Marcellus Drilling News

Antero Resources | Belmont County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Fayette County | Greene County (PA) | Gulfport Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Seneca Resources | Susquehanna County | Tioga County (PA) | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wetzel County

27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 12 – 18
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

A nice bump up in permit numbers last week, mainly due to Pennsylvania. The Marcellus/Utica region received a combined 27 permits last week, Jan. 12 – 18. Pennsylvania issued 21 new permits, Ohio issued 5, and West Virginia issued just 1. Among the drillers receiving new permits last week: Antero Resources, Coterra Energy, EQT, Expand Energy, Gulfport Energy, and Seneca Resources. Read More “27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 12 – 18”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Devon Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | M&A

Devon Energy, Coterra Energy Said to be in “Advanced Merger Talks”
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

Last Friday, MDN reported that the rumor mill was in overdrive with chatter that Devon Energy and Coterra Energy are exploring a potential merger “that would be among the biggest oil and gas deals in years” (see Rumor Mill Lights Up: Coterra Considers Merger with Devon Energy). Since that time, we’ve not heard anything further… until we came across an article in the Oklahoma Energy Today publication stating that the merger talks are in an “advanced” stage. Read More “Devon Energy, Coterra Energy Said to be in “Advanced Merger Talks””
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies

Kimmeridge Continues to Pressure Coterra with Board Nominations
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

As we point out in a companion post today, potential merger talks between Devon Energy and Coterra Energy are in an “advanced” stage (see Devon Energy/Coterra Energy Said to be in “Advanced Merger Talks”). One of the reasons (perhaps THE reason) why Coterra is considering a merger is ongoing pressure from “activist” investor Kimmeridge, which launched a public campaign last November to force Coterra to split the company, to sell off its Marcellus (and Anadarko) assets, and focus 100% on oil drilling in the Permian (see Activist Investor Declares Coterra Merger Failed – Sell Marcellus). Kimmeridge is keeping its boot on the neck of Coterra. The latest is that Kimmeridge is preparing to nominate Scott Sheffield, the former CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources (before it was acquired by ExxonMobil), to join Coterra Energy’s board as part of an activist push to revamp the company. Read More “Kimmeridge Continues to Pressure Coterra with Board Nominations”
Commodity Price | Industrywide Issues | Storage | Weather

NYMEX NatGas Futures Continue Skyward – Closes Above $5/MMBtu
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

As we predicted may happen in a post yesterday, the NYMEX “front month” natural gas futures price closed above $5 yesterday (see NYMEX NatGas Futures Rocketship: Up 57% in 2 Days, Break $5 Today?). U.S. natural gas futures hit a three-year intraday peak, settling 3.5% higher at $5.045/mmBtu after a record-shattering three-day rally. While last week’s storage draw was modest (90 Bcf expected, 120 Bcf actual), traders are far more focused on the looming “polar express” set to grip the nation. Analysts expect the coldest weather since 2018 to trigger massive withdrawals—potentially topping 300 Bcf—leaving inventories at a significant deficit relative to historical averages. Essentially, the market is shivering in anticipation, prioritizing an imminent supply squeeze over current data as the country braces for a deep, sustained freeze. Read More “NYMEX NatGas Futures Continue Skyward – Closes Above $5/MMBtu”
Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Cold Temps Freeze Range Res. Water Pipeline in Washington County, PA
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

On January 22, Mount Pleasant Township Police (in Washington County, PA) reported that extreme winter temperatures caused an aboveground water pipeline serving Range Resources’ shale gas operations to freeze and rupture near the Yonker Tank Pad. In response to the infrastructure failure, the Township Zoning Officer granted a temporary permit modification, allowing the company to bypass the damaged pipeline by hauling water via dozens of trucks over the next two weeks. Read More “Cold Temps Freeze Range Res. Water Pipeline in Washington County, PA”
AI | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PA Caught in Fight That Will Push Data Centers to Other States
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

There’s just no other way to say this: Pennsylvania is on the cusp of flushing $92 billion down the toilet because resistance is preventing new data centers from being built. We’ve been warning about this danger for months (see Louisiana vs. Pennsylvania – How and Why PA is Throwing Away $92B). However, there may be a way to avoid this unfolding disaster. Strong agreements (written in stone) between municipalities and data center builders can ensure both sides can live with these projects. That’s according to a physician and Pittsburgh resident who has been actively engaged in local conversations about AI development and its impact on working-class communities. Read More “PA Caught in Fight That Will Push Data Centers to Other States”
CNG/LNG | Energy Companies | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Repsol

VG Wins Arbitration Case re Repsol LNG – OK to Jilt Customers
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass (CP) LNG export facility in Louisiana began operations in March 2022 (see Calcasieu Pass LNG Loads Inaugural Cargo; Sabine Pass LNG Expands). Typically, a new LNG facility will load and ship several (maybe two or three) cargoes to “work out the kinks” and ensure everything is working as advertised. Venture Global, using loopholes in its signed contracts, maintained that it was working out the kinks long after it began shipping. After over 400 cargoes were shipped, CP’s customers were still not receiving their contracted (at lower prices) shipments. Shell, along with several other customers, sued (see Shell, Edison, BP File for Arbitration Against Venture Global LNG). One of the customers who sued (in arbitration) was Repsol. Read More “VG Wins Arbitration Case re Repsol LNG – OK to Jilt Customers”
Best of the Rest

MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jan 23, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]
January 23, 2026January 23, 2026

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Boston Partners increases stake in Range Resources Corp; Facts over fear with shale gas waste management; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Glenfarne says Texas LNG capacity fully committed; CT Green Bank sues bankrupt PosiGen for $22 million in loans; NATIONAL: EIA forecasts near-term U.S. crude oil production will remain near 2025 record; Solar capacity increases, but firm power drops to 2004 levels; INTERNATIONAL: Oil slides on rising supply, peace hopes; Halliburton exports its oil gear as fracking goes global; South Korea’s developing net zero debacle. Read More “MDN’s Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jan 23, 2026 [FREE ACCESS]”