| |

Rice Brothers Drop 2 Proposed Board Members from Rice Proxy Card

A few new developments to report in the war to control EQT. Late last week brothers Toby and Derek Rice, formerly of Rice Energy, announced they are trimming their slate of proposed EQT board members by two (from nine to seven). There was no explanation for why the two were dropped from consideration, other than the Rice boys said they had reviewed EQT’s proposal to add three new board members (replacing three existing board members), and that two of the three, in the Rices’ opinion, “appear qualified” to serve on the board and “as a result” Rice dropped two of its proposed slate of board members.
Continue reading

| | | | | | |

Columbia Gas Sues Maryland to Allow Pipeline Under Potomac

Expressing dismay at needing to do so, Columbia Gas Transmission has been forced to haul the State of Maryland into court over the state’s refusal to grant an easement to drill a tiny 3.5-mile pipeline under the Potomac River. In January, Maryland’s emasculated RINO governor, Larry Hogan, along with two other state officials (both Democrats) who sit on what is called the Maryland Board of Public Works, voted unanimously to deny an easement and permission to build the federally-approved pipeline (see Maryland Pulls a NY, Rejects Pipeline Under Potomac River).
Continue reading

| | | | |

Another Post-Gazette Smear Job: Drill Cuttings Pollute Rivers

Yet another attack on the shale industry by two Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “reporters” (propagandists) who have made a career of unfairly attacking shale–Don Hopey and David Templeton. This latest smear job makes the claim that leachate coming from a landfill piped to a municipal wastewater treatment facility is “contaminated” with all sorts of nasty chemicals (what the heck do you think is in leachate, anyway?!). The claim is the chemicals in the leachate are present because of drillers dumping leftover rock and dirt that comes out of the ground when drilling new holes for shale wells into the landfill.
Continue reading

|

Frack Water Co. Select Energy Services Considers Selling Itself

Select Energy Services is a billion dollar oilfield services company with three main divisions: water services, rentals, and wellsite completions. They operate in every major shale play in the country, including the Marcellus/Utica. In 2017 Select bought out and merged in Rockwater Energy Solutions, a leading provider of comprehensive water management solutions to the North American shale companies and the only company that provides complementary chemistry products and expertise in connection with its water solutions (see Select Energy, Rockwater Merge to Create Huge Shale Water Provider). The merged company is a shale water services powerhouse. Word on the street is that Select is now looking to sell itself.
Continue reading

|

Range Resources Promotes Dennis Degner to COO; CEO-in-Waiting?

Dennis Degner

Over the years we’ve reported on the rising star of Dennis Degner at Range Resources. In 2016 Degner was named vice president for Range’s Southern Marcellus Shale Division (see Range’s Dennis Degner Named VP of Southern Marcellus Shale). In 2018 Degner was promoted again, to senior VP of operations, including responsibility for the company’s Louisiana Haynesville Shale drilling program in addition to the Marcellus (see Range Resources Update: Dennis Degner Promoted, $333M Profit). And now, Degner has been named Chief Operating Officer for the company.
Continue reading

|

NOAA Admits Error – Methane Emissions Haven’t Gone Up in 10 Yrs

Anti-fossil fuel fanatics attempting to ban natural gas extraction, the pipelines that flow it, and even end-use of natgas have blathered on for years that “methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide” (so says Big Green group Environmental Defense Fund). EDF and other antis would have us believe oil and gas drilling, particularly from shale, and the pipelines that flow the gas, are leaking more methane than gets captured and sold. Antis’ favorite source to quote is the can’t-ever-be-questioned, above-reproach National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). However, antis’ arguments all go out the window when NOAA itself says, “Whoops, we made a mistake in our calculations. Methane emissions haven’t gone up after all–not in the past 10 years.” As they’ve just done. Whoops indeed.
Continue reading

What if NatGas (Not Solar & Wind) is the Real Future of Energy?

We’ve been saying the following until we’re blue (flame) in the face (pun intended): Natural gas is not a *bridge* to the future of energy, natural gas is THE DESTINATION. We have enough gas supplies for at least 100 years, likely much longer. Natgas is low emissions. It’s not harming Mom Earth. What’s not to love about extracting and BURNING natural gas? It seems others are now embracing this view. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal asks the question, if Warren Buffett is willing to invest $10 billion to help Occidental Petroleum buy Anadarko Petroleum, what does old Warren know that we don’t? Here’s the better question: What if renewables don’t pan out after all? What if renewables can’t supply all of our energy needs? Is that what old Warren is thinking?
Continue reading

Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, May 20, 2019

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Shale royalties workshop in Greene aims to help demystify process for landowners; Cuomo vs. New York; Giving back while they frack; Dept. of Energy Under Secretary Menezes visits southwest PA; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Expert predicts more Wisconsin frac sand mines may close; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas prices remain low and stable; Better odds with pipelines; Natural gas is the green new deal; NY’s anti-Trump AG asks court to deny Exxon access to climate crusaders’ emails.
Continue reading