Antero 2nd Largest NGL Producer in U.S. – “Liquids-Rich Powerhouse”
Antero Resources has successfully transformed from a leveraged Appalachian driller into a high-margin, liquids-rich energy powerhouse, recently experiencing a 5.42% stock surge driven by global supply uncertainties. By prioritizing natural gas liquids and securing strategic transport to Gulf Coast LNG export corridors, the company has shifted from a regional price-taker to a sophisticated global player. The company has become the second-largest NGL producer in the country! Under the leadership of CEO Michael Kennedy, Antero has drastically reduced debt while generating record free cash flow. Through operational efficiencies such as super-lateral drilling and advanced water recycling, the firm is well-positioned to meet rising energy demands from AI data centers. Read More “Antero 2nd Largest NGL Producer in U.S. – “Liquids-Rich Powerhouse””
In its 2025 year-end results released yesterday, Infinity Natural Resources (INR) provided a bullish outlook for the coming year. The company, which focuses solely on the Marcellus/Utica, is targeting roughly 70% year-over-year production growth, fueled by the integration of the Ohio Utica assets it recently acquired from Antero (see 
Yesterday, March 10, 2026, Repsol held its Capital Markets Day at its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, where the company unveiled its new Strategic Plan for 2026–2028. Repsol is leaning into its U.S. natural gas assets, even as its total company-wide spending is slowing. Repsol reiterated that the United States is a “core country” for its Upstream (Exploration and Production) business. Repsol is specifically “high-grading” its portfolio to focus on high-value areas like the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas. 
Here’s a lawsuit that had (until now) escaped our radar screen. It’s a lawsuit dealing with the issue of post-production deductions. The case is Kirkbride v. Antero Resources Corp. and is being litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. On March 6, 2026, Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers denied a motion to certify the case as a class action. This is a significant development in the ongoing legal friction between Ohio landowners and energy companies over how royalties are calculated. 
Ascent Resources, formerly American Energy Partners, was founded by Aubrey McClendon, a gas industry legend, and is a privately held company that focuses 100% on the Ohio Utica Shale. Ascent, headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, is Ohio’s largest natural gas producer and one of the largest natural gas producers in the U.S. The company issued its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 update last week. The company plans to expand its 2026 drilling program, increasing land spending by 40% to nearly $225 million. The company aims to strengthen its long-term inventory and supply natural gas to power-hungry Appalachian data centers. 
Thanks to the work of David Hess at the PA Environment Digest Blog in tracking Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) notices published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, we spotted three new water pipeline projects related to drilling new shale wells in three different northeastern PA counties: Lycoming, Bradford, and Wyoming. Water is used for fracking. New water pipelines mean new fracking is on the way in those locations. 
The Marcellus/Utica region received a combined 11 new drilling permits last week, Feb. 23 – Mar. 1, down 6 from the 17 permits issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 10 of the 11 new permits. West Virginia issued the other permit. Ohio got skunked last week. The drillers receiving new permits last week included: Antero Resources, CNX Resources, EQT, JKLM Energy, and STL Resources. 
Hope Gas is a Local Distribution Company (LDC, i.e., utility company) that provides gas service to approximately 140,000 residential, industrial, and commercial customers in 39 West Virginia counties. The company monitors and maintains over 7,000 miles of pipelines that safely deliver West Virginia natural gas to many homes and commercial and industrial sites. In September 2023, Hope Gas asked the West Virginia Public Service Commission for permission to build a new 30-mile pipeline in Monongalia County (see 
Top leadership at Gulfport Energy recently executed significant insider stock sales totaling millions of dollars. EVP and CFO Michael Hodges led the divestment, selling 16,769 shares for approximately $3.53 million. Director Timothy J. Cutt followed by disposing of 5,000 shares for over $1.04 million, while SVP of Reservoir Engineering Michael Sluiter sold 9,933 shares, generating roughly $2.09 million. These substantial transactions by high-ranking executives represent a major shift in insider holdings, with the company’s leadership team collectively cashing out over $6.6 million in stock during this period of notable trading activity. What does it mean? 
A study by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development indicates that a proposed 500 to 700-megawatt hyperscale data center at the Zediker site in Washington County, PA, could generate $407 million for the local economy and create 2,364 jobs. Owned by CNX Resources Corp., the former coal mine is being marketed for generative AI facilities, leveraging nearby natural gas supplies and remediated mine gas to power the operation. While no official deal has been struck, the project is expected to yield $67.5 million in tax revenue, positioning the site as a transformative hub for high-tech investment and regional prosperity. 
Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass (CP) LNG export facility in Louisiana began operations in March 2022 (see 
Olympus Energy (now owned by EQT) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. In 2021, Olympus applied to build a new well pad in a rural part of Allegheny County, in West Deer Township. So-called “concerned citizens” got amped up to oppose the project. They succeeded when town supervisors rejected the Dionysus well pad (see 
As the conflict with Iran and the halt in LNG production in Qatar triggered a 100% spike in European natural gas prices, U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) has solidified its role as a critical global energy stabilizer. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. became Europe’s primary supplier, a shift highlighted at a recent Pittsburgh energy conference. EQT CEO Toby Rice and other Pennsylvania producers argue that expanding Marcellus Shale exports is essential for allied security. Despite infrastructure bottlenecks, U.S. LNG exports are projected to grow significantly by 2030, offering a reliable alternative to volatile Middle Eastern and Russian energy supplies. 
Last week, EOG Resources reported strong full-year 2025 results, earning $5.0 billion in net income and returning $4.7 billion in free cash flow to shareholders. For 2026, EOG announced a $6.5 billion capital plan targeting 13% total production growth and increased operational efficiency. A central component of this strategy is EOG’s Ohio Utica play, which the company has identified as a top priority alongside the Delaware Basin and Eagle Ford. Following its transformational Encino Energy acquisition last August, the company expects significantly higher activity in the Utica throughout 2026.