyState Still Committed to ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub Projects”

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Southwest Ohio Power Plant Sold to ArcLight Capital Partners

Another day, another gas-fired power plant has been sold. It’s becoming a routine thing. Yesterday, ArcLight Capital Partners announced that it has entered into definitive agreements to acquire 100% of the economic interests in Middletown Energy Center, a 484 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired power plant located in Butler County, Ohio. We wrote about the original plan to build the Middletown plant back in 2014 (see New SW Ohio Electric Generating Plant to be Powered by Natgas). It got built, sold once, and is now being sold again. Read More “Southwest Ohio Power Plant Sold to ArcLight Capital Partners”

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Conventional Drilling Still Happens Inside City Limits of Warren, PA

MDN is a blog/news site primarily focused on the Marcellus/Utica shale and related issues. Sometimes, conventional (non-shale) drilling is a related issue. Today, we have an article that discusses the fact that new conventional drilling still happens in some places in Pennsylvania—in this case, in the City of Warren (Warren County). The president of Bull Run Resources LLC gave a presentation to and took questions from the Warren City Council yesterday. The information he discussed was interesting, as it compared and contrasted conventional drilling with shale drilling. Do you know the differences? And did you know that conventional wells are sometimes drilled at an angle? Read More “Conventional Drilling Still Happens Inside City Limits of Warren, PA”

MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jul 11, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: New York has got to face reality – we need natural gas; NATIONAL: TC Energy is bolstering America’s energy dominance through critical investments; Geothermal energy may be poised for growth thanks to shale drilling advances; Why is every natural disaster being politicized?; How AI and technology are reshaping the oil and gas workforce; Drilling plummets under Trump despite ‘drill, baby, drill’ promise; INTERNATIONAL: Oil teeters as tariffs and output risks unbalance market; Chevron shifts from local to centralized hubs to cut costs; Fossil fuels show staying power as EU clean energy output dips. Read More “MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jul 11, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]”

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Columbia Gas Pipeline Under the Potomac River Finally Goes Online

It took eight years and untold legal fees (on both sides) before a tiny 3.4-mile, 8-inch natural gas pipeline under the Potomac River was finally built and went online. In April 2017, MDN brought you the news that Columbia Pipeline (owned by TransCanada) had applied with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to build a pipeline under the Potomac to connect natural gas from Pennsylvania to the Mountaineer Gas system in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia (see New 3.5 Mile Pipeline Project to Drill Under the Potomac River). That tiny section of pipeline is part of the larger Eastern Panhandle Expansion project—a project to deliver natural gas via local distribution channels (local utility Mountaineer Gas) to a new industrial facility in Berkeley County, WV, and to provide gas to other local businesses and residents in the Tri-State area. Read More “Columbia Gas Pipeline Under the Potomac River Finally Goes Online”

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Natural Gas Price Breakdown – Heading Back into $2 Territory?

The NYMEX “front month” futures contract for natural gas (August contract) slid lower yesterday for a second day in a row. The price dropped 12.6 cents per million British thermal units (MMBtus), or nearly 4%, to $3.214 yesterday. The price was down 19.8 cents (nearly 6%) over the past two days. According to one analyst (whom we trust), this “decisive breakdown” in natural gas puts the $3.10 support level at risk, opening the path to deeper downside targets, including $2.97 and $2.79. Yuck. Read More “Natural Gas Price Breakdown – Heading Back into $2 Territory?”

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Plan for Sustainable Aviation Fuel at PIT Changes, KeyState Out

In May of 2024, CNX Resources Corp., KeyState Energy, and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) announced they were working together on a $1.5 billion project that, if completed, would make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at PIT from coalbed methane gas (see CNX, KeyState Partner with Pittsburgh Airport on H2 Aviation Fuel). However, the project was/is contingent on the IRS allowing coalbed methane to qualify for green energy tax credits. Good news: The revisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) retain the designation that allows coalbed methane to qualify for the tax credits. However, KeyState has confirmed it’s pulling out of the PIT SAF project. CNX said it will continue with the project. Read More “Plan for Sustainable Aviation Fuel at PIT Changes, KeyState Out”

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PJM Monitor Asks FERC to Impose Conditions on NRG, LS Power Deal

In May, NRG Energy announced a deal to acquire LS Power’s portfolio of natural-gas power plants in a deal valued at roughly $12 billion, including debt, that will expand NRG’s footprint in Texas and along the East Coast (see NRG Buys 18 Gas-Fired Power Plants, Including 5 in PA, for $12B). NRG said the acquisition would add 18 more natural-gas-fired facilities in nine states, including five in Pennsylvania and one in Ohio, doubling its generation capacity to approximately 25 gigawatts (GW). In June, NRG asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve the deal (see NRG, LS Power Asks FERC to Approve $18B Deal for 12 Gas-Fired Plants). “Not so fast,” says Monitoring Analytics, LLC, acting in its capacity as the Independent Market Monitor (IMM) for PJM Interconnection. The IMM states that FERC must set certain conditions before approving the deal. Read More “PJM Monitor Asks FERC to Impose Conditions on NRG, LS Power Deal”

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Venture Global LNG Gets 2.6X More on Spot Market vs. Contracted Cust.

No wonder Venture Global continues to love the model of signing up customers to buy its LNG via contract (which reassures investors so they give money to build a plant), then denies those contracted customers their shipments FOR YEARS under the pretense that they are still working the kinks out at the facility (called commissioning) while at the same time selling cargoes of LNG on the open/spot market. VG is receiving 2.6 times more money for spot market cargoes compared to cargoes shipped to contracted customers. The question we can’t answer is, why do any new customers sign up, given the company’s history? Read More “Venture Global LNG Gets 2.6X More on Spot Market vs. Contracted Cust.”

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The Harmful Environmental Effects of So-Called Green Energy

If you’ve read MDN for any length of time, you know that so-called renewable energy, wind and solar, are unreliable and really, really expensive. Most people believe renewables overcome those problems by being good for the environment. No so! Renewables are actually bad for the environment. We will explain… Read More “The Harmful Environmental Effects of So-Called Green Energy”

MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jul 10, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: FERC issues notice to proceed with construction at Mississippi Hub; NATIONAL: Chevron preps quick closing of Hess deal and awaits result of Exxon dispute; Executives reveal where they see Henry Hub price landing in future; How rising renewable output complicates natural gas trading; Natural gas is green and hugely beneficial economically; Trump says wind and solar are ‘a blight on our country’; INTERNATIONAL: Oil holds gains despite US crude surge; Oil giant Saudi Aramco in talks with Commonwealth LNG for offtake agreement. Read More “MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jul 10, 2025 [FREE ACCESS]”

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Aspire Energy Building New Pipeline in Ohio to Feed Power Plant

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, not to be confused with the former Chesapeake Energy Corporation (which is now Expand Energy), announced that its Ohio subsidiary, Aspire Energy Express, LLC, has entered into an agreement with American Electric Power (AEP) to construct and operate an intrastate natural gas pipeline in central Ohio to feed Marcellus/Utica gas to a new fuel-cell facility, which will provide on-site electric power to a data center. The pipeline is expected to cost approximately $10 million to construct. Read More “Aspire Energy Building New Pipeline in Ohio to Feed Power Plant”

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NJ Marcellus-Fired Red Oak Power Plant Sold to Investment Firm

Gas-fired power plants, both brand new and existing plants, are hot properties these days. We’ve covered several recent sales of existing gas-fired power plants in the Marcellus/Utica region (and beyond). Here’s another one: investment firm Strategic Value Partners, LLC (SVP) announced yesterday that it’s acquiring Red Oak Power, an 831-megawatt natural gas-fired combined-cycle generation facility located in Sayreville, New Jersey. Read More “NJ Marcellus-Fired Red Oak Power Plant Sold to Investment Firm”