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PA Re-Adds a Rig to 14; National Rig Count Even 3rd Week @ 585

Three weeks ago, Pennsylvania’s rig count dropped to just 12 rigs, the lowest that state has operated in the last 17 years (see PA Drops Another Rig to 17-Year Low; National Rig Count Even @ 585). Two weeks ago, PA picked up a rig, returning to 13 active rigs. Last week, Baker Hughes reported PA added yet another rig, and the state count is now at 14. Almost three months ago (as of August 23), PA operated 21 rigs for perspective. Last week, Ohio and West Virginia maintained their respective counts of 10 active rigs each. The combined count in the M-U stands at 34. Read More “PA Re-Adds a Rig to 14; National Rig Count Even 3rd Week @ 585”

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EQT, Diversified Settle WV Class Action Lawsuit re Old Wells

In August, MDN brought you up to speed on a lawsuit filed by several West Virginia landowners (turned into a class action) against Diversified Energy and EQT over EQT’s sale of 11,350 conventional wells and 2.5 million acres of leases spread across several states, including West Virginia (see WV Landowner Lawsuit Against EQT, Diversified re Old Wells Continues). The lawsuit claimed EQT had sold the wells and assets as a way of shirking its responsibility to plug old abandoned (no longer producing) wells, and that Diversified would not and could not live up to its responsibility to plug those wells. We have breaking news: Diversified and EQT have negotiated a settlement with the landowners with a proposed payout of up to $6.5 million. Read More “EQT, Diversified Settle WV Class Action Lawsuit re Old Wells”

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Seneca to Run 1-2 Rigs Next Yr, Focus on Tioga & Lycoming Counties

National Fuel Gas Company (NFG), headquartered in Buffalo, NY, is the parent company for Marcellus/Utica driller Seneca Resources and the parent of midstream company NFG Midstream (and subsidiary Empire Pipeline). Last week, NFG issued its latest quarterly update. During the quarter (considered the company’s fourth quarter), Seneca produced 91.9 Bcf (billion cubic feet) of natural gas, an increase of 1.8 Bcf (2%) from the prior year. Due to the sucky prices for natural gas in the Marcellus/Utica basin area, Seneca curtailed (shut-in) 1.5 Bcf during the quarter. Read More “Seneca to Run 1-2 Rigs Next Yr, Focus on Tioga & Lycoming Counties”

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PA Bill Denies Impact Fees to Shale-Hostile Municipalities

In May, MDN told you that several Republican Pennsylvania State Senators were planning to introduce a bill to cut off millions of dollars in impact fee revenues to municipalities that set protective standards on the development of natural gas that “imposes a standard or condition on well development that conflicts with or exceeds those contained” in state law (see PA Bill Cuts Off Impact Tax Revenue to Municipalities that Sue O&G). The bill was officially introduced last week. Read More “PA Bill Denies Impact Fees to Shale-Hostile Municipalities”

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Trump to Tap NY’s Lee Zeldin to Head EPA; Climate Radicals Enraged

Lee Zeldin

Can anything good still come from New York State? With respect to people, the answer is a resounding YES! President-elect Donald J. Trump yesterday announced his pick to head the viper’s nest known as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). That person is former NY Congressman Lee Zeldin, who almost beat Kathy Hochul in a run for Governor two years ago. The Zeldin pick immediately set off the anti-Semites at the New York Times (we’re not surprised). Read More “Trump to Tap NY’s Lee Zeldin to Head EPA; Climate Radicals Enraged”

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Harold Hamm’s Oil & Gas Priorities for Trump’s Second Term

Harold Hamm

Harold Hamm is the legendary founder and executive chairman of Continental Resources, a large, privately owned drilling company. Hamm is, along with George Mitchell, Aubrey McClendon, and a few others, one of the original pioneers who figured out how to combine fracking with horizontal drilling to access previously trapped oil in shale deposits. Hamm’s claim to fame is drilling in the mighty Bakken oil fields of North Dakota. Harold Hamm is, by all accounts, one of the biggest frackers in the world. He’s also a big fan of Donald J. Trump and helped coral donors from the oil and gas industry to donate money to Trump’s campaign. Although Hamm won’t have an official role in the new administration, he does have four energy goals for the next administration to tackle. Read More “Harold Hamm’s Oil & Gas Priorities for Trump’s Second Term”

Other Stories of Interest: Tue, Nov 12, 2024

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: California levels up rules to reduce fuel carbon intensity; Voters in blue Washington vote to block bans on gas stoves; NATIONAL: Analysts explain why USA natural gas price is rising; Oil players eagerly anticipating what lies ahead after Trump win; Let’s get to energy independence with fracking; Trump expected to roll back environmental protections, boost oil and gas; INTERNATIONAL: WTI and Brent drop on soft China demand; Climate talks begin with focus on shaking down “rich countries”; British energy majors may lean more on oil and gas to boost profits; EU’s now wants to buy more American gas. Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Tue, Nov 12, 2024”