About MDN

We wish you a Merry Christmas…and a Happy New Year! MDN will take off (i.e., no new stories posted) between Dec. 24 and New Year’s Day in observance of the holiday season. Don’t worry; we’ll keep an eye on the news, and if anything earth-shattering happens, we’ll post about it. However, we intend to take a break from writing for an entire week. We will see you again on Thursday, January 2nd.

A brief note to thank you, our loyal readers, from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for subscribing and resubscribing year after year. We take our responsibility seriously to bring you the news, in context, throughout the year. We look forward to a better 2025 with eager anticipation for what it will bring in the Marcellus/Utica!

MDN is taking both Thanksgiving Thursday and Black Friday off. While you’re taking time to be thankful for your friends, family, food, drinks, and other luxuries, take a moment to say THANK YOU to the resources that make this holiday so wonderful: fossil fuels! Below is a video from our friends at Clear Energy Alliance. Watch it (under 4 minutes) to learn just how much oil, natural gas, and coal bring to the table during the holiday season — and every other day of the year.

Here’s a blast from the past (2018). Just as true today as it was then!

MDN will not publish on Monday, Nov. 11, in observance of Veteran’s Day. We thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice. They pay the price for the rest of us to live in a free society. Without Veterans, the U.S.A. would not exist. We salute you!

It’s Columbus Day! MDN will not publish our regular list of stories today — but have no fear; we will be back tomorrow (Tuesday) with a full lineup. Take a moment today to celebrate the world’s most famous Italian, the guy who started it all, the guy who discovered the Americas, and what would one day become the greatest country on earth: The United States of America!

MDN will not publish on Friday, Sept. 13. Hey, it’s Friday the 13th! No, we’re not superstitious (at least too much). We do have a memory that ties in with Friday the 13th, which we share below. We’re not publishing because editor Jim Willis is taking a rare day off to spend with family. Jim’s son is taking him to a professional baseball game in Philadelphia, the Mets vs. the Phillies. Jim is a die-hard Mets fan—please don’t hold it against him!

We’d also like to take this opportunity to note a milestone: A few weeks ago, MDN passed the 28,000 posts mark. Yes, there are more than 28,000 articles available on MDN, all of them available to subscribers, spanning from January 2009 to the present. Read More “MDN Housekeeping – Off Friday the 13th; Recent Milestone Hit”

Happy Labor Day to those in the U.S. Labor Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements in the U.S. It’s also the unofficial end of summertime. Enjoy this day by doing fun things, having picnics, and spending time with family. MDN is off today. We will return tomorrow to catch you up on all the latest happenings in the Marcellus/Utica. – Jim Willis, Editor

As I previously emailed to let you know, some major behind-the-scenes changes are taking place for the MDN website. Last week, we changed the web host, which somehow inadvertently affected some people who had issues logging in and staying logged in. Today, we have changed the membership system, so a few of the links at the top will look different. If you are not logged in, you will see a Login button along the top right of the site (for the computer version). If you are logged in, you will see an Account button where you can manage the details of your MDN account.

This post is to alert you that things have changed, and you may be required to log in again (sorry about that). The benefit is that it should be MUCH easier to reset a password and login than in the past. However, there will be bumps along the way. There always are! If you have an issue, can’t log in, etc., please send me an email (jim@marcellusdrilling.com) with the details, including how you are accessing–computer, tablet, phone–and which operating system you are using (Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone, etc.). I will work as fast as possible to get the issued resolved for you.

At the end of this process, the MDN website will be easier to access and use. A big THANK YOU for your patience as we get there.

Jim Willis – MDN Editor

Dear MDN readers:

Somehow hackers have found a way to repeatedly insert ads on the MDN site. We are working hard to get the “hole” fixed to prevent this. However, over the next few weeks you may see such ads from time to time. We’re playing “whack-a-mole” to remove the ads after they appear.

Please note that your login information has not been compromised. Your financial (payment) information is handled by Paypal and has not been compromised. The only issue is if you happen to click on one of the ads and enter financial information. PLEASE DON’T!

And if you happen to notice ads, please notify us at once so we can get it fixed again. We are working on a permanent fix that involves changing our membership system, which is a painful process. More about that soon.

– Jim Willis, Editor

As it happens, today’s lineup of stories is largely focused on politics. This note is to let you know this is not a new direction for MDN, but rather a one-off. We have always responded to the news of the day to bring you the latest items that impact the Marcellus/Utica shale industry. As it so happens, today’s news largely revolves around politics. We try to keep the political talk to a minimum, other than where politics intersects with energy and (in particular) shale drilling.

What we are saying is that you don’t have to worry that you will “suffer” through endless political stories from now until November (or even after November). We will cover election-related stories on occasion, as the situation warrants. Politics DO have a direct impact on the oil and gas industry. Our interest, from a political perspective, is in promoting the politicians and legislation that is favorable to the shale industry. We won’t bore you to death (or, in some cases, anger you) with political stories! We promise.

MDN is taking a few days off for the Independence Day (July 4th) holiday to rest, relax, and recharge. We will not post any new stories from Wednesday, July 3, through Friday, July 5. We will be back on July 8 to catch you up on all the news related to the Marcellus and Utica shale region, including permits issued for the week of June 24-30. Have a great Fourth!

Today, June 19th, is a stock exchange and bank holiday. Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the U.S. commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the announcement of General Order No. 3 by Union Army General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for enslaved people in Texas. Originating in Galveston, the holiday has since been celebrated annually on June 19 in various parts of the United States, often broadly celebrating African-American culture. The day was first recognized as a federal holiday in June 2021, when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. As with other bank holidays, MDN will not publish today.

As we have in previous years, MDN will not publish today (Friday) in observance of Good Friday and the Easter holiday. We hope you enjoy this blessed time of year!

– Jim Willis, Editor

Thank you to the MDN audience for your understanding during my absence last Thursday and Friday and the many (many!) well wishes, kind thoughts, and prayers as my family endured the funeral of my only sibling, my beloved sister Jennifer, who died unexpectedly. Although the funeral was difficult, we were surrounded by a large and loving extended family and friends, for which we are grateful. I am also deeply grateful to the fantastic MDN audience for your uplifting words. You are the very best. – Jim Willis

MDN editor and writer Jim Willis needs to step away from writing duties for a couple of days due to a tragic death in the family.
Read More “MDN Off Thursday & Friday – A Sad Personal Note from Jim”

Believe it or not, today is a New York Stock Exchange (i.e., bank) holiday. MDN rarely takes a day off, so we tend to track with those holidays observed by the NYSE. Have no fear; we are monitoring the news, and if anything earth-shattering happens, we’ll bring you the latest. Otherwise, look for a full-strength MDN to return tomorrow.

– Jim Willis, Editor

Since it is a stock exchange holiday, and to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., MDN is taking today off, Monday, Jan. 15. Full strength MDN will return Tuesday!