Marcellus Drilling News

Accidents | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Wastewater | XTO

XTO Energy Files to Have AG Kane’s Lawsuit Dismissed
June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

It’s now obvious to everyone that Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Kathleen Kane abuses her office to selectively prosecute high-profile cases to support her own anti-drilling agenda. During her campaign in 2012 Kane pledged to fight to end fracking in PA. She’s doing her best to keep her promise. Example 1: Kane is persecuting/prosecuting a small business owner and his family, including his wife, mother and father (see Minuteman Enviro Says PA AG Office “Terrorized” Family Members, Filing Lawsuit). Example 2: Kane is attempting to criminalize the accidental spill of a small amount of recycled wastewater by XTO that happened years before she took office (see PA AG Abuses Her Authority, Files Criminal Charges Against XTO). XTO filed a motion on Monday to dismiss Kane’s case against the company, pointing out her anti-drilling bias to the judge…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Landfills | MAX Environmental | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Washington County

New Landfill Expansion in SWPA Aimed at Marcellus Drillers
June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

Max Environmental has operated the Bulger hazardous waste landfill in Smith Township (Washington County), PA since 1958. The company plans to expand the landfill by 21 acres in order to handle an increase of drill cuttings and even liquid waste (which they will turn to solid waste) coming from Marcellus Shale drilling. First up is a public information meeting (sure to be a must-attend, and controversial) being held later this month. Then Max will file a formal application with the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection. Max officials say it will likely take a good five years to receive a permit–such is how mind-numbingly slow the regulatory wheels turn these days…
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Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Public Opinion | Statewide PA | Taxation

New PA Poll Shows Vast Majority Favor Jobs Over Severance Tax
June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

A newly released poll of Pennsylvania voters completely deflates the Democrat call for high taxes on Marcellus Shale drillers–and it has some Democrats, like reporters for the Harrisburg Patriot-News, scrambling to provide propaganda cover lest the truth become known. And what is that truth? Although a majority of voters in PA polled nominally “support” a severance tax (55%), when asked if such a tax were to result in job loss and drillers leaving the state, those same voters say they would NOT support a severance tax (58%). Huh. You don’t hear that being reported by PA’s mainstream media–unless it’s “reporter” Matt Zencey bashing the poll with Democrat talking points…
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Energy Companies | Gastar Exploration | Marshall County | West Virginia | Wetzel County

Gastar Update: Drilling 1st Utica & More Marcellus Wells in WV
June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

A month ago MDN reported on the quarterly analyst call from Gastar Exploration–a sizable Marcellus Shale driller in West Virginia (see Gastar Top Brass Discusses 1Q14 Results, Drilling Program in WV). Gastar said at that time they are looking to move their drilling operations further south in West Virginia–to Wetzel County. However, they haven’t abandoned their plans for Marshall County for the balance of this year. In fact, Gastar is currently drilling a Utica well in Marshall County right now. A quick update from Gastar, released last Friday:
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Endeavour International | Energy Companies | McKean County | Pennsylvania | Potter County | SM Energy

Endeavour International’s Stock Tanks – Why?
June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

In 2011, Endeavour International, an independent energy company from Houston, TX, cut a deal with SM Energy for 50,000 Marcellus Shale acres, three producing wells and a pipeline in McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania (see Endeavour International Buys Lease for Additional 50K Marcellus Acres & Local Pipeline in PA from SM Energy). At the time Endeavour had around 33,000 Marcellus Shale acres. However, by the end of 2011, Endeavour backed out of the deal (see Endeavour Leaves SM Energy at the Altar, SM Ready to Sue). After two and a half years of litigation, the two sides settled in April, costing Endeavour $19.25 million (see Endeavour & SM Energy Settle Lawsuit over PA Marcellus Properties). However, Endeavour’s stock price continues to bump along at the bottom of the barrel–something that has them mystified…
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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Research

Canadian University Research Finds Fracking & Shale Drilling Safe
June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

A pair of reports were released last week by researchers at Cape Breton University (Canada). The first report on fracking and water says fracking does not contaminate water aquifers (groundwater supplies). The second report on well integrity says that while not industrial process like drilling a well can 100% prevent any leakage (of methane), current technologies are pretty darned good and getting better and there’s nothing to worry about (our paraphrase of course). These reports will help clear the way for fracking in Canada (hopefully where the Canadian Utica Shale is located, in Quebec). MDN has included more excerpts below, along with full copies of both reports that say shale drilling and fracking are A-OK for Canada…
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Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Jun 12, 2014
June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

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