Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Bradford County | Butler County | CNX Resources | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Formentera Operating | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | Laurel Mountain Energy | Lycoming County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania General Energy | Range Resources Corp | Tyler County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wyoming County (PA)
26 New Shale Well Permits Reported for PA-OH-WV Jul 13 – 19
The Marcellus/Utica region received 26 new drilling permits last week, July 13 – 19, up 19 from two weeks ago (after dipping down 21 three weeks ago). So goes the permitting yo-yo ride. Last week, Pennsylvania issued 23 new permits (after issuing just 1 two weeks ago). Ohio issued 2 new permits. And, West Virginia issued 1 new permit. The drillers who received new permits included: Antero Resources (1), Ascent Resources (2), CNX Resources (2), EQT (1), Expand Energy (3), Formentera Operating (1), Laurel Mountain Energy (5), Pennsylvania General Energy (6), and Range Resources (5). Read More “26 New Shale Well Permits Reported for PA-OH-WV Jul 13 – 19”
Yesterday, EQT Corporation, the largest Marcellus/Utica-only producer by far, issued its second-quarter 2026 update. We’re pulling out what we consider to be the biggest news from that update for this separate post. During an earnings call with analysts, EQT CEO Toby Rice said that since the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved the company’s 31-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) Southgate project from southern Virginia into northern North Carolina in June (see 
EQT Corporation issued second quarter 2026 results on July 21, followed by an analyst call on July 22. Here’s what matters if you lease acreage to EQT — or own the stock. The company produced more gas using less money in 2Q, raising its estimate of how much it will produce in 2026 by 90 Bcfe to 2,375-2,450 Bcfe (which works out to 6.5 to 6.7 Bcfe/d). As a point of reference, the country’s largest natural gas producer, Expand Energy, is estimating production of 7.5 Bcfe/d in 2026. For landowners leased with EQT with older wells, there’s good news about workovers. 
Range Resources released second quarter 2026 results on July 21 and held its analyst call on July 22. For Marcellus landowners and RRC shareholders alike, there’s a lot packed into this one. Range produced 2.30 Bcfe/d in 2Q26, roughly 67% natural gas, up 5% from a year ago. Of particular note for landowners, Range’s drilling tempo for new wells will slow somewhat during the second half. However, great news for those already drilled. Range is drilling over 50% of its wells on existing pads this year. And, Range drilled a rare Utica well. Does that mean more Utica drilling is on the way for the company? 
Yes, there is a direct connection between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) approval of the expansion of an underground salt-dome storage cavern project in Mississippi and the Marcellus/Utica. FERC has approved Leaf River Energy Center’s expansion of its New Home Salt Dome storage facility in Smith, Jasper, and Clarke counties, Mississippi, adding 19.18 Bcf of working gas capacity through new cavern development and facility upgrades. The project includes a new Cavern 5, expansion of Caverns 2 and 4, new compression, and pipeline additions, raising total working gas capacity from 36.0 to 55.18 Bcf. 
We stumbled across an article by East Daley Analytics that is a real eye-opener for us. East Daley analyzed 13 major public G&P (gathering and processing) operators (i.e., pipeline companies). They found that Expand Energy (created by the merger of Chesapeake Energy with Southwestern Energy), with major assets in the Marcellus/Utica and the Louisiana Haynesville, accounts for 52% of DT Midstream’s gathering volumes, 32% of Williams’, and 21% of Energy Transfer’s throughput. Yikes! Just one company. 
Despite rising Northeast gas demand from retiring coal plants and new data centers, plus added Appalachian pipeline capacity, production growth isn’t guaranteed—operators prioritize capital discipline, debt reduction, and shareholder returns over volume. Appalachia has held flat at roughly 33-36 Bcf/d since 2020. Can anything tempt Marcellus/Utica drillers to drill and produce more than they are now? According to RBN Energy, sustained Henry Hub prices above $4/MMBtu (versus the current $3.50-$3.60 long-dated curve) and better takeaway infrastructure could be enough of a temptation. 
Thanks to the work of David Hess at the PA Environment Digest Blog, which tracks Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) notices published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, we know of two water pipeline projects (for EQT and Expand Energy) approved by the DEP related to drilling new shale wells in two different northeastern PA counties: Lycoming and Bradford. Water is used for fracking. New water pipelines mean new fracking is on the way in those locations. 
Diversified Energy and real estate firm Maverick Holdings have secured an option on 100 acres at Letcher County’s Gateway Industrial Park near Jenkins, aiming to use an existing natural gas compressor station to fuel an off-grid, 100-megawatt power plant that could attract data centers or manufacturers. The Appalachian Industrial Development Authority signed an 18-month joint development agreement in March, though some board members were asked to sign NDAs. Local officials remain cautiously optimistic, citing potential tax revenue and infrastructure funding, but stress the project is still in early, unproven stages. 
Infinity Natural Resources announced the appointment of Timothy Dugan to its Board of Directors, effective July 13, 2026. Dugan brings more than four decades of experience in the Appalachian energy industry, spanning upstream operations, midstream infrastructure, capital allocation, and strategic transactions. He most recently served as President and CEO of Olympus Energy, leading its sale to EQT Corporation for $1.8 billion in July 2025 (see 
After months of deliberation, Steubenville (Jefferson County), Ohio, City Council voted to accept a bid and proceed with leasing the city’s mineral rights to the oil and gas industry, including areas near residential neighborhoods and Beatty Park. Some residents voiced strong opposition, citing threats to the park’s ecosystem, health concerns, and insufficient public involvement, urging the council to reject bids or form a resident-inclusive committee. Fourth Ward Councilman Royal Mayo voted against it, questioning fracking’s health effects. First Ward Councilman David Albaugh supported it, noting that surrounding areas are already fracked and that no well pad would be built in Steubenville. The money (over $1 million!) is expected within 90 days.