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SRBC Approved 33 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use Permits in April
The highly functional and responsible Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), unlike its 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, safe shale drilling. The SRBC published a notice in the May 23rd Pennsylvania Bulletin that the SRBC approved and/or renewed 33 general water use permits in April for individual shale gas well drilling pads in Bradford, Cameron, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties. Read More “SRBC Approved 33 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use Permits in April”
NOTE: MDN will not publish on Friday, May 22, and Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Therefore, we are publishing the weekly permits report a day early.
Range Resources issued its first quarter 2026 update yesterday. Range’s production averaged 2.21 Bcfe/d in 1Q, approximately 32% liquids and 68% natural gas. Range used one rig and one completion crew to drill ~143,000 lateral feet across 9 wells, while turning to sales ~267,000 feet across 17 wells. 1Q26 drilling and completion expenditures were $130 million. In addition, Range spent approximately $5 million in acreage and $4 million in infrastructure, pneumatic upgrades, and other investments. The company maintains it will push production to 2.5 Bcfe/d by the end of this year, even though it’s only using a single rig and frac crew. 
Range Resources issued its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 update yesterday. Range’s production averaged 2.24 Bcfe/d in 4Q, approximately 69% natural gas. Range used two rigs and drilled ~225,000 lateral feet across 15 wells during the quarter. 4Q25 drilling and completion expenditures were $167 million. In addition to D&C spending, Range spent approximately $10 million on acreage and $6 million on infrastructure, pneumatic devices, and other investments. For the entire year, Range drilled 69 laterals with an average horizontal length of 14,800 feet, with total activity exceeding 1 million lateral feet drilled. 
On January 22, Mount Pleasant Township Police (in Washington County, PA) reported that extreme winter temperatures caused an aboveground water pipeline serving Range Resources’ shale gas operations to freeze and rupture near the Yonker Tank Pad. In response to the infrastructure failure, the Township Zoning Officer granted a temporary permit modification, allowing the company to bypass the damaged pipeline by hauling water via dozens of trucks over the next two weeks. 
On December 17, 2025, a casing failure and loss of well control occurred at one of three wells during fracking operations at a Range Resources pad in Washington County, PA. After gas pressure spiked to 2,000 psi, the company stabilized the well and later installed two kill plugs. Despite Range sending an immediate email notification, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited Range for failing to use the required website portal for instant alerts. Additionally, the company missed deadlines for a mandatory Area of Review report regarding potential “communication” with other O&G wells and/or water wells in the area. 
Volatility is the watchword for new permits in the Marcellus/Utica. Three weeks ago, the combined count between Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia was a measly 8 new permits (see