Marcellus Drilling News

PA Gov. Corbett Says Municipal Fees (Not Taxes) for Marcellus Drilling May be OK

March 24, 2011March 24, 2011

Gov. Tom Corbett has been a steadfast opponent of extra taxes on the Marcellus Shale drilling industry in PA. Such opposition was part of his platform when running, and now in office, he has remained opposed, even under withering criticism. In Corbett’s opinion, taxing the industry and dumping that money into the general fund to be used for whatever purpose politicians want to use it is a bad idea (politicians always find uses for other people’s money).

But on Wednesday, Corbett opened the window to the possibility that local municipalities could assess fees to cover expenses associated with Marcellus development in their communities.

Chesapeake Ordered to Stop Work on Drilling Pad in Potter County, PA Because of Erosion

March 24, 2011March 24, 2011

Chesapeake Energy has been ordered to stop work on preparing a drilling site in north central PA because the work they’re doing at the site is causing dirt to runoff into a local stream which in turn is the water source for a local township.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Motives of Anti-Drilling Groups Exposed in NY Post Editorial

March 24, 2011March 24, 2011

The headline of a recent editorial in The New York Post says “Frack, baby, frack!” in a play on the oft-quoted phrase “drill, baby, drill.” It is a short but good piece, summarizing where New York stands on drilling in the Marcellus Shale. It encourages newly elected Gov. Andrew Cuomo to either lift the drilling moratorium immediately, or let it expire in July, so drilling can (finally) go forward.

One of the interesting points made in the editorial is that the motives of environmental groups in opposing drilling are not 100 percent pure as the wind-driven snow, which is what they want you to believe. The truth is, opposing Marcellus drilling is “good for business.”

Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Roads | Statewide PA

PA State Police Target Marcellus Drilling Truckers, Take 131 Trucks Off the Road in Just Two Days

March 24, 2011March 24, 2011

On March 14 and 15 the Pennsylvania State Police conducted spot inspections of trucks involved in Marcellus Shale drilling activities—most of them hauling wastewater from drilling sites.

Chenango County | Landowner Coalition News | New York

Central New York Landowner Coalition to Meet April 9th, Topic: Anti-Gas Activism Targeted at Town Boards

March 24, 2011March 24, 2011

For landowners who belong to the Central New York Landowner’s Coalition (a very large coalition in Upstate NY), there will be an all-coalition meeting on Saturday, April 9th to discuss recent developments by those opposed to drilling. The coalition believes drilling permits are likely to start being issued soon, and those who oppose drilling are now “taking the fight” to local town boards in an attempt to regulate and prevent drilling. The coalition wants to address that issue.

From the announcement:

Magnum Hunter CEO Says Conventional Gas Plays Can’t Compete, Company Drills One New Marcellus Gas Well a Month in WV

March 24, 2011March 24, 2011

Some interesting comments made by Magnum Hunter CEO Gary Evans at the recent Marcellus Midstream Conference in Pittsburgh at their projected activity in 2011 and conventional vs. unconventional shale gas plays:

Range Resources Continues to Create Numerous Jobs in Marcellus Shale Region

March 24, 2011March 24, 2011

Range Resources has grown from one employee in Canonsburg, PA, to 350 employees in Canonsburg at the present time, and with plans to more than double that number again according to Range’s CEO John Pinkerton in comments he made at the recent Marcellus Midstream Conference in Pittsburgh.