GreenHunter Faces Challenge to Get Wheeling Barge Facility OK’d
Yesterday MDN shared the big news that GreenHunter Resources has now received permission from the U.S. Coast Guard to haul produced water via barge down the Ohio River (see US Coast Guard Approves Brine Shipping via Barge on Ohio River). Today that assertion is in question (see our related story on the Coast Guard’s response). Aside from the question of whether the Coast Guard did or did not grant permission for barging of produced water, GreenHunter has another problem–getting permission to load the water onto barges in the first place at their facility in Wheeling, WV…
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Some big news coming from GreenHunter Resources, the wastewater disposal arm of MagnumHunter Resources. As MDN has chronicled for the past several years, MagnumHunter has been trying to secure a permit from the U.S. Coast Guard to transport frack wastewater via barges down the Ohio River. The Coast Guard floated a preliminary plan to allow it all the way back in November 2013 (see
Magnum Hunter Resources (MHR), a small but growing driller in the Marcellus/Utica, gave one day’s notice and then convened a phone call with investors last Friday to declare they’re not spending a dime on new drilling in 2015–until the prices charged by oilfield services companies (the companies that do the drilling and fracking) come down–a lot. MHR CEO Gary Evans said he’s looking for a 40% discount compared to what the company paid in 2014 for the same services–and until they get it, the drill rigs for MHR will be idled. But have no fear, production for the company (meaning revenue) will continue to grow each quarter in 2015 because of wells already drilled and shut-in, waiting to be connected to pipelines…
On Saturday, Triad Hunter, wholly-owned drilling subsidiary of Magnum Hunter Resources, lost control of a Utica Shale well in Monroe County, OH. The well had been drilled and temporarily plugged as the company planned to drill three more wells at the pad. However, “the well began to flow uncontrollably while recommencing production operations” according to a statement released by Magnum Hunter. Well pad personnel along with 28 homes located within a mile and a half were evacuated. Wild Well Control of Houston has been contacted and (presumably) now on site to contain the well. No injuries have been reported…