Marcellus Drilling News

CNX Resources | Commodity Price | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues

CNX Gas Corp. chief: Slow down or stop gas drilling
October 4, 2009February 26, 2010

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Oct 3):
CNX Gas Corp. chief: Slow down or stop gas drilling

Gas prices are depressed right now. The question is, how long will it go on? While prices are low, CNX Gas CEO Nick DeIuliis says drillers have to remember to be good business people and slow down or stop drilling to reign in costs. What does that mean for landowners? Will drilling slow down or stop any time soon? Good questions to ponder. A good article to read to give you an update on gas prices on the commodities market and the overall drilling landscape.
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA House budget unlikely to advance
October 4, 2009February 26, 2010

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Oct 3):
House budget unlikely to advance

Pennsylvania still has not adopted a budget for the new fiscal year. Part of the wrangling is how to raise taxes to meet the ever growing demand of government to transfer wealth from the producers of society to the non-producers. In PA, the Democrats want to tax natural gas drilling, which of course will take money out of the landowner’s pocket…make no mistake, any tax on drilling will be passed on as an “expense” by the energy companies, reducing royalties to landowners. The Republicans in the PA statehouse are trying to stop it. Make your voice heard if you’re in PA!
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Toxins tied to fish kill may have hitchhiked: Investigators weigh whether mining equipment is culprit
October 4, 2009February 26, 2010

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Oct 4):
Toxins tied to fish kill may have hitchhiked: Investigators weigh whether mining equipment is culprit

A highly speculative and irresponsible article trying to tie an algae buildup along the Pennsylvania-West Virginia border to drilling for natural gas. I would go as far as saying it’s pure fantasy. But that’s what passes for “news” these days. Part of the article ties in completely unrelated news, like the Cabot problems in Northeast PA, with this one–a favorite tactic of people who don’t have a case.
Chemung County | Energy Companies | Fortuna Energy | New York | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Focus of natural gas exploration in Pa., not N.Y.
October 4, 2009February 26, 2010

Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (Oct 4):
Focus of natural gas exploration in Pa., not N.Y.

Not a lot of interest in this article. But there’s this useful paragraph:

Fortuna Energy Inc. of Chemung County, for example, has spent $350 million since April on wells in Pennsylvania, said spokesman Mark Scheuerman.
Chemung County | Energy Services | NEMSCo | New York

Natural gas quest: DEC investigating disposal of fluids by drilling vendor
October 4, 2009February 26, 2010

Press & Sun-Bulletin (Oct 3):
Natural gas quest: DEC investigating disposal of fluids by drilling vendor

Pretty much a non-story story, typical “hit piece” by leftist media. There is a company providing chemicals for drilling, for Pennsylvania companies (PA because so far, since there IS no drilling in New York). Said company, Northeast Mud Services Co. of Bridgeport, W.Va. (NEMSCo), is alleged to have leaked chemicals at their warehouse facility. Problem is, no one can find any leaks. The other complaint is that they have the audacity to wash their trucks, the fear being that an eye-dropper full of chemical may have contaminated the mud through which the trucks travel and then affixed itself to the truck, and so spray washing the trucks to keep them clean is a no-no. Both allegations came from an anonymous “tip”.

You can expect more of this nonsensical reporting to ramp up in the coming months as the New York DEC tries to sign off on the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement.