U.S. Rig Count Drops 2 @ 547; Marcellus/Utica Remains Even @ 37
After gaining rigs for four weeks in a row, the Baker Hughes U.S. national rig count stayed even two weeks ago, neither gaining nor (more importantly) losing any rigs (see U.S. Rig Count Remained Even @ 549; Pa. Lost 1 Marcellus Rig). Last week we returned to losing rigs, with the national count down by two to 547. Pennsylvania lost one rig two weeks ago, from 18 to 17, after maintaining its count for 10 consecutive weeks. Last week, PA remained static at 17. Ohio kept 13 rigs in the Utica for a third week. West Virginia kept its seven active rigs, the same number since May 30. The combined M-U count was 37 rigs, with 23 rigs targeting the Marcellus layer and 14 targeting the Utica. Read More “U.S. Rig Count Drops 2 @ 547; Marcellus/Utica Remains Even @ 37”
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its highly dysfunctional and irresponsible counterpart, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use requests for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the October 11 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the commission voted to approve 11 water withdrawal requests related to shale gas development and two for gas-fired power plants. 
Infinity Natural Resources (INR), headquartered in Morgantown, WV, focuses 100% on the Marcellus/Utica. The company went public earlier this year with a $265 million ($20/share) initial public offering, giving INR a $1.18 billion market capitalization (see 
Fox Tank Company is one of the leading oil storage tank manufacturers in Texas, serving the growing oil field production needs of the Eagle Ford Shale, Permian Basin, and Bakken Shale areas. Chip Rogers, president of Fox Tank, traveled to Coshocton, OH, for an equipment auction at the former Crozier Welding in March. He liked what he saw and decided to stay. Fox is interested in servicing the Marcellus/Utica region. The company leased the former Crozier Welding site in June after being welcomed “with open arms” by local officials.
Radical environmentalists once again have their knickers in a twist. When don’t they? In August, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) reissued a certificate for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project, a billion-dollar-plus project designed to increase Transco pipeline capacity and flows of Marcellus gas heading into New York City and other northeastern markets by an extra 400 MMcf/d (see 
Governor Josh Shapiro’s Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development (SPEED) program, launched in August 2024, aimed to expedite Pennsylvania’s permitting process (see 
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: White powder found in envelope at Peoples Natural Gas; Hazleton buses now all run on compressed natural gas; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Deadly grid battery fallacy exposed in Massachusetts; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures snap losing streak; Companies paying record sums to develop geothermal energy; Electricity use is becoming more common for residential heating; Trump wants more natural-gas exports and lower energy prices; INTERNATIONAL: Oil rebounds amid tariff jitters; OPEC keeps oil outlook unchanged; Nestle quits global alliance on reducing dairy methane emissions; Climate Cult fantasy and duplicity precede COP30; ‘Green’ Antoinettes preaching austerity from private jets; Yes Virginia, David can slay Goliath; US threatens visa restrictions, sanctions against UN members that back IMO emissions plan.