Multi-Year Test of Range Well in SWPA Proves No Air Pollution
Anti-drillers, with the assistance of biased “news” publications like the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, continually make false accusations against the shale industry in the southwestern Pennsylvania area, alleging that fracking is the cause of rare forms of cancer in children (see More Reckless Accusations that Shale Causes Cancer in SWPA Kids). In order to quell these false accusations, Range Resources commissioned and paid for two independent air monitoring studies. We told you about one of the studies, set up in Cecil Township (Washington County), back in June 2020 (see Range Resources Begins New Air Monitoring Test at SWPA Well Site). The results from that study are now in. According to third-party findings, the Cecil study showed no elevated concentration of air pollution in the area.
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A pair of announcements yesterday gave us a little peek into the numbers Range Resources will release later this month as part of its quarterly update. In one update, Range (the very first driller to sink a Marcellus well back in 2004) reported averaging 2.2 billion cubic feet equivalent per day (Bcfe/d) for production in the Marcellus/Utica region during the fourth quarter of 2022. A separate announcement said Range’s proved reserves for all of 2022 hit 18.1 trillion cubic feet equivalent (Tcfe), up 2% over the prior year.
New shale permits issued for Jan. 23-29 in the Marcellus/Utica soared! There were 59 new permits issued in total, including 34 (!) new permits for Pennsylvania, 24 (!) new permits for Ohio, and just one measly permit issued in West Virginia. Chesapeake Energy was the runaway winner by grabbing 13 permits, all of them for wells in Bradford County, PA. EOG Resources was the runner-up, receiving eight permits for drilling in Noble County, OH.
What a difference three years can make! Three years ago, Henry Hub prices were hovering around $2 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). Stock valuations for Marcellus/Utica drillers were majorly depressed (down 80-90% from previous highs), and gas producers were struggling. Fast forward to today. Balance sheets and earnings statements are through the roof. Most experts believe $4-$5/Mcf gas is sustainable–at least for the next X years. What does the future look like for M-U drillers? What are the risks? And can we keep the current bright outlook going?
Being a “pure-play” or “single play” (as the Brits call it) shale driller has its advantages. It also, in a changing world, can have its risks, or disadvantages. That is the point made in a new analysis by global research and consultancy Wood Mackenzie. Wood specializes in doling out advice on oil, gas, LNG, power, renewables, chemicals, and metals & mining. In an excellent article delving into the advantages and disadvantages of being a pure-play driller, Wood makes the following observation: “Five US operators – EQT, Pioneer, Antero, Diamondback and Range – have amassed single-basin positions on a global scale.” Yeah, three of the five are M-U pure-play drillers, and the assets they have “amassed” rival (produce more) than many of the Majors’ non-shale assets. It is a truly amazing feat.
Expectations play a big role in investing. The financial markets do a lot of anticipating and forecasting and guessing about where a company or entire sector is heading. Such is the game being played right now with expectations for Marcellus/Utica shale gas companies and their forthcoming third quarter financial updates. Given the high price of natural gas during 3Q22, analysts expect shale gas companies to be swimming in free cash flow. The natural follow-on question is, what will they do with all of that extra cash?