Marcellus Drilling News

Antero Resources | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Hilcorp Energy | Indiana County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Tuscarawas County | Tyler County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 22 – 28
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

The combined number of new permits issued to drill shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region was 26 for the week of Dec. 22 – 28, more than double the 12 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 15 new permits, Ohio issued 6, and West Virginia issued 5. Among the companies receiving new permits were Antero, EOG, EQT, Hilcorp, INR, and Range Resources. Read More “26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 22 – 28”
Accidents | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Washington County (OH)

2 Workers Die from Explosion Plugging Old Well in Ohio Wayne NF
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

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We have some very sad news to report. Back in August, MDN reported that a crew from Monroe Drilling Operations, LLC, was working to plug an abandoned well located in Wayne National Forest (in Washington County, OH, in the “Marietta Unit”) when natural gas and crude oil traveled up through the well to the surface and ignited, causing an explosion (see 5 People Critically Injured Plugging Old Well in Ohio Wayne NF). In addition to five members of Monroe Drilling, a mineral resources inspector from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) was also on-site. All six people on-site were injured by the blast, with five of the six “critically injured.” We’re sad to report that two of the five critically injured have died. Read More “2 Workers Die from Explosion Plugging Old Well in Ohio Wayne NF”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Susquehanna County | Williams

Williams Asks FERC to Reissue Constitution Pipe Cert & NY Waiver
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

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MDN extensively covered the Constitution Pipeline project from its announcement in 2012 through its ultimate death in February 2020 (see Sad Day: Williams Declares Constitution Pipeline Project Dead). The Constitution was a joint venture between Williams (the builder/operator), Cabot Oil & Gas (now Coterra Energy), Duke Energy, and AltaGas. The Constitution was a $683 million, 124-mile pipeline from the Marcellus gas fields of Susquehanna County, PA, to Schoharie County, NY, to move Marcellus gas into New York State and New England. After Donald Trump reassumed the presidency, he announced a plan to resurrect the Constitution (see Stop Press! Trump Pledges to Revive PA-to-NY Constitution Pipeline). Read More “Williams Asks FERC to Reissue Constitution Pipe Cert & NY Waiver”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide VA | Transco | Virginia | Williams

Virginia DEQ Approves Water Permits for Transco’s SESE Pipeline
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

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Two pipeline kingpins are engaged in a deathmatch with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to get their competing pipeline projects approved. One is Williams’ Transco Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (SESE), the other is EQT’s MVP Southgate project. Both projects would be built in the same general area, starting at the same point near Chatham, Virginia, and ending near Eden, North Carolina. Both say they have customers ready to take their gas. In a July 2025 FERC filing, Williams said that its project could easily handle Southgate MVP’s capacity by adding meter tubes and regulation at an existing station (see Williams’ Transco Tries to Muscle Out MVP Southgate in FERC Filing). EQT was not pleased with the attempt to undercut Southgate. However, since that time, MVP Southgate appears to have the regulatory momentum with both FERC and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (see Update on N.C. Pipe Deathmatch: Transco SESE vs. MVP Southgate). However, as we’ve said, don’t count SESE out just yet. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued two critical water permits for the SESE project in late December. Read More “Virginia DEQ Approves Water Permits for Transco’s SESE Pipeline”
Accidents | Carroll County | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio

Carroll County Commissioners Review EOG Well Pad Flash Fire Incident
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

MDN previously reported news of an explosion and fire on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at an EOG Resources shale well pad located on June Road in Malvern (Carroll County), Ohio (see EOG Shale Oil Pad in Carroll County, OH Explodes During Fracking). According to the scant news we could find, a well on the pad was actively being fracked at the time of the incident. Fortunately, there were no injuries. The fire was contained to a vapor tank on the pad and extinguished quickly. The wellheads themselves were not involved or damaged. During the Dec. 18 Carroll County Commissioners meeting, the commissioners were briefed “to clear up public misconceptions about the incident.” Read More “Carroll County Commissioners Review EOG Well Pad Flash Fire Incident”
Armstrong County | Berkshire Hathaway | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Westmoreland County

PA DEP Makes Move to OK Eastern Gas Pipe Replacement in SWPA
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on water quality permits for Eastern Gas Transmission’s LN-10 pipeline replacement project in Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage (EGTS) is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Construction consists of removing and replacing approximately 13.1 miles of 20-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline. Covering Chapter 102 and 105 regulations, the applications are available for review via the Regional Permit Coordination Office. While no public hearings are currently scheduled, they may be requested. Comments are due by January 26. Read More “PA DEP Makes Move to OK Eastern Gas Pipe Replacement in SWPA”
Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Virginia

Virginia DEQ Approves Dominion’s Chesterfield Peaker Plant Project
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

Mixed signals are coming from Virginia’s regulatory agencies regarding a gas-fired project in Chesterfield. In June 2023, Dominion Energy announced plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes—to keep the lights on because solar and wind are not up to the task. In November 2025, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) finally approved the project. But three weeks later, the SCC canceled its approval so it could consider a last-minute appeal filed by radical green groups (see Va. SCC Unapproves Dominion’s Chesterfield Gas-Fired Plant). However, a day after the SCC withdrew its approval, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) gave its approval for the project. Read More “Virginia DEQ Approves Dominion’s Chesterfield Peaker Plant Project”
CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

Record Broken in 2025: U.S. First Country to Export 100 MMT of LNG
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

In 2025, the United States became the first nation to exceed 100 million metric tons (mmt) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports annually, reaching a record 111 mmt. This 24% year-on-year growth, fueled by high terminal utilization and the rapid ramp-up of facilities like Venture Global’s Plaquemines plant, solidified the U.S. as the world’s leading exporter over Qatar. Europe remains the primary market as it shifts away from Russian energy, while shipments to Turkey and Egypt also stayed strong. Experts anticipate further growth in 2026 as new projects, including the Golden Pass LNG venture, begin production. Read More “Record Broken in 2025: U.S. First Country to Export 100 MMT of LNG”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Nova Scotia, Canada Does 180, Plans to Frack Shale for Natural Gas
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

It’s kind of interesting how things sometimes work out. Mark Carney became the 24th Prime Minister of Canada on March 14, 2025, following the resignation of Justin “man-child” Trudeau in January 2025. Before entering federal politics, Carney served as the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance. He worked (hard) to try to defund fossil energy companies. But what’s this? The Canadian province of Nova Scotia, which banned fracking in 2014, has reversed course and now wants to open up the province for fracking. Not a peep from Carney against Nova Scotia’s plan to allow fracking. Apparently, Carney has found that actually governing a country is a whole lot different from prancing around at the UN bashing fossil energy. Read More “Nova Scotia, Canada Does 180, Plans to Frack Shale for Natural Gas”
Best of the Rest

MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Jan 5, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]
January 5, 2026January 5, 2026

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: DEP seeks comments on Marcus Hook Power Plant air permit renewal; Pa. receives OK to spend $112 million in federal funds for electric charging stations; DEP invites comments on Chapter 105 permit for daylighting 3 CNX pipelines; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Gas release at natural gas pipeline hub causes evacuations; Illinois dairy and beef farms make raising methane-belching cows part of the climate solution; Law firm leading latest climate lawsuit accused of “misconduct bordering on criminal”; University of North Dakota to introduce students to energy-sector careers; NY’s City Council members are just begging for blackouts; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures kick off 2026 with a loss; Public ownership won’t cure power market volatility; Green hydrogen’s uncertain future; AI data centers are forcing dirty ‘peaker’ power plants back into service; Climate change perceptions; INTERNATIONAL: Oil fluctuates as traders weigh surplus, geopolitical risks; Oil stuck in tug of war; Argentina’s shale boom propels it past Colombia in oil output; Energy transition meltdown could mean global bifurcation; Anti-energy threats still abound. Read More “MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Mon, Jan 5, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]”