CNX Resources

More change on the way at CONSOL Energy. Over the past several years CONSOL has been on a mission to transform itself from one of the country’s largest coal producers to one of the country’s biggest shale exploration and production companies. And they’re succeeding. Along the way, CONSOL’s shale drilling division, CNX Gas, was guided by the very capable hand of COO Randy Albert–until he announced his retirement late last year. In January, Randy’s replacement, Tim Dugan, took the reigns at CNX (see New CNX Gas COO Tim Dugan – Marcellus & Utica Experience).

Now there’s change afoot in the top job at CNX’s parent CONSOL. J. Brett Harvey, Chairman and CEO, will become Executive Chairman of the company (they’re kicking Brett upstairs). In his place becoming CEO will be current CONSOL president Nicholas J. DeIuliis. Nick will add CEO to his business card and be put in charge of the day to day operations at the company. Nick is a youthful 45 years old, taking the reigns of a $9.3 billion company. Here’s the announcement about the coming promotions at CONSOL, from last Friday:
Read More “CONSOL Getting New CEO, Old CEO Kicked Upstairs as Exec Chairman”

On Friday CONSOL Energy (and its CNX Gas division) issued an update on activity for the fourth quarter of 2013. The company reported net income of $738 million, but the majority of that ($591 million) came from “discontinued operations”–which means from the five WV coal mines they recently sold (see CONSOL Sells More Coal Mines, Investing $24B(!) in Shale Drilling). The gas division had a record 4Q13, producing 48.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent (Bcfe). Although it’s a 4Q13 update, CONSOL also hauls out the crystal ball and says that for 2014 the company estimates it will produce 215 – 235 Bcfe of natural gas. In addition, they’ve stuck their necks way out and say that for 2015 and 2016 those numbers will go up an average 30% each year.

And so, like a broken record, we once again repeat that CONSOL continues its transformation from coal energy producer to natural gas energy producer. Here’s the update from Friday:
Read More “CONSOL Reports Record Gas Production in 4Q13, Bumps Up Guidance”

Oh no! Randy Albert, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CNX Gas–that is, the guy who runs the natural gas drilling division of CONSOL Energy–is retiring. CNX/CONSOL is a major Marcellus/Utica driller (347,000 acres in the Marcellus, 80,000 acres in the Utica). Randy is not only the guy who helped set CONSOL on the path to change from coal mining to natural gas production (having worked for CONSOL for 34 years), he’s also a founding board member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) and most recently its chairman. MDN editor Jim Willis had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Randy at the recent Shale Insight event in Philadelphia.

Randy is “good people” and he will be sorely missed–but we wish him well! He has some big shoes to fill. CONSOL is currently conducting a nationwide search for his successor. The announcement from CONSOL:
Read More “CNX Gas Chief Randy Albert Retiring, Search On for Successor”

Is CONSOL Energy/CNX Gas getting ready to split? As in, spin-off the company into two pieces, one for its traditional coal business (CONSOL’s coal business has been around since the Civil War), and one for natural gas drilling? Apparently that’s the speculation “going around”–at least among energy industry analysts who seem to have ADHD when it comes to predicting mergers, acquisitions, takeovers and now–it seems–spin-offs.

An interesting (and balanced) article appears on yesterday’s Seeking Alpha investor’s website talking about the prospects of a CONSOL spin-off…
Read More “Water Cooler Talk: CONSOL Energy Splitting?”