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This past year was indeed unusual in many ways. It began with controversy over the most recent national election, a controversy that continues (by some) until the present day. The Joe Biden administration has proved to be every bit as bad (and worse) for the oil and gas industry as we predicted. Our industry is constantly under attack by the radical left who seeks to sentence mankind back to the Stone Age with no access to safe, reliable energy and life-saving and preserving plastics (which come from oil and natural gas). Yet we believe there is reason for optimism and hope. The coming 2022 Congressional elections promise to return both the House and Senate to Republican (and fossil fuel-friendly) hands. We eagerly anticipate what lies ahead this coming year!

Below is a listing of the Top 25 most-read stories posted on the MDN site over the past year. Enjoy!
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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 still keep an eye on the news and if anything earth-shattering happens, we’ll post about it. However, our intent is to take a break from writing for an entire week. We will see you again on Monday, January 3rd.

A brief note to thank you, our loyal readers, from the bottom of our heart. 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 2022 with eager anticipation for what it will bring in the Marcellus/Utica.

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 is taking a rare few days off for summer vacation–from Friday, July 16th through Wednesday, July 21st. We will be back on Thursday, July 22nd. Editor Jim Willis will continue to monitor the news and if anything BIG happens, he will issue a special bulletin.

MDN will not publish today, Monday, May 31, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. A shout out to all of our currently serving and former veterans, and remembrance for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. They are not forgotten.

MDN editor Jim Willis is taking a rare day off today, Friday, May 7, in order to travel and attend the graduation of his youngest child (a son)…from graduate school. Jim is a proud dad. He has three great kids. All three now have their master’s degree, and all three are teachers! Jim will catch you up on all the latest Marcellus/Utica news with the Monday edition. Have a great weekend.

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

Believe it or not, today is a New York Stock Exchange holiday (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 full-strength MDN to return tomorrow. In the meantime, we have updated the calendar of events.

– Jim Willis, Editor

Dear MDN Reader:

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. 18. We are sending along an updated calendar of events relevant to the Marcellus/Utica for the next 90 days. Full strength MDN will return Tuesday!

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 still keep an eye on the news and if anything earth-shattering happens, we’ll post about it. However, our intent is to take a break from writing for an entire week. We will see you again on Monday, January 4th.

A brief note to thank you, our loyal readers, from the bottom of our heart. 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 2021 with eager anticipation for what it will bring in the Marcellus/Utica.

Below is a list of the top 10 most-read stories from 2020 on the MDN website. It is cliche now to say it, but we’ll say it anyway: We can’t wait for 2020 to be over and to put it behind us. We’ve made this article free and open to the public. Feel free to share the link with others who may be interested in a recap of the M-U industry for 2020! We’ve appended a postscript to each summary to update you on any key developments since that story was first published.
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Each year Marcellus Drilling News takes Thanksgiving and the day after off to rest and relax with family. We will be sure to keep an eye on the news and if there is anything earth-shattering, we will bring you that news. Otherwise, we’ll see you next Monday. Have a great Thanksgiving! – Jim Willis, Editor

MDN will not publish today, Veteran’s Day. We thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice.

An update on me and my wife’s COVID-19 diagnosis. I’m happy to report we are both 100% recovered. Neither of us required hospitalization. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the many emails of well-wishes and for your prayers during our illness. Your prayers helped! It took about three weeks from first symptoms to full recovery for both of us.

Here’s my experience with COVID…
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A huge “thank you” for the hundreds and hundreds of well wishes and prayers for my wife and myself following our COVID-19 diagnosis. I am completely humbled and moved by your kind words of encouragement. I’m happy to report we have both turned a corner. This disease is long and tough and at least for us, there is no quick resolution. We still have coughs, periodic fever, etc., but the symptoms are lessening. We feel better. I suspect it will be at least another week before we will see the end of our symptoms…
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Dear MDN Reader,

I’m writing to let you know that I (Jim Willis, editor) received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis this weekend after being tested on Friday, Oct. 9. My wife also tested positive. The county where we live, Broome County, NY, has experienced a dramatic spike in new cases over the past week.

My intent is to continue with my daily Monday through Friday publishing of Marcellus Drilling News. It will help to keep my mind off this disease to get up and “go to work” each day. Fortunately, I work from a home office.

So far our symptoms are mild, but the pathology is, according to our doctor, that symptoms sometimes worsen beginning in the second week. My first symptoms began last Tuesday. If symptoms become severe enough, I may not publish for a period of days. This note is so you know why–in case there are no new stories. I ask for your understanding and patience. And if you are a praying person, may I also humbly ask you to pray for my wife and me?

Your faithful partner in shale energy,
Jim Willis