Marcellus Drilling News

Anadarko | Chesapeake Energy | Chevron | CNX Resources | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Shell | Talisman Energy

Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Marcellus Drillers in 2011
February 27, 2012February 28, 2012

NOTE: The facts and figures below were cited from a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article. MDN has been contacted by several of the drilling companies in the list to let us know the numbers in some cases are not at all accurate. MDN is attempting to verify now (Feb 28) and will correct these numbers as soon as the raw data can be further analyzed.

In 2011, Marcellus drilling expanded exponentially in Pennsylvania. According to the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), companies drilled 2,755 Marcellus shale gas wells in Pennsylvania in 2011, up from 1,386 in 2010. That’s nearly a 200 percent increase (or doubling) in one year alone.

Below are the top 10 Marcellus drillers in Pennsylvania ranked by amount of gas produced. Included are some other bits of information (PA figures only) to give you an idea of the size and scope of that company’s operation in the PA Marcellus. (mcf = thousand cubit feet)

Read More “Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Marcellus Drillers in 2011”
Anschutz Exploration | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Regulation | Tompkins County

Another Look at the Dryden Fracking Ban Court Decision
February 27, 2012February 27, 2012

Last week, New York State Supreme Court Judge Phillip Rumsey ruled that the Town of Dryden has the right to ban gas drilling within its municipal borders (see this MDN story). As MDN pointed out, this is “round one” in the fight for landowner property rights. The Supreme Court in New York is only one step above county court. The Court of Appeals is the highest court in New York State.

Others have weighed in on the Dryden decision, including the Dryden Safe Energy Coalition (DSEC), a pro- but very much safe-drilling group headquartered in Dryden. From the DSEC press release following the decision:

Read More “Another Look at the Dryden Fracking Ban Court Decision”
Energy Services | Enterprise Products Partners | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

ATEX Express Ethane Pipeline Hits Potential Snag in Ohio
February 27, 2012February 27, 2012

Enterprise Products Partners recently announced a 1,230 mile ethane pipeline from Pennsylvania to the Gulf Coast (see this MDN story). Dubbed the ATEX Express (Appalachia to Texas), the proposed pipeline includes building 353 miles of new pipeline through Ohio. But the Ohio stretch of construction has hit a potential snag.

Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) officials say Enterprise must get their approval before building it, but Enterprise disputes the OPSB has the authority to oversee construction the ATEX Express in the state. The dispute hinges on whether the natural gas liquid ethane that will flow through the pipeline is a liquid or a gas. Ethane under pressure is a liquid, but when it hits the air, it turns into a gas.

Read More “ATEX Express Ethane Pipeline Hits Potential Snag in Ohio”
Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Shale Gas on the Western PA Hot Jobs List, Solar Not Hot
February 27, 2012February 27, 2012

Which jobs are hot and which are not? That’s the question raised in a recent Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article. At number three on the “hot” list is the natural gas industry.

Read More “Shale Gas on the Western PA Hot Jobs List, Solar Not Hot”
Crime | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Penn State Study Finds No Crime Rate Increase in Drilling Counties
February 27, 2012February 27, 2012

Those who oppose drilling try to make the case that crime rates soar when drilling comes to a community. They say those “out of towners” have a lot of time on their hands in the off hours, and they use it to drink hard and play hard, and that leads to all sorts of criminal mischief. But a new Penn State study finds no evidence that when shale gas drilling comes to town crime rates increase. The preliminary findings of the study, performed by the Justice Center for Research at Penn State, were released in January but only announced just last week (a copy of the preliminary report is embedded below).

Read More “Penn State Study Finds No Crime Rate Increase in Drilling Counties”
Antero Resources | Energy Companies

Antero Allocates 79% of 2012 Drilling Budget to Marcellus
February 27, 2012February 27, 2012

Antero Resources announced its 2012 capital budget today. Among the plans: 79 percent of the drilling budget is allocated to Marcellus Shale. Antero currently operates six drilling rigs in the Marcellus. They also announced today they are selling a portion of their Marcellus gathering pipeline system to Crestwood Holdings for $375 million in cash.

Read More “Antero Allocates 79% of 2012 Drilling Budget to Marcellus”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Feb 27, 2012
February 27, 2012February 27, 2012

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:

Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Feb 27, 2012”