Expand Energy 3Q Added 7,500 Acres to “Core Marcellus” in OH, WV
During the third quarter, Expand Energy, formed by the merger of Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy in late 2024, significantly expanded its portfolio by acquiring 82,500 new acres across the Marcellus and Haynesville shale plays for approximately $235 million. The company added approximately 7,500 acres in the Marcellus in Ohio and West Virginia for $57 million, which can accommodate over 40 well locations. The larger acquisition involved 75,000 acres in the western Haynesville for $178 million, with the potential for over 200 locations. Expand, which produced 7.33 Bcfe/d (92% natural gas), reported strong financial results for the quarter, including nearly $3 billion in revenue and a profit of $547 million. The company produced 7.2 Bcfe/d in 2Q25. Expand is the largest natural gas producer in the country. Read More “Expand Energy 3Q Added 7,500 Acres to “Core Marcellus” in OH, WV”
For the week of October 13 – 19, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased significantly from the previous week. There were 37 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up dramatically from the 7 issued two weeks ago. We can’t remember the last time we saw 37 (or more) permits issued. It’s been a looong time (months, at least). Pennsylvania issued 19 new permits. Ohio issued 13 permits. And West Virginia, which had been skunked with no new permits for three consecutive weeks, finally woke up last week (it’s woke!), issuing 5 new permits. 
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its highly dysfunctional and irresponsible counterpart, the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), continues to support the shale energy industry by approving water withdrawals and consumptive use requests for responsible and safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the October 11 Pennsylvania Bulletin that the commission voted to approve 11 water withdrawal requests related to shale gas development and two for gas-fired power plants. 
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. The company operates in three distinct regions: Northeast Appalachia (Pennsylvania), Southwest Appalachia (primarily West Virginia, with additional presence in Pennsylvania and Ohio), and the Haynesville (Louisiana). Expand CEO Nick Dell’Osso appeared yesterday on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” segment to share his insights on the supply-demand dynamic for natural gas, pipelines, and more. He had some VERY interesting things to say. 
In October 2024, Chesapeake Energy completed its $8.2 billion merger with Southwestern Energy (renaming the combined company Expand Energy), and in the process became the country’s #1 highest producing natural gas company, taking that title away from EQT Corporation (see 
Earlier this month, we brought you the bombshell news that Antero Resources, the country’s fifth-largest natural gas producer and largest producer in West Virginia, is preparing to market its Ohio Utica assets, hoping to fetch $900 million to $1 billion (see 