Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, Feb 1, 2013

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:

New York

A Tale of Two Polls: Does upstate want hydrofracking?
Albany Watch
A Quinnipiac University survey released Thursday found statewide opinion of fracking split, with 43 percent of New York voters in support and 42 percent opposed.

Local Leaders Hear Hydrofracking Pros and Cons as Decision Looms
WENY
Today, local leaders sat down for a look at the potential pros and cons of deep shale drilling.

Oxford Delays Natural Gas Vote As Slottje Funders Trash Industry
Energy in Depth – NMI
The Village of Oxford, NY held a board meeting and public hearing this week on a proposed natural gas ban authored by the CEDC, a grantee of the same organization distributing a flyer trashing the natural gas industry. Oxford is the only municipality in Chenango County considering such a measure and are doing so at the behest of an entity with no apparent scruples.

Ohio

Magnum Hunter Entering Utica-Point Pleasant In 2013
Energy in Depth – Ohio
Magnum Hunter Resources is the next company focusing on the Utica-Point Pleasant formation in 2013.

‘Marinating’ Utica Wells Improving Output, Economics
NGI’s Shale Daily (requires paid or trial sub)
Utica Shale operators are discovering that with some patience and seasoning, estimated ultimate recoveries (EUR) for liquids reserves appear to move higher.

Kasich: ‘Unbelievable’ that some oppose higher taxes on fracking
Business Journal
Gov. John Kasich is sticking with his plan to raise severance taxes for oil and natural gas companies, but he’s not quite ready to reveal what tax loopholes for businesses he wants to close as part of his tax reform agenda.

Brilex finishes order for oil and gas equipment
Tribune-Chronicle
Youngstown’s Brilex Industries has completed its first order for manufactured oil and gas production equipment in a partnership with Houston-based oil and gas processing company Valerus.

Ohio regulator tied to group opposing renewables
Akron Beacon Journal
A top state utility regulator who opposed plans for an Ohio solar farm and openly questioned global warming maintained ties with an influential conservative group that supports repealing states’ renewable energy requirements.

Pennsylvania

Shale gas credited with rate reduction
Times Observer
Customers of National Fuel Gas will notice about a $5 drop in their natural gas bills, thanks to increased Marcellus shale production and lower market prices of natural gas.

Corbett talks Marcellus at midstream conference
Business Journal
Before the Marcellus rush five years ago, Gov. Tom Corbett was Pennsylvania’s attorney general, with no ambitions of running for governor.

The fast pace of the shale game
Business Journal
If you need a sign of how quickly the oil and gas industry moves when they find a good prospect, consider the takeaways from the past three years of the Marcellus Midstream conference.

MSC Releases Recommended Practices for Water Pipelines
Marcellus Shale Coalition
Today, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) published  Recommended Practices (RP) for Water Pipelines, the sixth in a series of guidance documents aimed at further enhancing the safe development of natural gas across the Appalachian basin.

West Virginia

INNOVA supports natural gas vehicle conversion facility
State Journal
INNOVA Commercialization Group announced Jan. 28 that it has provided financing to Alternative Fuel Solutions of West Virginia, for a facility that converts aftermarket vehicles to operate on natural gas, propane, and other alternative fuels.

National

Unusual Natural Gas Trade Raises Questions
CNBC
On Thursday, Chicago-based analysis firm Nanex noticed something unusual in trading of natural gas futures and ETFs—an explosion of trading just 400 milliseconds before the official announcement at 10:30 a.m.

CEO Leaves Chesapeake Cash-Starved After Icahn-Led Revolt
The Washington Post
[Bloomberg attempts to drive one last nail in the coffin] Chesapeake Energy Corp.’s departing chief executive officer will leave to his successor a shrunken, cash-starved version of what was once the preeminent natural gas producer in the world’s biggest market for the fuel.

Is Chesapeake About to Be Gobbled Up?
Motley Fool
I’m betting that, sans McClendon’s large presence, Chesapeake’s future could well include changes that clearly will shock us all.

Bye-Bye McClendon, Hello Chesapeake Energy Takeover?
Benzinga
Raise a glass to activist shareholders. Whether it was at the behest of Southeastern Asset Management, famed financier Carl Icahn or a combination of the two, Aubrey McClendon is departing as chief executive officer of Chesapeake Energy , the company he founded.