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Delaware Riverkeeper Scams FERC in Review of PennEast Pipeline

scam alertTHE Delaware Riverkeeper is running a scam on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). By all accounts it is a legal scam–but a scam nonetheless. FERC has a process known as a motion to intervene. Individuals, towns and organizations with a vested, legitimate interest can file to “intervene” in a project application–like the PennEast Pipeline. PennEast recently filed their application, so those people who may be affected can file to intervene–offer comments to FERC and remain updated by FERC–to ensure FERC hears and addresses the information and concerns of people with a vested, legitimate interest. Typically an intervenor might be a township where the pipeline is planned to run, or perhaps a farmer with a concern that a pipeline will destroy a good hay field. If you just want to mouth off about fossil fuels and fracking and evil pipelines–send a comment to FERC. They get mountains of them for every project. Here’s the scam: Riverkeeper recently ran “intervenor training” in an attempt to get as many people as possible to sign up as intervenors, including children, thereby overloading FERC’s ability to keep track of it all and respond to it all–slowing down the approval process for PennEast. As a fringe benefit, the more intervenors who register, the more the media makes a big deal out of it. It’s all a scam. It’s a setup. And we expose it below…
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British Think Tank Study Refutes Shale Fugitive Methane Claims

researchThe Centre for Policy Studies, a British think tank similar to our own Heritage Foundation (conservative), has just published a new study that says so-called fugitive methane coming from shale gas production is “seriously over-estimated.” You may recall the falling-down-laughing claim by Cornell professors Robert Howarth and Tony Ingraffea who claimed burning coal is better for the environment than burning natural gas, largely because of the fugitive methane issue (see New Cornell University Study Says Shale Gas Extraction Worse for Global Warming Than Coal). Howarth and Ingraffea’s claim was roundly rejected by research study after research study, but the meme was established because Howarth and Ingraffea are funded, in part, by the anti-drilling Park Foundation, and Park (with deep pockets) pressures media outlets to repeat this drivel. The Centre for Policy Studies has added yet another masterful study that kicks the legs out from under Howarth/Ingraffea’s claims about fugitive methane leaking out all over the place. It isn’t…
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API Says Completions Down 44% Y/Y, What About Marcellus/Utica?

bad timesYes, we know “it’s bad out there” in the oil and gas industry. We know that rig counts went over a proverbial cliff starting in January of 2015 (see the graph below from Baker Hughes). Along with dropping rig counts comes a corresponding drop in the number of wells drilled and completed. According to research conducted by the American Petroleum Institute, U.S. oil and natural gas well completions decreased 44% in the third quarter of 2015 compared to year-ago levels. We wondered if those numbers held true for the Marcellus/Utica too. Here’s what we found…
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Which Marcellus/Utica NGL Pipeline is Most Likely to Succeed?

most likely to succeedAs we’ve previously mentioned, the most recent issue of the 2015 Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook (Vol. 2), published last week, contains a list of 101 infrastructure/pipeline projects which, if all built, would result in a mind-blowing $83 billion worth of investments. Global research firm Wood Mackenzie, whose research we’ve previously highlighted (see Wood Mackenzie: “Raft” of Planned LNG Projects Won’t Get Built), recently took a close look at three of the projects in our list. The three are pipeline projects for NGLs–natural gas liquids. The analysts at WM believe one of the three stands the best chance of getting built. What are the three projects, and which one does WM vote as mostly likely to succeed?…
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CONSOL 3Q15: Natgas Production Up 33%, Natgas Revenue Down $56M

unusual itemsCONSOL Energy released their third quarter 2015 financial and operating results today. Among the highlights: After adjusting for “certain unusual items,” CONSOL “only” lost $64 million in 3Q15. Natural gas production was up 33% over the same period last year. But because the price of natural gas has been hammered so hard, CONSOL’s natgas revenue for the quarter was down $56 million over the same period last year. Below are select sections of update, including information about CONSOL’s first dry Utica well in Westmoreland County, PA…
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EPA Requires New Greenhouse Gas Reports from Frackers/Midstreamers

freedom diesOnce more the Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) violates the U.S. Constitution by creating an unlegislated law and declaring it in effect for the oil and gas industry–thereby regulating oil and gas, even though according to the U.S. Constitution the individual states are the ones with power to regulate the oil and gas industry. And barely a peep. Everyone just lays down and takes it. No push-back. What a shame. Last week the EPA published a final rule in the Federal Register amending reporting on mythical greenhouse gases that will now be required by oil and gas drillers–particularly those who use horizontal hydraulic fracturing (i.e. fracking). Not to be left out–if you build and maintain pipelines to gather natural gas and oil, you’re affected by the new rules too. Another massive federal power grab which goes into effect on January 1st. One more freedom dies under Barack Hussein Obama…
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Penn Virginia’s CEO “Retires” – Before 3Q Earnings Report is Released

not a good signAlthough headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia), Penn Virginia Corporation is an oil and gas driller with only a small presence in the Marcellus Shale: 21,700 net acres with no drilled wells. They concentrate on oil drilling the Texas Eagle Ford Shale play. MDN told you in March that Penn Virginia’s top stockholder, the vile corporate raider George Soros, forced them to put themselves up for sale so George can line his pockets with more cash (see George Soros Finally Bullies Penn Virginia into Selling Itself). Several companies expressed interest, including a serious offer from BP (see BP Makes Offer to Buy Penn Virginia, Other Majors Interested Too). So far the company has resisted selling itself, contrary to the wishes of Lord Soros. However, some sort of news is on the way. Penn Virginia reports Baird Whitehead, President and CEO of the company, has suddenly retired–before they release their third quarter 2015 results. Not a good sign according to one analyst…
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Coal-Fired Electric Plant in PA Closes Instead of Using Natgas

missed opportunityMore electricity is disappearing from the electrical grid thanks for Barack H. Obama’s war on coal. AES had considered converting a coal-powered electric plant is operates in Potter County, PA into burning natural gas–indeed had applied for and received permits to do it–but instead they reversed course and have now shuttered the plant they operate in Potter known as the Bear Valley plant…
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Oct 27, 2015

best of the restThe “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading. In today’s lineup: mulling over Cabot’s 3Q15 performance; Pittsburgh home of gas app; FERC advances CT pipeline project; natgas plunges to 3-year low; will gas go even lower?; dismal prospects for LNG exports; “massive” crude oil supplies; lifting the crude oil ban; chemists shrink natgas; and more!
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