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Equitrans Looks to Expand Capacity on MVP by Extra 0.5 Bcf/d

We have some significant news coming out of yesterday’s 2Q update from Equitrans about the company’s Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) project. Equitrans is seriously considering expanding compression along MVP to flow an extra 500 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas along the pipeline after it’s up and running.
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Range Resources in Talks to Sell Northeast PA Marcellus Assets

Two big pieces of news coming from yesterday’s Range Resources 2Q update: (1) The company is not yet done with asset sales, including active discussions on selling its northeastern Pennsylvania leases/wells in Lycoming County; and (2) drilling costs averaged less than $600 per lateral foot last quarter–the lowest average in the Marcellus/Utica region.
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Williams Says Pipeline Biz Doing Great Despite COVID-19

The pipeline business is doing just fine, despite COVID-19. That’s according to Alan Armstrong, CEO of one of the country’s largest pipeline companies–Williams. On a conference call yesterday to discuss the company’s 2Q20 performance, Armstrong said: “[M]any people assume that natural gas demand would be greatly diminished by COVID-19 and a stalled economy. Fortunately, we have not seen that play out at all. In fact, natural gas demand has continued to grow, both broadly across the market and on our systems, in particular.”
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FERC Finally Approves PennEast Pipe Split into 2 Phases

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finally got its butt in gear and issued a favorable environmental assessment (EA) for an amended request by PennEast Pipeline to break the project into two phases–building the pipeline through Pennsylvania in Phase One, and through New Jersey in Phase Two. FERC was supposed to issue its findings on or by July 10. Finally, after two weeks with no report, no explanation, and no communication, PennEast goosed FERC on July 24 (see PennEast Pipe Gooses FERC to Release Updated Enviro Review). The squeaky wheel…
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Third Lawsuit Filed Against Enbridge for KY TETCO Pipe Explosion

On August 1, 2019, Enbridge’s Texas Eastern Pipeline Company (TETCO) pipeline exploded in Lincoln County, Kentucky–killing one and sending six to the hospital (see TETCO Pipe Explodes in Kentucky Killing 1; Southbound M-U Gas Stops). In September we reported that at least two lawsuits had been filed against Enbridge and TETCO–one for wrongful death, the other by a couple severely injured and burned following the incident (see Two Lawsuits Filed Against Enbridge for KY TETCO Pipe Explosion). A third lawsuit, on behalf of 80 people “affected by the blast,” has just been filed by a personal injury lawyer now a year after the accident.
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What Happens to Leased Land for Now-Canceled Atlantic Coast Pipe?

ACP route through Virginia (click for larger version)

In July Dominion Energy announced it is throwing in the towel and canceling the 600-mile Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project that would have stretched from West Virginia to North Carolina. The company also announced it is selling its pipeline business to Warren Buffett (see Dominion Cancels Atlantic Coast Pipe, Sells Pipe Biz for $9.7B). Landowners along the pipeline’s route who signed leases to allow the pipeline across their property are now asking: What happens now? Are those leases terminated? Can someone else buy the leases and build a different pipeline?
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Shale Energy Stories of Interest: Wed, Aug 5, 2020

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Pennsylvania is tough. Joe Biden is weak. (video); NATIONAL: U.S. crude oil production in May has a record monthly decrease; Natural gas prices reach ‘turning point,’ with possible rally into 2021, says BofA; Low oil prices will boost consumption; US shale industry seeks same output for less input; Oil donors flock to Trump as Biden hardens climate stance.
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