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21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 31 – Apr 6

For the week of Mar 31 – Apr 6, the number of permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells increased by two from the previous week. Last week, 21 new permits were issued, with 12 going to the Keystone State (PA). Expand Energy, via its merged companies Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy, scored five permits, with three permits for Southwestern in Susquehanna County and two for Chesapeake in Bradford County. Greylock Energy received three permits for drilling in Potter County. Range Resources also received three permits to drill wells in Lycoming and Washington counties. Read More “21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 31 – Apr 6”

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4Q Earnings for M-U Drillers Bounced Back After Down First 3 Qtrs

The experts at RBN Energy track 38 exploration and production (E&P) companies to monitor financial and operational performance. In a recent blog post, RBN found the 10 gas-weighted E&Ps (all but one with significant operations in the Marcellus/Utica) experienced a rebound in earnings during Q4 2024 after a rough first three quarters of the year. Earnings for the 10 gas-weighted E&Ps averaged $3.02/boe (barrels of oil equivalent) in Q4 2024 after losses in Q2 and Q3 2024. Cash flow averaged $10.18/boe, 52% higher than the $6.71/boe generated in Q3 2024. Realized prices averaged nearly $18/boe in Q4 2024, 24% higher than the $14.52/boe recorded in Q3 2024. Things are looking up for M-U drillers. Read More “4Q Earnings for M-U Drillers Bounced Back After Down First 3 Qtrs”

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SRBC Approved 50 (!) Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use Permits in Feb.

The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its completely dysfunctional and irresponsible cousin, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the March 29 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Executive Director of the SRBC gave his approval to or renewed 50 (!) general water use permits in February for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Lycoming, Potter, Susquehanna, and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania. Read More “SRBC Approved 50 (!) Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use Permits in Feb.”

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SRBC Stops Creek Water Withdrawals for 18 Shale Gas Projects

On March 27, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) online Hydrologic Conditions Monitor showed low stream flows have triggered restrictions on 18 shale gas water withdrawal points in Bradford, Potter, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties. Another 17 shale gas withdrawals are approaching restrictions. Of the water withdrawal points regulated by SRBC, only shale gas development water withdrawals currently have restrictions because they take water from smaller streams. Read More “SRBC Stops Creek Water Withdrawals for 18 Shale Gas Projects”

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SRBC Renews Water Use Permits for 34 Marcellus/Utica Shale Pads

The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its completely dysfunctional and irresponsible cousin, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the March 22 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Commission renewed 34 general water use permits in January for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Centre, Clinton, Elk, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties. Read More “SRBC Renews Water Use Permits for 34 Marcellus/Utica Shale Pads”

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22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 3 – 9

For the week of Mar 3 – 9, the number of permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells increased by six from the previous week. Last week, 22 new permits were issued, with 13 (more than half) going to the Keystone State (PA). Expand Energy (Chesapeake Energy) scored five permits for a single pad in Bradford County. Coterra Energy also received five permits for a single pad in neighboring Susquehanna County. EQT had two new permits for a single pad in Washington County. And Range Resources rounded out PA’s permits with a single permit in Washington County. Read More “22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 3 – 9”

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Expand Energy Drilled 5.6-Mile Lateral in the WV Utica in 5 Days

Hart Energy reports that Expand Energy, formed by the combination of Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy, drilled a massive 5.6-mile lateral in northern West Virginia’s dry-gas Utica—and it was drilled in five days with just one bit run. Expand’s Shannon Fields OHI #3H well, located in Ohio County, WV, has a 29,687-ft lateral. We always get in trouble when we make statements like this (because some drillers don’t disclose details for their wells), but we’re pretty sure this is the longest onshore shale well lateral ever drilled in the U.S. Maybe even in the world! Read More “Expand Energy Drilled 5.6-Mile Lateral in the WV Utica in 5 Days”

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Report: M-U has Lowest Methane Emission Intensity of Any O&G Basin

The Appalachian Methane Initiative (AMI) is a coalition of leading U.S. natural gas companies in the Marcellus/Utica, including Ascent Resources, CNX Resources, EQT Corporation, Equitrans Midstream Corporation (now part of EQT), Expand Energy Corporation, MPLX, and Seneca Resources. AMI uses independent monitoring providers, technical consultants, and top-tier universities to monitor and track methane emissions in the M-U. Yesterday the group released the findings of its 2024 basin-wide methane monitoring program. The report confirms that the Appalachian Basin (the M-U) has the lowest methane emissions intensity of any major oil and gas producing basin in the United States. Read More “Report: M-U has Lowest Methane Emission Intensity of Any O&G Basin”

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Expand Energy’s “Just in Time” Program Equals “Profits on Demand”

One year ago in March 2024, MDN told you about a new strategy by Chesapeake Energy (now Expand Energy) to drill new shale gas wells but leave them offline (see Chesapeake Brings Japanese “Just in Time” Concept to Gas Wells). As explained in that article, the company does more than drill DUCs (drilled but uncompleted wells). They complete the wells but do not “turn them inline” (or TILs), meaning they aren’t yet connected to the pipeline network. In writing about the strategy, Bloomberg called it “suspended animation wells,” noting the company planned to use that strategy for 80 wells in 2024 (see Chesapeake Plans to Place 80 Wells into “Suspended Animation”). Read More “Expand Energy’s “Just in Time” Program Equals “Profits on Demand””

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Expand Energy COO Opens Up About Marcellus/Utica, Pipelines & More

Josh Viets

Expand Energy Corporation Chief Operating Officer (COO) Josh Viets presented at yesterday’s 46th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investor Conference. Viets provided insights into Expand’s assets and capital allocation strategy. The company’s approach is based on “a very constructive outlook for the natural gas commodity.” Expand, you may recall, is the new name for two merged companies: Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy (see Chesapeake & Southwestern Complete Merger; Now #1 U.S. Gas Driller). We found Viets’ comments VERY enlightening—especially his comments about the relative ease of building pipelines in the Haynesville (Louisiana) compared with difficulties building in the Marcellus/Utica in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Money flows to where it’s easier to do business—that’s just a fact. Read More “Expand Energy COO Opens Up About Marcellus/Utica, Pipelines & More”

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Expand Energy Reopens the Taps, More Drilling & Production Coming

Expand Energy, formed by the merger of Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy, is the largest natural gas producer in the U.S. with approximately 1.9 million leased net acres. Expand drills and operates in three distinct regions: Northeast Appalachia (Pennsylvania), Southwest Appalachia (mostly West Virginia, but also Pennsylvania and Ohio), and the Haynesville (Louisiana). The company issued its fourth quarter and full-year update yesterday. In 4Q24, Expand operated an average of twelve rigs to drill 44 wells and turned 41 wells in line, resulting in net production of approximately 6.41 Bcfe per day (91% natural gas). Read More “Expand Energy Reopens the Taps, More Drilling & Production Coming”

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36 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Feb 10 – 16

For the week of Feb 10 – 16, the number of permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells soared. Two weeks ago, 24 new permits were issued. Last week, the number increased to 36 new permits issued. The Keystone State (PA) issued the vast majority with 23 new permits last week. Seven permits went to PennEnergy Resources, all on a single pad in Armstrong County. Snyder Brothers received five permits for a single pad, also in Armstrong County (meaning half the PA permits went to Armstrong). Range Resources was third in line with four new permits for a single pad in Washington County. Read More “36 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Feb 10 – 16”

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Have Marcellus/Utica Drillers Gone DUC Hunting Too Often?

DUCs are drilled but uncompleted wells. Drillers sink a hole first and then return later to “complete” the well by fracking it and connecting it to sales. An increase in DUCs means more new drilling is happening. A decrease in DUCs means fewer new wells are drilled while previously drilled wells are completed. According to a report by Enverus, some drillers have entered 2025 with substantially fewer DUCs than last year, creating potential effects on capital efficiency and production. Nearly every shale play, including the Marcellus/Utica, has seen DUCs fall. In some cases, by the hundreds. Read More “Have Marcellus/Utica Drillers Gone DUC Hunting Too Often?”

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Expand Energy CFO Says LNG is Durable While AI Demand is Volatile

Expand Energy is the new company formed from the merger of Chesapeake Energy with Southwestern Energy. Expand is essentially Chesapeake Energy 2.0. Expand CFO Mohit Singh spoke at last week’s 2025 NAPE Summit in Houston. He had some fascinating things to say, including this: “Just to be clear, in our view, at least 75% of the natural gas demand growth is going to come from LNG.” He called LNG demand “durable” and reliable. AI (artificial intelligence) data center demand for natural gas, on the other hand, is volatile and “noisy,” according to Singh. Read More “Expand Energy CFO Says LNG is Durable While AI Demand is Volatile”

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22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 27 – Feb 2

For the week of Jan 27 – Feb 2, the number of permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells recovered from the previous week. Two weeks ago, only 7 new permits were issued. Last week, the number increased to 22 new permits issued. Whereas the Keystone State (PA) issued no new permits two weeks ago, PA issued 13 new permits last week. Six of those permits went to Apex Energy in Westmoreland County. Five permits were issued to EQT (Rice Drilling) in Greene and Lycoming counties. And two permits went to Expand Energy (Chesapeake) in Bradford County. Read More “22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 27 – Feb 2”

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SRBC Approves 18 New & Renewed Water Use Permits for M-U Pads

The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its completely dysfunctional and irresponsible cousin, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the January 25 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the Executive Director of the SRBC gave his approval to or renewed 18 general water use permits in December for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Lycoming, Susquehanna, and Tioga counties. Read More “SRBC Approves 18 New & Renewed Water Use Permits for M-U Pads”