Marcellus Drilling News

Belmont County | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Regulation | Wastewater

OH Injection Well Owner Wins Case Against ODNR, Potential Restart
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

We’re picking up the thread of a story we last reported on in 2021. In July 2019, MDN told you about New Jersey-based Omni Energy Group and their application to build two new injection wells near St. Clairsville (see Belmont County Injection Well Plan Stirs Opposition from Coal Co.). Omni eventually built the wells, and at least one went into service. However, the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) lowered the injection pressure allowed at the well AFTER approving a higher pressure, effectively shutting it down. Two days ago Omni won an important court victory in this long-running saga.
Read More “OH Injection Well Owner Wins Case Against ODNR, Potential Restart”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH

Ohio House Passes Bill to Encourage New NatGas Pipes w/$20M Fund
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

A bill proposed by two Republican state lawmakers in Ohio, House Bill (HB) 349, makes it easier to site and build natural gas pipelines to areas of the state where pipelines currently don’t exist (see Ohio Bill Encourages New NatGas Pipelines to Spread Across State). The bill will create new jobs by running pipelines to industrial parks and businesses not currently serviced by natgas. The aim is to stimulate new jobs and opportunities in Buckeye State, a smart strategy. Good news: HR 349 was just passed by the full Ohio House and now moves on to the Senate.
Read More “Ohio House Passes Bill to Encourage New NatGas Pipes w/$20M Fund”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA IFO Predicts 2024 Impact Tax Will Fall $10-$15M from 2023
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

Last week, MDN brought you the news that the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) is now distributing money raised by the shale impact fee (PA’s version of a severance tax) from 2023 to municipalities and government agencies (see PA PUC Distributes 2023 Impact Fee – Revenue Dropped $99M YOY). The state raised and distributed $179.6 million based on 2023 activity — down just over $99 million from a record-high $278.9 million raised and distributed last year from 2022 activity. The state Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) is out with an estimate for how much money will be raised and distributed from the 2024 impact fee assessment. Sadly, the revenue will fall again for the second year in a row.
Read More “PA IFO Predicts 2024 Impact Tax Will Fall $10-$15M from 2023”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA Senator Says “Get Government the Hell Out of the Way” re NatGas
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

PA State Sen. Camera Bartolotta

On Tuesday, June 25, the American Petroleum Institute Pennsylvania (API PA) was joined by Pennsylvania state senators and representatives, joint trades, energy companies, and business and labor leaders in the state to host “Natural Gas and Oil Day” at the Capitol in Harrisburg to spotlight Pennsylvania’s energy advantage and advocate for policies that strengthen the state’s strong natural gas and oil industry. Natural Gas and Oil Day started with a press conference, followed by a hands-on, interactive showcase with over ten energy industry and technology-related vendors. One of the speakers at the presser (simply on fire!) was State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, who didn’t mince words in her talk.
Read More “PA Senator Says “Get Government the Hell Out of the Way” re NatGas”
Carbon Capture | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA House Advances Carbon Capture & Sequestration (CCS) Act
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

A key issue has arisen with the rapid increase in carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects around the country, including here in the Marcellus/Utica region. Where does one store (sequester) all that carbon dioxide (CO2)? The answer is underground in a Class VI injection well. Class VI wells are a relatively new classification for injection wells, created by the federal EPA in 2010. In April, the Pennsylvania State Senate took the first step in establishing a framework that allows for the underground storage of CO2 in the Keystone State by passing Senate Bill (SB) 831 (see PA Senate Passes Carbon Capture & Sequestration (CCS) Act). A key committee in the House just voted unanimously (bipartisan!) to approve and move the bill along.
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Ascent Resources | BKV/Banpu | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | HG Energy | Hilcorp Energy | PennEnergy Resources

6 Marcellus/Utica Drillers in Top 20 Private Natural Gas Producers
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

Two days ago, MDN brought you the list of the Top 100 private oil and gas producers in the Lower 48 states, which includes four Marcellus/Utica drillers in the Top 10 (see 4 M-U Drillers in Top 10 (of Top 100) Private Oil & Gas Producers). The list is based on information provided by Enverus and Oil and Gas Investor. The list shows how current mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity is changing the face of private (not publicly traded) oil and gas companies. Today, we have another slice of the same data — this time, it’s the Top 20 private natural gas drillers only (removes oil). There are six from the Marcellus/Utica on this new list.
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

First Solar Donates $1.5M to Biden and Gets $10B in Gov’t Money!
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

Hey Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), why have you not launched a complaint against Joe Biden for the OVERT quid pro quo involving First Solar? The company donated at least $2 million to Democrats in 2020, including $1.5 million to Biden’s election campaign. The company subsequently received a promise of $10+ BILLION in government money from the misnamed Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Yet you (CREW) launched a complaint against Donald Trump for allegedly seeking campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry (see LibDem NGO Files Complaint Against Trump for Mtg with Big Oil). Don’t look now, CREW, but your partisan bias is showing.
Read More “First Solar Donates $1.5M to Biden and Gets $10B in Gov’t Money!”
Best of the Rest

Other Stories of Interest: Thu, Jun 27, 2024
June 27, 2024June 27, 2024

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Aramco agreement for equity, offtake from Port Arthur LNG2; Why are Midwest grid operators turning away wind power?; NATIONAL: Shale executives see mergers squeezing US oil production; Red states notify Biden admin of lawsuit over ‘nonsensical’ EV rule; U.S. crude imports touch two-year high despite lukewarm demand; How consolidation has changed the midstream landscape; Five energy failures Joe Biden needs you to forget before the debate; INTERNATIONAL: Denmark is charging farmers a $100 ‘burp tax’ per cow; Russia’s Gazprom announces natural gas supply deal with Iran.
Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Thu, Jun 27, 2024”