Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Apr 18, 2013

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

New York

Quinnipiac Poll: Voters still split on fracking
Albany Watch
Quinnipiac University found 46 percent of state voters oppose drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. That number is unchanged from March, though support for drilling increased from 39 percent (an all-time low for Quinnipiac) to 42 percent.

Ohio

Bloomberg Misses the Mark on Utica Development
Energy in Depth – Ohio
In its recent coverage of the Ohio shale industry, Bloomberg News suggested that the oil and gas industry is leaving Ohio in droves. It’s fitting that baseball season is underway, because the report was an unequivocal swing and miss.

Utica Shale Disaster: Natural Gas but Not Oil
Energy & Capital
Eastern Ohio’s promising shale formation that just two years ago promised $500 billion in oil riches — now has companies running for the hills as its promise fizzles out.

Official testifies on Ohio fracking oversight
CantonRep.com
Ohio’s top oil and gas regulator went to Washington on Wednesday to advocate continued state oversight of fracking and the disposal of wastewater from drilling.

Ohio at forefront of training for oil & gas emergencies
Youngstown Vindicator
Although a new player in the field of fracking, Ohio is at the forefront when it comes to training for gas and oil-field emergencies. In fact, first responders from veteran oil- and gas-producing states, such as Texas and Oklahoma, have come to the Buckeye State for emergency training.

Shale industry evolution leads to chemical industry revolution
Crain’s Cleveland Business
As I eagerly await a chance to play golf after this particularly long winter, I’m reminded of the anticipation many of us feel about the burgeoning shale industry. That anticipation is particularly high in the U.S. chemical industry, which is seeing significant investment growth and a revolutionary change in the way a key chemical is being produced.

Belpre Chamber discusses economic, environmental impact of shale development
Parkersburg News and Sentinel
If drilling of the Utica Shale natural gas deposit makes its way into Washington County, towns like Belpre could see benefits to businesses as workers will need places to live and eat, said an official from the Southeastern Ohio Oil and Gas Association.

Pennsylvania

1 State Taking Charge of Its Natural Gas Future
The Motley Fool
Currently, there are eight natural gas vehicle bills making their way through the Pennsylvania legislature. These bills range in content from tax credits to proposals to move funds from one program to another, all designed to spur the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel.

Health survey in NEPA Marcellus area
The River Reporter
Pennsylvania’s Northeast Regional Cancer Institute (NRCI) recently completed a Community Health Survey in the Marcellus Shale region of Northeast Pennsylvania. The project was funded by the PA Department of Public Welfare.

Gas co. gathers public input on local pipeline expansion plans
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader
The owner of the Transco Pipeline, which travels through Luzerne County as it carries natural gas from the Gulf Coast to New York, hosted an informational open house Wednesday at The Woodlands Inn & Resort to provide details to the public on an expansion project and to gather feedback.

Pa. House OKs tax breaks for natural gas vehicles
The Oklahoman
Pennsylvania House Republicans pushed through three tax credit programs Wednesday that are designed to capitalize on the Marcellus shale drilling boom by encouraging companies to use more natural-gas powered vehicles and to give them more convenient places to refuel.

White blasts DEP over response to water impoundment
Washington Observer-Reporter
State Rep. Jesse White is criticizing the state Department of Environmental Protection for its slow response to his right-to-know request asking for answers about the scope of a leak at a Marcellus Shale water impoundment in Cecil Township.

National

The American Energy Boom Won’t Do Much For The Manufacturing Renaissance
Business Insider
There are two big emerging economic stories coming out of the U.S. There’s the American energy boom, which will be driven by drillers tapping American shale. And there’s the American manufacturing renaissance, which is supposed to be driven by rising overseas labor costs and falling domestic energy costs (thanks to the energy boom).

Varied interests cheer rising natural gas prices
Tulsa World
Wholesale natural gas prices have doubled during the last year, and that’s bringing sighs of relief from an unusual variety of interests.

Higher natural gas prices will boost companies’ profits
Fuel Fix
Many natural-gas focused independent companies will likely report higher than expected earnings for first quarter, driven by March increases in the price of natural gas.

We Will Never See Cheap Oil Again
The Motley Fool
Doesn’t $2.50 per gallon for gasoline sound just dandy? During the 2012 presidential race, a couple candidates used that number as a way of showing how increased American production would lead to lower prices and higher energy security. The problem is, though, that despite the increase in production in the U.S., cheap gas and cheap oil will more than likely remain a pipe dream.

International

Foreign Investment Flooding Into U.S. Oil and Gas Fields
The Motley Fool
America’s shale boom, powered by advances in drilling technologies that have unlocked massive amounts of oil and gas from shale reservoirs previously thought inaccessible, has radically transformed the nation’s energy landscape. And the rest of the world has taken notice.

Asian nations eye cheap U.S. natural gas
Houston Chronicle
U.S. natural gas is going to make it to Asia, but when it does, it probably will cost three times what it does in this country, panelists said Wednesday at a conference here.