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31 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 10 – 16
Back into the 30s! The number of new permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica last week was 31, after being 24 the week before. Over the past five weeks (including last week), the number of new permits issued has been 37, 39, 37, 24, and 31, respectively. Not bad at all. Pennsylvania issued 14 new permits last week, down from 16 the prior week. Ohio issued 5 new permits, down from 6 the prior week. West Virginia, which issued no new permits two weeks ago, soared, issuing 12 permits last week. Read More “31 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 10 – 16”
Overwatch Capital and Japanese company Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. have formed a strategic partnership to develop high-density, energy-resilient AI data centers across ten U.S. states. This collaboration involves Idemitsu investing in Overwatch and supplying up to 1 gigawatt of natural gas for on-site power generation to support next-generation AI computers. The initiative leverages Overwatch’s SIDE Platform, which integrates generation, battery storage, and advanced cooling, alongside Idemitsu’s global energy expertise. Initial projects are set to begin in 2026 in Dallas-Fort Worth and Columbus, Ohio, to provide reliable infrastructure for hyperscalers and cloud providers. 
Planette, a long-range weather prediction platform that combines cutting-edge AI with decades of Earth system science, says it can predict long-range weather more accurately than others. Planette’s Winter 2025-26 forecast anticipates a highly volatile season driven by a North Pacific dual ocean temperature “blob” and a weakened polar vortex, deeming the current La Niña too weak to be significant. The outlook predicts above-average temperatures interrupted by multiple, predictable, and “significant” cold snaps, with the AI-driven platform offering 30- to 40-day lead times to warn people of their approach. If you’ve been paying attention to MDN’s posts this week, you know how significant weather is in determining the price of natural gas. 
I see ghosts! Or is that dead people? The U.S. electricity grid faces pressure from surging demand, primarily from data centers, sparking debates over reliability and cost allocation. EPSA (Electric Power Supply Association) CEO Todd Snitchler warns that “ghost projects”—projects announced and planned/funded but never built—are artificially inflating load forecasts. He argues that regulated utilities use these overstated numbers to justify expensive rate-based generation, benefiting shareholders while forcing customers to bear the costs of potential overbuilding. Competitive energy markets are demanding accurate, data-driven planning to maintain affordability and reliability without wasting capital on unnecessary infrastructure. Please, no more ghosts. 
Reorg! The Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled a major reorganization under the Trump administration to prioritize fossil fuels, minerals, and nuclear power while diminishing renewable energy programs. Secretary Chris Wright’s plan rebrands the loan program as “Energy Dominance Financing” and consolidates efficiency and clean energy divisions into a new “Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.” This restructuring, aimed at restoring “common sense” to energy policy, accompanies billions in project cancellations and staff reductions. 
Bloomberg writes that shale energy’s next revolution should worry the thug dictators of OPEC. American shale drillers currently extract 10% to 15% of the oil locked in the shale layer, leaving the rest underground. However, engineers are actively trying to change this through new techniques and technologies. What if we could double the amount of oil and gas extracted? It would, once again, change the oil and gas industry worldwide. Double the production for the same investment? It’s a no-brainer. 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Texas gains primacy to lead in carbon capture and storage; Maura Healey deflects blame for soaring energy bills; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures retreat on weather data; Natural gas price continues to consolidate; USA crude oil stocks drop by 3.4 million barrels WoW; FERC explores blanket authorizations for LNG, hydroelectric; How tariffs are impacting the U.S. oil and gas industry; As US expands NLG exports, fractionation capacity risk emerges; INTERNATIONAL: Oil slips as peace talks advance; Norway gas output hits six-month high; Colombia urges world to quit fossil fuels as its own effort founders.