Energy Companies

BP | Energy Companies | Ohio | Trumbull County

Some Utica Shale Drillers are Winners, and Some are Losers
May 5, 2014May 5, 2014

Interesting to note that Crain’s Cleveland Business comes to the same conclusion that MDN espoused a week ago: BP rolled the dice in the Utica Shale–and they bet wrong (see BP Calls it Quits in the Utica Shale – Total Write-off).

The Crain’s piece makes a valid observation: Although shale drilling is far less risky than other types of oil and gas exploration and production–it’s still a risk. With any risk, some will win and some will lose (contrary to the pap taught today in schools that everyone can be a winner). Shale drilling is high stakes in some respects, a lesson that BP learned the hard way…
Read More “Some Utica Shale Drillers are Winners, and Some are Losers”
CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies | Hess | Utica Shale

Hess Likes Early OH Utica Results, Drilling 35 Utica Wells in ’14
May 2, 2014May 2, 2014

With all of the lip-dragging this week over Williams canceling work on the Bluegrass ethane pipeline and BP quitting the Utica in Trumbull County, here’s a little happy news to brighten your Friday. Hess has 43,000 “core” net acres in a joint venture to drill in the Ohio Utica Shale. On an analyst call earlier this week, Hess’ top brass said they will continue to drill test wells this year and up to 35 full production wells, and then really ramp up the drilling program in the Ohio Utica in 2015. According to Hess, early results in the Ohio Utica are very good.

MDN has extracted out of the (long) analyst call those spots where the Utica was discussed, so you can read for yourself exactly what Hess’ top brass had to say…
Read More “Hess Likes Early OH Utica Results, Drilling 35 Utica Wells in ’14”
Chesapeake Energy | Crime | Encana Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation

Feds Clear Chesapeake & Encana in Collusion Case, Michigan Next?
May 2, 2014May 2, 2014

An update on the Chesapeake/Encana “collusion” story in Michigan. Two years ago Reuters accused Chessy and Encana of colluding to keep prices low for Michigan state oil and gas leases coming up for auction (see Did Reuters Break the Law with Latest Chesapeake Story?). Either a low-life snitch gave Reuters private emails from the companies or Reuters engaged in breaking and entering, a la Watergate style, to get access to those emails. Either way, the emails didn’t really show anything damning. However, both the feds and the state of Michigan launched years-long, anal exam-type investigations. In March of this year the Michigan Attorney General decided to press charges (see Reuters Smiles: MI Criminal Court to Charge Chesapeake & Encana).

However, the feds have just sent a letter to Chessy and Encana exonerating them from any wrongdoing. Since “more often than not” the feds and the state attorneys reach the same conclusion, it’s quite possible that Michigan will drop its criminal case as early as next week…
Read More “Feds Clear Chesapeake & Encana in Collusion Case, Michigan Next?”
Energy Companies | Southwestern Energy

Southwestern Energy 1Q14: Marcellus Production Hits Avg 800 MMcf/d
May 2, 2014May 2, 2014

Southwestern Energy, a very large Marcellus driller, released their first quarter operating and financial update yesterday. Although Southwestern has operations in other resource plays, the Marcellus is one of their most important. They reported yesterday their gross operated production reached 800 MMcf per day in the Marcellus (closing in on the 1 Bcf/Day Club!), and net production was up 147% compared to year-ago levels in the Marcellus.

Immediately below we’ve extracted out those sections of the update that talk about the Marcellus, and below that we’ve embedded a full copy of the mammoth 14-page update…
Read More “Southwestern Energy 1Q14: Marcellus Production Hits Avg 800 MMcf/d”
Butler County | Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Rex Energy | Statewide PA

Rex Energy 1Q14: Record High Production, Stacked Plays & Long Laterals
May 2, 2014May 2, 2014

Rex Energy, our “little energy company that could (and is)” continues to chug along. And because of the Marcellus, Rex isn’t so little anymore. They release their first quarter operations and financial update earlier this week. The Rex update shows quarterly production has hit 122.2 MMcfe/d, a new record for the company. Rex is drilling stacked plays, targeting not only the Marcellus and Utica but the Upper Devonian layer too–and experimenting with different lateral lengths. Doing all the right things, and it’s paying off for Rex.

A a comprehensive update from the little energy company that’s doing it right…
Read More “Rex Energy 1Q14: Record High Production, Stacked Plays & Long Laterals”
Access Midstream Partners | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Access Midstream 1Q14: Throughput Up in Marcellus/Utica
May 2, 2014May 2, 2014

Access Midstream, formerly known as Chesapeake Midstream, released their first quarter 2014 update earlier this week. Access has operations around the country, not just the northeast. However, both the Marcellus and Utica Shale is an important part of the Access picture. Among the interesting things in this update: Throughput (the amount of gas flowing through Access pipelines) was up for both the Marcellus and Utica in 1Q14; and, Chesapeake, via their subsidiary Midcon Compression, sold 103 compressor stations to Access located along gathering systems in the Marcellus and Utica region for $160 million (see Chesapeake Fire Sale Continues: Marcellus/Utica Compressor Plants).

Below is an extract from the Access Midstream update–the part most relevant for the Marcellus and Utica:
Read More “Access Midstream 1Q14: Throughput Up in Marcellus/Utica”
About MDN | BP | Energy Companies | Ohio | Trumbull County | Utica Shale

MDN Quoted on WKSU Radio News Re BP Leaving the Utica
May 2, 2014May 2, 2014

Every now and again when MDN editor Jim Willis answers the phone, it’s a reporter on the other end of the line. Earlier this week he spoke to a reporter from Kent State University’s PBS affiliate WKSU. The topic was BP pulling out of the Utica Shale in Trumbull County (see BP Calls it Quits in the Utica Shale – Total Write-off). Jim told the nice reporter essentially what he said in that article: All is not lost for future drilling in Trumbull County–but it may take a few more years for things to pick up there. In the meantime, there’s plenty of ways for people in Trumbull to benefit from the shale drilling that’s happening south of them.

Here’s a transcript of the interview:
Read More “MDN Quoted on WKSU Radio News Re BP Leaving the Utica”
Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Utica Shale

EQT: We’ll Let Range & Others Figure Out the Utica in SW PA
May 1, 2014May 1, 2014

Last Friday MDN told you that EQT is a bit wary and skeptical of the Utica Shale–at least in Ohio (see EQT Leaving the Utica? Maybe. Guernsey County Wells Disappoint). But what about the Utica in Pennsylvania? EQT CEO David Porges, in a Q&A with reporters yesterday, said the company is watching and waiting when it comes to the Utica in southwestern PA.

Porges said “the Utica’s potential is enormous,” but…
Read More “EQT: We’ll Let Range & Others Figure Out the Utica in SW PA”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Rice Energy

Bloomberg Reporter Takes Aim at Rice Energy, Comes Up Short
May 1, 2014May 1, 2014

A dispassionate, “unbiased” reporterette from Bloomberg, Asjylyn Loder, does everything but swing an ax at Marcellus and Utica Shale driller Rice Energy with a new hit piece that tries to paint Rice as a horrible company to invest in. She takes aim at trying to sink Rice with an article on the Bloomberg wire by saying it’s financially unsound–even though Rice is ultimately backed by billionaire founder Dan Rice. Apparently what set off Ms. Loder was that Rice was able to raise $950 million over three days in April ($150 million more than they were looking for) by floating bonds. What seems to really gall her is that they got the money at a relatively low interest rate. Loder calls them junk bonds and hints Rice will never be able to pay them back.

Nice try Ms. Loder, but no cigar for the anti-drilling lady with the big chip on her shoulder…
Read More “Bloomberg Reporter Takes Aim at Rice Energy, Comes Up Short”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Greene County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Washington County

EQT Sells Jupiter Pipeline System to Itself for $1.18 Billion
May 1, 2014May 1, 2014

Yesterday Marcellus Shale driller EQT sold it’s Jupiter natural gas gathering pipeline system in Greene and Washington counties (PA) to…itself. Or rather, EQT Corporation has sold the Jupiter system to EQT Midstream Partners LP. Two different companies on paper, but still the same company overall. The deal to itself was for $1.18 billion–$1.12 billion of cash and $59 million of common and general partner units. All of which will keep the accountants busy and happy for a few months.

You may recall this is not the first time EQT has sold something to itself (see EQT Sells Sunrise Pipeline Operation to Itself for $540M). Oh the hoops we jump through to try to make a living under our bizarre tax codes. Here’s the announcement, with some interesting details about the Jupiter gathering system…
Read More “EQT Sells Jupiter Pipeline System to Itself for $1.18 Billion”
Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Statewide PA

Range’s Record-Setting Marcellus Well Nearly Ties Best Utica Well
April 30, 2014April 30, 2014

Yesterday on an their quarterly analyst phone call, Range Resources CEO Jeffrey Ventura announced the company drilled their best-ever well in the “super-rich” portion of the Marcellus Shale in southwestern Pennsylvania during 1Q14. Indeed, it is the best-ever Marcellus well drilled by anyone–not just Range. When we compare the results of Range’s top well with the best well we’ve heard of in the Utica–it nearly ties the top Utica contender, Antero Resource’s Yontz well (see Antero Resources Utica Well Produces Stratospheric 38.9 Mmcf/d). We were not able to locate the name or specific location of the Range well, but what we can tell you is this: It was drilled in SW PA on a pad with two other wells. It had an initial 24-hour rate of 6,357 barrels per day (versus the Yontz well’s 8,879 boe/d), or 38.1 million cubic feet equivalent per day (versus the Yontz well’s 38.9 Mmcfe/d). The Range well has a 7,065 foot lateral length (nearly a mile and a half long) with 36 stages tapping the Marcellus Shale. Truly impressive stuff. Even more impressive–there’s a Utica Shale layer below it and an Upper Devonian layer above it that Range can drill in the future. In other words, Range is just getting started.

Below we have a quote from CEO Jeff Ventura on yesterday’s investor analyst phone call along with the press release Range issued on Monday summarizing first quarter results. We’ve also included the PowerPoint presentation (VERY interesting slides) Range released on Monday…
Read More “Range’s Record-Setting Marcellus Well Nearly Ties Best Utica Well”
Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Statewide PA

Range CEO & COO Talk Marcellus, Utica & More
April 30, 2014April 30, 2014

Although analyst calls are sometimes dry affairs, MDN found a lot to like in yesterday’s Range Resources analyst call that discussed first quarter 2014 results along with some predictions for where the company is going. The call kicked off with Range CEO Jeffrey Ventura and Range COO and Executive VP Ray Walker. Here’s a portion of the transcript from the call worth reading:
Read More “Range CEO & COO Talk Marcellus, Utica & More”
Belmont County | Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Rice Energy | Utica Shale

Belmont County Shopping New Deal to Lease Additional 426 Acres
April 30, 2014April 30, 2014

Belmont County, OH commissioners like the $3 million check they just got from Rice Energy for leasing 406 acres of county-owned land (see Belmont County, OH Waiting for $3M Lease Check from Rice Energy). That’s $7,500 per acre for a signing bonus! Commissioners with Belmont like that gas money so much, they’re now looking to lease another 426 acres–at an even higher price. Oy vey!

The announcement about Belmont shopping for another lease deal came at a meeting last week…
Read More “Belmont County Shopping New Deal to Lease Additional 426 Acres”
CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies

CONSOL 1Q14: Top Mgmt Changes, Change to Shale Driller Continues
April 30, 2014April 30, 2014

It’s hard to believe, but CONSOL Energy, originally a coal company, is 150 years old. The company was founded when Abe Lincoln was alive. As CONSOL’s current CEO Brett Harvey (retiring in May) says mentioning Abe and the age of CONSOL is relevant “because good assets, with the right strategy, are timeless.” CONSOL issued their first quarter operating and financial report yesterday (see it below). After experiencing a net loss last year at this time, CONSOL’s 1Q14 net income was a healthy $116 million on the black side of the ledger.

In the Marcellus Shale, CONSOL Energy and its joint venture partner drilled 35 wells, completed 23 wells, and had 11 wells turned in line. In the Utica Shale, CONSOL Energy and its joint venture partner drilled 7 wells, completed 3 wells, and had 10 wells turned in line. Below we have an overview of yesterday’s CONSOL 1Q14 report, the report itself, and a portion of an analyst call with top management…
Read More “CONSOL 1Q14: Top Mgmt Changes, Change to Shale Driller Continues”
BP | Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Trumbull County | Utica Shale

BP Calls it Quits in the Utica Shale – Total Write-off
April 29, 2014April 29, 2014

A sad day for landowners in Trumbull County, OH. Flashback: In March 2012 BP leased 84,000 acres in Trumbull County, OH from the Associated Landowners of the Ohio Valley (see BP’s Big Utica Shale Deal, Leases 84K Acres in Ohio). Just two years later and what started out with great fanfare is all down the toilet. BP announced today they are pulling out of the Utica Shale and writing it all off. In a very brief mention in a press release issued this morning about first quarter 2014 results, BP says: “Following on from the decision to create a separate BP business around its US lower 48 onshore oil and gas activities, and as a consequence of appraisal results, BP has decided not to proceed with development plans in the Utica shale. The Upstream result includes a write-off relating to the Utica acreage.”

Last November MDN wondered aloud whether BP would decide to move forward, or call it quits (see Decision Point: Will BP Drill Their Utica Acreage? Or Pass?). Now we know. Why leave? As we pointed out at the time, Trumbull County has proven to be mostly dry gas, and not wet gas (or natural gas liquids) which makes it a much less profitable part of the play to drill in. BP rolled the dice and bet wrong. The only other driller in Trumbull has been Halcon Resources. They pulled out too (see Halcon Resources Stops Drilling, Gives Up on the Utica Shale). Is there any hope for future Utica drilling in Trumbull County?…
Read More “BP Calls it Quits in the Utica Shale – Total Write-off”
Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Norse Energy | Regulation | Statewide NY

Highest Bid for Norse Energy $2.65M – Was it Sold & Who Bid?
April 28, 2014April 28, 2014

On Friday two major stories developed involving Norse Energy. You may recall Norwegian-based Norse Energy rolled the dice and placed all their bets on shale drilling in New York State, leasing some 180,000 acres, of which 130,000 acres are in the Marcellus and/or Utica Shale region. Never in their wildest dreams did Norse believe it would take six years or more for the state to allow high-volume hydraulic fracturing. Things started to go downhill for Norse when landowners sued to say Norse did not have the right to continue the leases indefinitely (beyond five years) because of New York’s tardiness in approving fracking (see New Rough Patch for Norse Energy: Force Majeure Lawsuit). Eventually the state’s ongoing moratorium on fracking led to Norse’s bankruptcy (see Lights Turned Off, Door Closed – Good Night, Norse Energy). Norse sued the state to force it to release fracking regulations so their remaining asset, the leases, could be sold for at least some value to compensate investors (see Norse Energy Sues Gov. Cuomo to Force Release of Fracking Regs).

Here’s where it gets complicated. On Friday in U.S. bankruptcy court, three bids for the leases and other company assets were unsealed. The highest was for $2.65 million–which is pennies on the dollar compared to the value of the company just a year ago before NY’s action forced it into bankruptcy. The New York Post reported the company behind the winning bid was hedge fund Mason Capital. From what MDN is able to determine, that may not be correct. The highest bid was from Any Acquisition, LLC–which may or may not be backed by Mason Capital. More important, there has been no official word that the judge awarded the sale to anyone on Friday. Below we tackle a complex deal-in-the-making and sort it out with help from our friends at NGI’s Shale Daily, who did some proper, old-fashioned reporting and got the real goods…
Read More “Highest Bid for Norse Energy $2.65M – Was it Sold & Who Bid?”