Marcellus Drilling News

The Mighty Marcellus Roars in PA – Production Up 55% in 6 Months

August 17, 2011August 17, 2011

lion Now we know why it’s called “The Mighty Marcellus.” New production figures for the first six months of 2011 show that on all counts—natural gas, gas liquids, and even oil—the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania is producing a tremendous amount of new energy. Figures for the southwestern part of PA show a 55 percent increase in production over the previous six month period.

Community Supports 11 New Marcellus Wells in Butler County

August 17, 2011August 17, 2011

Contrary to media reports which make it appear that an overwhelming majority of people oppose Marcellus drilling, not “everyone” is opposed. Case in point: Local citizens in Lancaster Township (Butler County), PA turned out to support drilling in their community in two separate meetings:

Range Resources Fights PA Town Ordinance, Threatens Lawsuit

August 17, 2011August 17, 2011

Range Resources, one of the largest Marcellus Shale drillers in Pennsylvania, and the first to sink a Marcellus well in the state in 2003, is pushing back against what it calls “death by a thousand paper cuts” – townships imposing their own regulations on drilling that result in a de facto ban on drilling. Range has just filed an appeal with the zoning hearing board in South Fayette (Allegheny County), PA challenging the township’s zoning regulations prohibiting drilling. Range says if the hearing board does not reverse course, it will take the township to court. A copy of Range’s 35-page challenge filed with the hearing board is embedded below.

UPDATE: Also embedded below is a full copy of the drilling ordinance passed by South Fayette Township in 2010. Thank you to MDN reader Josh Whetzel for suggesting we include it with this article.

Industrialization | Industrywide Issues | Lancaster County | Pennsylvania

Shale Gas Drillers Spread STDs Says PA Democrat Legislator

August 17, 2011August 17, 2011

You know you’re winning the battle when the other side stoops to this… PA Rep. Mike Sturla (Democrat, Lancaster County) wrote the following in an email to Capitolwire:

Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

New Marcellus Pipeline Construction Pumping $2B into Economy

August 17, 2011August 17, 2011

New pipeline construction for Marcellus Shale gas is set to have a major economic impact on the Marcellus region—to the tune of $2 billion. The new capacity in Marcellus pipelines will more than double the existing capacity in place now: