Marcellus Drilling News

Bombshell: NY DEC Head Martens Started Anti-Fracking Group

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

Big news Well well. Jon Campbell from the Gannett News Service wrote an article yesterday about New York Dept. of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens. It has a surprising revelation in it.

If you’ve read MDN for any length of time, you no doubt will know we have said we believe Joe Martens to be the fox in the henhouse—that is, the man put in charge of hydraulic fracturing in the state is a committed opponent of it (see this MDN story). Were we wrong?

Antero Resources | Energy Companies

Antero 2Q12 Update: More Marcellus/Utica Drilling Ahead

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

Antero Resource released their 2Q12 financial and operating update this morning. Among the highlights: They’re operating 10 drilling rigs in the Marcellus, all of them in northern West Virginia. They plan to add two more rigs in the near future to the 10 already there. To date, Antero has drilled and completed 88 Marcellus Shale gas wells. They’ve completed two Utica Shale wells in eastern Ohio and are right now drilling a third.

Below are the relevant portions from the update for this very active Marcellus/Utica driller:

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH

Ohio Drought: Does Fracking Use Too Much Water?

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

Like Pennsylvania, Ohio is experiencing drought conditions this summer. With drought conditions comes concerns that drilling companies use too much water from local rivers and streams (and other sources) for fracking. But also like PA, the amount of water used for fracking in Ohio is truly miniscule compared with other uses.

Until the recent passage of Senate Bill 315, Ohio could not control access to how much water is used by drilling companies. That’s now changed:

Belmont County | Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio

Would Drillers be Interested in a Half Acre? Yep

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

You may not get rich as a landowner of a small plot of ground by leasing it for gas drilling, but depending on where you live, even if you own just a half acre of land, you may be able to participate in Marcellus or Utica Shale drilling. That’s what happened with Belmont County when they recently discovered the county owns a half acre plot of land they previously didn’t know they owned. Gulfport Energy made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PA Fish & Boat Commission: Why They Lease for Gas Drilling

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission recently entered into leases for drilling to occur underneath several lakes it owns. The executive director of the Commission, John Arway, said that two years ago he couldn’t imagine “siding with the natural gas industry regard drilling.” So what changed his mind?

Seismic Testing for Shale Coming to Armstrong County, PA

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

Ion GX Technology is in the process of contacting landowners and filing the necessary paperwork to begin seismic testing in Armstrong County, PA along with some portions of Westmoreland and Indiana counties. Landowners do not have to grant permission for seismic testing and cannot be forced to do so.

Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Wildlife

Audubon Society Works with Drillers on Habitat Restoration

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

The Audubon Society of Pennsylvania, the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Marcellus Shale Coalition are jointly hosting a series of meetings in southeastern and central PA for hunters, anglers and people interested in the outdoors to discuss habitat restoration after Marcellus Shale drilling. The sessions seek to find out how the drilling industry can become a partner in restoring areas after drilling activities disrupt an area.

OH Union Wins Grant for Utica/Marcellus Job Development

August 13, 2012August 14, 2012

[UPDATE BELOW] Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 396 won a competitive grant process to receive funds for job development in the Utica and Marcellus Shale plays. Local 396 craftsmen consist of plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, and HVAC/refrigeration fitters.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

New Guide for Homeowners: Testing Water Wells Near Drilling

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

Household water well owners near oil and gas development and completion activities, including hydraulic fracturing, can get guidance about water testing from a new brochure produced by the National Ground Water Association and the Ground Water Protection Council (brochure embedded below).

About MDN | Calendar

Calendar of Events for Aug 13-26, 2012 [Free]

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

Below are upcoming events for this week and next.
Read More “Calendar of Events for Aug 13-26, 2012 [Free]”

Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Aug 13, 2012

August 13, 2012August 13, 2012

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