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EnLink Midstream’s Primary Focus in the Marcellus/Utica is…

primary focusEnLink Midstream, the newly combined Crosstex Midstream + Devon Energy midstream division, has announced a “drop down transaction”–which means on paper they transferred assets from one corporate entity to another–both entities owned by EnLink. That is, they sold themselves their own assets. On paper, the “transaction” is valued at $192 million and includes E2 Appalachian Compression, LLC and E2 Energy Services, LLC, both subsidiaries with operations in the Marcellus/Utica. Beyond the financial mumbo jumbo in their announcement, MDN found one line of interest that talks about what, exactly, EnLink’s “primary focus” in the Marcellus/Utica is…
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What Were Landowners in Central VA Paid for a Lease Bonus?

We consider Virginia “northeast” as far as coverage goes on MDN. While the Marcellus skirts the very edge of the state and there’s very little Marcellus that would like ever get drilled in Virginia, there are other shale basins in the state, one of which is the Taylorsville Basin–south and east of Fredericksburg, VA. MDN told you in April that Shore Exploration has leased 84,000 acres in the Taylorsville Basin (see Virginia Inches Closer to Shale Drilling in Taylorsville Basin). We now know what they paid per acre for those leases (hint: not very much by Marcellus/Utica standards)…
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Fracking Big Part of Only Debate in NY Gov Race

The issue of fracking was part of the one and only debate in the New York governor’s race on Wednesday. Little known (outside of New York) Rob Astorino is the Republican candidate. He’s the County Executive for Westchester County, NY. He referred to current Gov. Andrew Cuomo as “politically paralyzed” on the issue of fracking–an apt and accurate description…
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EQT 3Q14: Revenue Up 12%, 91 New Wells Spud in Northeast

Northeast drilling was good for EQT in the third quarter of 2014. The company released their 3Q14 numbers yesterday and it shows revenue was up 12% from a year ago. During 3Q14 EQT, spud (drill bit hits the ground and starts drilling) 42 wells in the Marcellus, 13 Upper Devonian wells, and 36 Huron wells–all in the northeast. Production sales volume was up 25% in 3Q14, midstream gathered volumes were up 24%, and midstream costs were down 18%. The numbers are going in the direction they should be going. The only problem for the company is the low price of natural gas…
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Rex Energy 3Q14: Production Up 72%, Oil & Condensate Up 61%

Rex Energy, the little energy company that could (and is) continues to impress. Earlier this week Rex released their third quarter 2014 production update. Rex, focused mainly on Marcellus and Utica drilling, increased production 72% over 3Q13–to 169.7 million cubic feet equivalent per day, or Mmcfe/d. That’s a very healthy 32% jump from second quarter this year. They expect to be producing 179 Mmcfe/d by the time Dec. 31 rolls around. Here’s the full update from Monday:
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MarkWest Energy 3Q14: Nearing Full Capacity in the Marcellus

MarkWest has over 20 drillers as customers in the Marcellus/Utica, and the northeast continues to be the company’s main area of focus, according to their third quarter 2014 operational update. If you take all of their (many) processing facilities in the Marcellus, MarkWest says utilization rates went from 79% in 2Q14 to 84% in 3Q14. That means out of a theoretical 100% maximum capacity, 84% of it is now being used. In the Utica the utilization rate went from 56% in 2Q14 to 63% in 3Q14. Here’s more on what’s happening in the northeast for MarkWest…
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Deerfield MA “Bans” Kinder Morgan TGP Pipeline – Or So They Claim

In September MDN pointed out the antics of the silly nutters in the Town of Deerfield, Massachusetts. The county Board of Health claims they have “unlimited power” to stop the Tennessee Gas Pipeline from coming through their township, if they decide to exercise their impressive (super) powers (see MA Town Health Board Claims “Unlimited Power” to Stop TGP). They’ve just decided to exercise those “powers.” In a breathtakingly bold (and stupid) move, they’ve served notice to Kinder Morgan that all construction on the proposed TGP pipeline in their town is forthwith banned. Of course, according to law, only the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the power to authorize (or not) the pipeline through Deerfield–but why spoil a really good acid trip flashback for the old hippies behind this nonsense? Lawlessness is very fashionable these days…
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NY Anti-Driller Steingraber Tries to Get Re-Arrested at Seneca Lake

In March 2013, Ithaca College “distinguished scholar in residence” Sandra Steingraber, along with 11 other anti-drillers, were arrested for illegally blocking the entrance to a depleted salt mine along the shore of Seneca Lake near Watkins Glen, NY that Crestwood Midstream wants to use to store liquefied petroleum gas, i.e., propane (see NY Protesters Arrested for Blocking NatGas Storage Facility). Steingraber actually went to jail because she refused to pay a fine for her stunt (see NY Anti-Drilling Protesters Jailed After Refusing to Pay Fine). Since it’s been over a year since she was in the slammer, Steingraber must have the itch to go back in (it sometimes happens to convicts), so she convinced a few retirees with nothing better to do to stage a new illegal blockade of the facility. Of course, with no activity at the facility–on hold because New York Gov. Cuomo can never make a decision about anything dealing with natgas–the illegal blockade didn’t much matter to anyone but a few reporters…
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MSC Releases New Video – “Shale: Unifying America”

Want to watch a video that makes you feel good (and chokes you up) all at the same time? Following its annual meeting this week, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) released a new year-in-review video titled Shale: Unifying America. “This video highlights and reflects the game-changing benefits tied to safe, job-creating shale development for our communities, the entire Commonwealth and our nation,” said MSC President Dave Spigelmyer. “Shale truly is, in every sense, strengthening and unifying our nation, and our industry is deeply committed to and focused on ensuring that these opportunities are fully realized for Pennsylvania families and small businesses.” Take 9 minutes to watch it here…
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