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PA Supremes to Consider Long-Running Chesapeake Royalty Lawsuit

In December 2015, Pennsylvania’s felony-indicted Attorney General, Kathleen Kane (who later was convicted and did jail time) brought a lawsuit against Chesapeake Energy and Anadarko accusing them of royalty fraud (see PA Atty General Sues Chesapeake Energy, Williams for Royalty Fraud). Her successor, Josh Shapiro, has continued the fight.
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4th Circus Grills Dominion Lawyers About “Racist” Compressor Stn

Of all the issues that drives us crazy, this one is near or at the top of the list–the charge that building a low-emissions compressor station for Dominion Energy’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) about an hour outside of Richmond, Virginia is “racist” because it will be built in a community founded by emancipated slaves following the Civil War. The so-called “environmental justice” issue.
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Antero Resources 3Q – Production Record High, Spending Record Low

Antero Resources, one of the biggest and best “pure play” drillers focused on the Marcellus/Utica (with major operations in West Virginia), released their third quarter update yesterday. The company reports producing an amazing 3.37 billion cubic feet equivalent per day (Bcfe/d) of natural gas production (32% liquids), while spending just $290 million to do it–the lowest quarterly spend since the company went public in 2013. On the down side, the company reported a $150 million net loss, but that’s mainly because of a one-time “impairment charge,” meaning it was a paper loss, not a cash out-of-pocket loss.
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Gas Groups File “Friend of Court” Brief for PennEast Pipeline Appeal

In September, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a precedent-setting decision that disallows PennEast Pipeline from using the federally-delegated power of eminent domain to cross properties either owned by, or with easements granted to, the state of New Jersey (see Federal Court Rules PennEast Pipe Can’t Run Thru NJ State Land). It is not hyperbole to state that the decision has the power to shut down all future pipeline development in liberal states like New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and other locations. We’re not the only ones saying so.
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Southwestern Returns as Much Freshwater to Environment as Used

Southwestern Energy continues to be a trailblazer among Marcellus/Utica shale drillers. The company voluntarily participates in several environmental programs aimed at lowering methane emissions, including the TrustWell™ Responsible Gas Program and the ONE Future organization (see Southwestern Energy Lands Another “Responsible Gas” Customer). Air quality is not the only environmental issue important to Southwestern. Water is too.
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Shale Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Oct 31, 2019

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Peduto calls for a stop to further petrochemical industry development in region; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Lawsuit threat has caused 50% drop-off in La. oil drilling, study finds; NATIONAL: House Democrats block GOP effort to prevent nationwide fracking ban; Most utility-scale batteries in the United States are made of lithium-ion; Trevor Rees-Jones pioneered plays that changed America’s energy industry; Don’t bank on a boring propane market this winter.
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