Antero Resources | Armstrong County | Ascent Resources | Blackhill Energy | Bradford County | Butler County | Carroll County | Clean Energy E&P | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Fayette County | Jefferson County (OH) | JKLM Energy | Laurel Mountain Energy | Ohio | PennEnergy Resources | Pennsylvania | Repsol | Snyder Brothers | Tioga County (PA) | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wetzel County
37 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 6 – 12
Last week was a good week for new drilling permits. The Marcellus/Utica region received 37 new drilling permits last week, Apr. 6 – 12, up 15 from the 22 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 23 of the permits. Ohio issued 8 new permits. And West Virginia issued 6 new permits last week. The drillers who received new permits last week included: Antero Resources, Ascent Resources, Blackhill Energy, Clean Energy Exploration, EOG Resources, EQT, JKLM Energy, Laurel Mountain Energy, PennEnergy Resources, Repsol, and Snyder Brothers. Read More “37 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 6 – 12”
Wow! We haven’t been this excited about the long-dead issue of fracking in New York State in a LONG time. Geologist Madison Woodward III and his son Thomas (from Texas) purchased property in New York State in 2011, hoping to develop its natural gas reserves based on geological assessments and successful fracking operations in nearby Pennsylvania. However, New York’s statewide ban on hydraulic fracking, later expanded to include all alternative extraction methods, rendered the Woodwards’ mineral rights worthless. Represented by Pacific Legal Foundation, the Woodwards filed a federal lawsuit yesterday, arguing that the ban constitutes an unconstitutional “taking” of their property under the Fifth Amendment, for which they are owed just compensation, challenging New York’s energy policy and defending property owners’ rights. 
Somewhat disappointingly, the Trump Department of Energy is moving forward with funding for five of the original seven Biden-awarded hydrogen hub projects, spending $5 billion of the orignally-alloted $7 billion. The preserved projects include the West Virginia-led Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), which is a project that will use Marcellus/Utica natural gas as the feedstock to produce “blue” hydrogen, which is hydrogen made from natgas where carbon dioxide from the process is captured and either used or stored underground. ARCH2 qualified for (and will now receive) up to $925 million of taxpayer money. 
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts U.S. natural gas net exports will keep rising through 2027, driven by expanding LNG capacity and stronger pipeline shipments to Mexico. Net exports are projected to reach 18.7 Bcf/d in 2026 and 20.5 Bcf/d in 2027. LNG exports should average 17.0 Bcf/d in 2026, then climb again in 2027 as new projects, including Corpus Christi, Golden Pass, Port Arthur, and Rio Grande, ramp up. Europe remains the leading destination, while Mexico’s power and LNG growth support pipeline demand. Imports stay minimal, and reduced Canadian imports reflect new Canadian LNG projects and rising Appalachian production serving Northeast markets. 
Wood Mackenzie reports that geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, are driving a renewed global focus on international shale exploration to enhance energy security and diversify supply. Six countries are prioritizing unconventional (shale) resource development: Algeria for European supply, and the UAE, Mexico, Australia, Turkey, and Indonesia for domestic energy independence. This “Global Shale 2.0” differs from past attempts due to improved technology, a clearer understanding of viable plays, and less competition from new Permian-scale discoveries, encouraging investment where regulatory and fiscal terms align with national interests. 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: New low reached for Permian natural gas prices; Enterprise Neches River flex train loads first cargo; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas futures settle higher; Energy affordability report shows climate mandates cost consumers; Trump issues several pipeline permits for US-Canada oil transportation; U.S. oil and petroleum is in demand; FERC sets June deadline to rewrite grid rules for AI power demand; INTERNATIONAL: Crude gains as Hormuz blockade persists; Pakistan oil tanker is first to cross Hormuz since US blockade; No nation truly ‘energy independent’ while Hormuz remains closed; Oil markets will never be the same – regardless of how the war in Iran ends; NATO has ended – acknowledge it and start fresh; Iran war shines light on international money laundering.