EQT Moving Up MVP Southgate Construction to THIS YR, Online NEXT YR
Yesterday, EQT Corporation, the largest Marcellus/Utica-only producer by far, issued its second-quarter 2026 update. We’re pulling out what we consider to be the biggest news from that update for this separate post. During an earnings call with analysts, EQT CEO Toby Rice said that since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the company’s 31-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Southgate project from southern Virginia into northern North Carolina in June (see FERC Gives OK for MVP Southgate Construction to Begin in N.C), the company has decided to “pull forward capital spending” on the project to this year, meaning construction will begin this year. Read More “EQT Moving Up MVP Southgate Construction to THIS YR, Online NEXT YR”
EQT Corporation issued second quarter 2026 results on July 21, followed by an analyst call on July 22. Here’s what matters if you lease acreage to EQT — or own the stock. The company produced more gas using less money in 2Q, raising its estimate of how much it will produce in 2026 by 90 Bcfe to 2,375-2,450 Bcfe (which works out to 6.5 to 6.7 Bcfe/d). As a point of reference, the country’s largest natural gas producer, Expand Energy, is estimating production of 7.5 Bcfe/d in 2026. For landowners leased with EQT with older wells, there’s good news about workovers. 
Range Resources released second quarter 2026 results on July 21 and held its analyst call on July 22. For Marcellus landowners and RRC shareholders alike, there’s a lot packed into this one. Range produced 2.30 Bcfe/d in 2Q26, roughly 67% natural gas, up 5% from a year ago. Of particular note for landowners, Range’s drilling tempo for new wells will slow somewhat during the second half. However, great news for those already drilled. Range is drilling over 50% of its wells on existing pads this year. And, Range drilled a rare Utica well. Does that mean more Utica drilling is on the way for the company? 
Georgia Power announced yesterday that it will serve a new OpenAI data center project in Effingham County, Georgia — about 45 minutes from Savannah — expected to create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local investment. The $20 BILLION OpenAI facility will need roughly 3,200 megawatts (3.2 GW) of power, and OpenAI has agreed, under a 25-year deal, to provide up to 1,000 MW (1 GW) of flexible demand response, allowing Georgia Power to curtail deliveries during peak periods. The utility calls it among the largest single-facility demand response commitments in the U.S. OpenAI will cover full infrastructure and electric service costs with financial assurances, consistent with Georgia PSC rules. And yes! There is a direct connection to the Marcellus/Utica. Get ready; your future ChatGPT queries may be powered by M-U molecules! 
As part of Kinder Morgan’s second-quarter update, the company made an important announcement that (until now) it had not made. Namely, on May 26, 2026, TGP (Tennessee Gas Pipeline) placed in service its approximately $235 million Cumberland Pipeline project. The 30-inch pipeline is a 32-mile lateral originating from TGP’s existing 100 Line in Dickson County, Tennessee, and terminating at Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) new natural gas-fired power plant in Stewart County, Tennessee. Big Green tried its best to block this project along with the gas-fired power plant, but failed. 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: NYISO on the June-July heat wave; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas gains with eyes on storage data, Gulf storm; Liberty Energy, PowerBridge JV to power data center campuses; Commercial crude oil inventories increased by 2.0 million barrels; End Climate Assessment propaganda; INTERNATIONAL: Oil extends rally on Iran tensions; Houthis claim oil tanker attacks in Red Sea; Global LNG vs the European Union; Russian LNG imports to EU rising despite looming import ban; After hiccup in 2026, LNG market will rebound but unsure through 2050.