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M-U Rigs Steady @ 35; National Rig Count Drops One Rig @ 583

The rig count in the Marcellus/Utica appears to have stabilized, and that’s a good thing. For a while, it was in freefall, at least in Pennsylvania. In October, 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). Since then, PA has recovered a few rigs, clawing and scratching every inch of the way. Last week, the PA count stood at 15, the same as the prior week. Ohio and West Virginia held steady, with ten active rigs each. The M-U had a combined 35 rigs operating for the second week in a row, the most since August. Read More “M-U Rigs Steady @ 35; National Rig Count Drops One Rig @ 583”

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Reuters Was Right – Blackstone Paying EQT $3.5B for Pipeline Stake

Just about one month ago, Reuters reported that sources “familiar with the matter” whispered to its reporters that private equity firm Blackstone is “in advanced talks” to acquire minority stakes in the interstate natural gas pipelines now owned by EQT Corp. (following its purchase of Equitrans Midstream) for a whopping $3.5 billion (see Blackstone Seeks to Buy Pipeline Stake from EQT for $3.5 Billion). The sources were right! This morning, EQT issued a press release to announce a deal for Blackstone to invest $3.5 billion in the company’s midstream (pipeline) assets. Read More “Reuters Was Right – Blackstone Paying EQT $3.5B for Pipeline Stake”

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Closed Fairmont, WV Wastewater Plant Not Cleaned Up 1.5 Years Later

On May 30, 2023, a fire and subsequent explosion damaged an above-ground storage tank and the upper process building at the already-closed Fairmont Brine Processing plant in Fairmont, WV (see Unrelated Explosions at OH Utica Well Pad, WV Brine Plant). Following the fire, elevated readings of TENORM radiation were found in several areas of the site. Here it is a year-and-a-half later, and work to clean up the facility still has not happened, much to the consternation and concern of those who live near it. Read More “Closed Fairmont, WV Wastewater Plant Not Cleaned Up 1.5 Years Later”

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SRBC Approved 1 New, 41 Renewed Water Requests for Shale Wells

The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its completely dysfunctional and irresponsible cousin, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals for responsible and safe shale drilling. The Pennsylvania Bulletin from this past Saturday (Nov. 23) carried an official notice from the SRBC that the agency’s Executive Director gave his approval to one new and 41 renewed general water use permits in October for individual shale gas wells in Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming, Susquehanna, Tioga and Wyoming counties. Read More “SRBC Approved 1 New, 41 Renewed Water Requests for Shale Wells”

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The Rise of EQT CEO Toby Rice is “Nothing Short of Spectacular”

Toby Rice

PublicSource, an independent non-profit news organization based in Pittsburgh, published what can only be described as a “puff piece” on EQT Corporation CEO Toby Rice. The article covers Rice’s recent interactions with candidate Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago (in April), his recent appearance at a climate event in New York City (where he was “only flipped off one time”), and it even reaches back to interview Toby’s college baseball coach. The reporter paints a fascinating look at Rice and his rise to prominence in the Marcellus shale. The “father of the Marcellus,” Terry Engelder, was asked for his insights on Rice. He said, “The rise of Toby is nothing short of spectacular.” Indeed. Read More “The Rise of EQT CEO Toby Rice is “Nothing Short of Spectacular””

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Freeport LNG Train 3 Down Again; Caused 11-Hour “Emissions Event”

On Friday, we told you that a bankruptcy judge had tossed out a lawsuit brought by Freeport LNG against the companies that built the facility, claiming it was their shoddy work that has led to a steady string of problems and outages (see Bankruptcy Judge Tosses Freeport LNG Lawsuit Against 3 Contractors). We said this: “According to a Reuters story, Freeport experienced “roughly a dozen incidents” by early June. Since that time, things have thankfully improved.” We spoke too soon. Read More “Freeport LNG Train 3 Down Again; Caused 11-Hour “Emissions Event””

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Trump Plans to Approve New LNG Exports Within Days of Inauguration

We still continue to say “pinch us!” that Donald Trump won the election. And what about the picks he’s made for his cabinet and other key positions…Wow! Now comes word from leakers that “within days” of his inauguration, the Trump team will roll out approvals for LNG export requests that have been stalled for a year under Joementia. Word also leaked that Trump plans to approve new on-shore and off-shore drilling on federal lands. It’s such a breath of fresh air! (Pun intended.) Read More “Trump Plans to Approve New LNG Exports Within Days of Inauguration”