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Frac Sand: Does Size Really Matter?

Today, we introduce you to a new advertiser on Marcellus Drilling News: MS Industries. Below is a sponsored post from MS Industries. Such posts on MDN are extremely rare. We only accept sponsored posts if we believe the content is (a) very high quality and (b) directly relevant to MDN readers. This post on frac sand hits the bullseye. Among MDN’s audience are many who work for drillers (i.e., producers) and those who work for the oilfield services companies that work for those drillers. Believe it or not, frac sand is one of the keys, one of the closely-guarded secrets of drillers, that determines the success of their drilling programs. MS Industries, serving the Marcellus/Utica (and other plays), offers a range of high-grade frac sand, including whole grain silica microproppant. Matt Henry, one of the principals of MS Industries, writes about the role of microproppants in fracking. Click to learn more about the critical role of frac sand and why size *does* matter… Read More “Frac Sand: Does Size Really Matter?”

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Crowley Launches 1st U.S. Jones Act LNG Carrier to Serve Puerto Rico

Crowley’s American Energy, the first U.S. LNG carrier to transport U.S.-sourced natural gas to Puerto Rico.

This is a big deal. Shipping giant Crowley, with over 170 vessels mostly in the Jones Act fleet and approximately 7,000 employees around the world (employs more U.S. mariners than any other company), announced it has launched a Jones Act-compliant LNG carrier, U.S.-built and crewed, that will carry LNG from Gulf Coast export facilities to Puerto Rico (P.R.). Since P.R. is a U.S. territory, any U.S. LNG arriving on its shore must be transported on an American crewed and built ship to comply with the century-old Jones Act. Otherwise, the LNG must come from another country. Yeah, screwed up, royally. But, now, there is one ship that can carry LNG from the U.S. to P.R. Finally! Read More “Crowley Launches 1st U.S. Jones Act LNG Carrier to Serve Puerto Rico”

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WV Gov. Backs Energy Bill to Attract Data Centers, Use Coal & Gas

WV Gov. Pat Morrisey at the lectern

Yesterday, West Virginia Governor Pat Morrisey stood with the natural resource industry and educational leaders to ask the West Virginia Legislature to pass the Power Generation and Consumption Act (House Bill 2014) to expand data center development in the state. The bill will allow companies to develop independent energy grids using natural resources, including coal and gas, and positions West Virginia as a prime location for data centers, AI processing, and cloud computing. Morrisey said the legislation would “attract significant investment to the state.” Read More “WV Gov. Backs Energy Bill to Attract Data Centers, Use Coal & Gas”

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Elon Musk’s xAI Data Center in Memphis Uses Mobile Gas-Fired Power

Mobile gas-fired turbine rig

Forbes reports that when Memphis, Tennessee’s grid couldn’t provide all the electricity needed to power Elon Musk’s xAI’s new Colossus data center, the company turned to “a quick and dirty solution” of using mobile natural gas turbines. The Forbes reporter says these power plants on wheels are “usually a last resort during emergencies” and not a permanent solution. Data centers nationwide have started using them as a stopgap solution. At least four mobile units are at the xAI site in Memphis, possibly more. The concern is that they not only generate lots of electricity but also pollutants like nitrous oxides (NOx) and formaldehyde. Read More “Elon Musk’s xAI Data Center in Memphis Uses Mobile Gas-Fired Power”

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Williams Made Case at CERAWeek Permitting Reform Urgently Needed

Pipeline giant Williams, owner and operator of the mighty Transco pipeline system, deployed its top executives to speak at last week’s CERAWeek by S&P conference in Houston. On hand at the event were CEO Alan Armstrong, VP of New Energy Ventures, Jaclyn Presnal, and VP of Environmental, Regulatory and Permitting, Mark Gebbia. The three made a strong case that permitting reform is urgently needed if the country wants to deploy more natural gas for power generation and data centers. Read More “Williams Made Case at CERAWeek Permitting Reform Urgently Needed”

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Research Shows Cove Point LNG Lowered Global GHG Emissions 7 MMt/Yr

Earlier this month, MDN reported that S&P Global had released Phase 2 of an LNG study that shows U.S. LNG capacity additions would *significantly* lower global GHG emissions compared to the alternatives (see S&P Study: U.S. LNG Would “Significantly Lower” World GHG Emissions). Phase 1 of the study (last December) found more U.S. LNG exports will NOT raise the domestic price of natural gas, at least not appreciably (see S&P Study: More U.S. LNG Exports WON’T Raise Domestic Gas Prices). The good folks at Cove Point LNG sent MDN a copy of a study the owners commissioned specifically looking at the environmental impact of Cove Point. Rather than use modeling, Cove Point engaged ICF to look at the data from the facility’s first five years of exports, including the source of the gas, where it was shipped, and how it was used (often to offset coal and oil). The results (full report below) are tremendous! Read More “Research Shows Cove Point LNG Lowered Global GHG Emissions 7 MMt/Yr”

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Biden Admin ‘Intentionally Buried’ Study Favorable to LNG Exports

An explosive expose appearing on the Daily Caller website confirms rumors from last year that the Biden Department of Energy “intentionally buried” a final draft version of a study that would have undermined its January 2024 decision to pause approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export projects. Last October, we brought you the rumor that a study had been circulated at DOE that shows LNG is NOT bad for the environment and was subsequently covered up (see Biden-Harris DOE Covering Up Study Conducted Before LNG “Pause”). DOE personnel, speaking with the Daily Caller, confirm it happened. Read More “Biden Admin ‘Intentionally Buried’ Study Favorable to LNG Exports”

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Left Caves, Says OK to Pair Wind & Solar with “Dirty” Peaker Plants

The environmental left (at least some of them) is finally admitting what everyone with a brain already knows: Solar and wind power cannot meet the rapidly increasing demands for electricity coming from existing and soon-to-be-built AI data centers. What’s a lefty to do? We’ve been telling you (for years) that natural gas-fired power, which is “dispatchable” and on-demand, is a good backup for solar and wind. The left is finally holding its nose and saying maybe “dirty” natgas “peaker” (on demand) gas plants aren’t so bad after all. Read More “Left Caves, Says OK to Pair Wind & Solar with “Dirty” Peaker Plants”

Other Stories of Interest: Wed, Mar 19, 2025

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Are climate lawfare activists trying their hand in Pennsylvania (again)?; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Michigan claims immunity in natural gas pipeline interference lawsuit; DC Circuit reverses course on vacating FERC approvals of 2 LNG sites; Plaquemines Terminal, the newest kid on the block, boosts U.S. LNG feedgas; NATIONAL: America’s energy grid faces unprecedented threat; Energy chief praises research hub that Trump once sought to ax; GE Vernova shortlisted for supply of geothermal power to US military; Wind and solar firms pitch to Trump: ‘You’re going to need us’; The U.S. needs to drill smarter, not harder; US natural gas prices up on record flows to LNG export plants, cooler weather; Natural gas, not oil, may be the real winner of Trump’s EPA overhaul; Price rally sets the stage for U.S. natural gas boom; INTERNATIONAL: Natural gas may be first to offer a hint when Russia-Ukraine peace deal is near; Russia is wooing Arctic gas buyers with life after US sanctions; GASCADE to convert 249 miles of natural gas pipeline in Germany for hydrogen. Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Wed, Mar 19, 2025”