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Chevron Cutting 320 Jobs in Marcellus/Utica Beginning April 6th

By the end of this year, Chevron will have eliminated 320 jobs in its Marcellus/Utica operation. Some 288 of those positions will be gone from the company’s regional headquarters in Moon Township (Allegheny County, PA), and another 32 will be gone from the company’s Mount Braddock location (Fayette County, PA). The company says it will try to find new assignments for as many people as possible. The layoffs begin on April 6.
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Cabot Update: Upper Marcellus Test Wells are the Bees Knees

Last Friday Cabot Oil & Gas, one of the most prolific Marcellus drillers, released its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 update, with a look ahead at 2020. During the conference call with analysts, Cabot CEO Dan Dinges began his prepared remarks talking about tests the company has done in the Upper Marcellus. Very exciting results. He also said, near the end of the call, that Cabot has positioned itself to be “the last man standing” in the Marcellus. Hmmm, that’s an intriguing comment! What does he mean?
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Sad Day: Williams Declares Constitution Pipeline Project Dead

Last week we told you the good news that Williams recently re-filed an application with the New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection to build one of two critical northeastern pipeline projects–called the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project (see Signs of Life! Williams Refiles with NJ to Build NESE Pipe to NY). Today we bring you the sad news that Williams has given up on building a second, long-delayed project to flow natural gas from northeastern Pennsylvania into central New York, called the Constitution Pipeline.
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$500M Marcellus-Fed Petchem Plant Coming to Clinton County, PA

Clinton County, PA

A new half-billion-dollar petrochemical plant that would convert Marcellus Shale gas into feedstock (chemicals) to be used in agriculture, manufacturing, medicine, and transportation is getting serious in central Pennsylvania. Frontier Natural Resources and KeyState Agri are working on a plan to bring such a plant to western Clinton County, PA.
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FERC Grants PennEast Pipeline Another 2 Years to Get Built

The companies behind PennEast Pipeline, a $1.2 billion greenfield pipeline project from Luzerne County, PA to Mercer County, NJ, have not given up on the long-delayed project–delayed mostly due to opposition from Big Green groups and their abuse of our court system to block the project. PennEast recently filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court over the issue of using eminent domain powers to cross land owned or controlled by the State of New Jersey. Since the original Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) certificate authorizing construction of the project expired on Jan. 19, 2020, PennEast asked FERC to extend it another two years (see PennEast Pipe Still Hopeful, Asks FERC for 2-Year Extension).
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Atlantic Coast Pipe Oral Arguments Today in U.S. Supreme Court

Oral arguments will be heard this morning beginning at 10 am at the U.S. Supreme Court on a case to decide whether or not the Appalachian Trail will, from now on, block all future pipelines from being installed under it. The case, U.S. Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Preservation Association, will determine whether or not Big Green wins the right to block Dominion Energy’s Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project from crossing under the Appalachian Trail.
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Fracking Arithmetic: U.S. Citizens Saved $1 TRILLION in 10 Years

It’s election (i.e. silly) season all year long, until November. One of the key issues shaping up to influence the presidential election this year is, yes, FRACKING. The term fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, has been bastardized to the point it now means (in the public’s mind) “fossil fuels.” All of the Democrat presidential hopefuls are in favor of severely limiting, or outright banning, fracking. By which they mean the production of new oil and natural gas from shale deposits. It is a losing platform on which to run–yet that’s what they’re doing. We spotted an article on the Forbes website that uses simple arithmetic to calculate the impact fracking has (so far) had on Americans.
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Shale Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Feb 24, 2020

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: DEP invites comments on Adelphia Gateway pipeline erosion & sedimentation permit; Pitt fossil fuel disinvestment activists begin occupation of cathedral; Encino Energy and Habitat for Humanity partner to build homes and community; Let’s drive West Virginia’s future; Gas pipeline upgrades underway in Covington; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Rehearing of Atlantic Bridge flash decision denied by FERC; Protest at natural gas site in Weymouth draws 13 arrests; What REX pipeline’s contract changes mean for gas flows, prices; NATIONAL: Working natgas stocks will end 2019–20 heating season at highest level since 2017; Natural-gas exporters struggle to lock up buyers despite ‘freedom gas’ pitch; Want to help the environment? Don’t ban fracking.; Shale production is on DUC life support and will need it going forward; Researchers awarded DOE/NETL grant to develop one-step process for converting natural gas into liquids; The obvious reality of more U.S. oil and natural gas; INTERNATIONAL: Aramco to spend $110 bil on Saudi Arabia’s largest unconventional gas field.
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