Energy Services

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pipelines | Regulation | Williams

Judge Rules Bluegrass Pipeline Cannot Use Eminent Domain in KY
March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

On Monday MDN brought you the news that the Kentucky House had voted to strip the right to use eminent domain from natural gas liquids pipelines (see Kentucky House Votes to End Eminent Domain for Bluegrass Pipeline). An alert MDN reader predicted the measure wouldn’t get signed into law because the KY Senate president said with only 10 days left in this session, it’s not likely to come up for a vote in the Senate (see Bluegrass Pipeline bill passes House).

Looks like it won’t matter what the KY legislature does. Last December a lawsuit was filed by a group calling itself KURE (Kentuckians United to Restrain Eminent Domain), to prevent the Bluegrass Pipeline from using eminent domain in the Bluegrass state (see Bluegrass NGL Pipeline’s Eminent Domain Challenged in KY Court). Yesterday Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip J. Shepherd ruled in KURE’s favor and said the Bluegrass cannot use eminent domain to force landowners to allow the pipeline to be buried under their property…
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Antero Resources | Eclipse Resources | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EnLink Midstream | Ohio | PDC Energy | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Some Utica Players Tip Their Hand on Plans for Next 3-5 Years
March 25, 2014March 25, 2014

Although drillers are often mum on future plans, some drillers (and midstream companies) who participated in the recent Ohio Oil & Gas Association (OOGA) annual winter meeting earlier this month were helpfully chatty about what’s coming in the Ohio Utica over the next few years.

Tom Knox, intrepid new reporter doing a great job at the Columbus Business Journal, was on hand at the OOGA meeting and took good notes. He reports on what PDC Energy, Antero Resources, Eclipse Resources and Enlink Midstream have planned in the next 3-5 years for the Utica…
Read More “Some Utica Players Tip Their Hand on Plans for Next 3-5 Years”
eCORP Stimulation Technologies | Energy Services

ecorpStim Waterless Fracking Newsjacks UN Water & Energy Report
March 25, 2014March 25, 2014

ecorpStim, a company that has pioneered an interesting waterless fracking technology that uses non-flammable liquefied petroleum gas (propane) to replace all water and chemicals used in traditional fracking, continues their newsjacking ways. We told you last December how the company gloms onto big news stories and tries to tie themselves to the story–as if the story were about them when it isn’t (see Waterless Fracker ecorpStim (Mis)Uses Newsjacking for Attention). We hadn’t spotted any more cases and thought they had wisely decided to cool it with the newsjacking. But we were wrong.

Yesterday ecorpStim issued a new press release to call attention to themselves via a recently issued UN report on water and energy. Yes, in one sense you can say ecorpStim’s technology offers a solution to a teeny tiny portion of the water issues raised in the report. Frankly, shale drilling uses a small fraction of the water used by other forms of energy extraction and even by agriculture and golf courses! Shale drilling’s use of water in no way endangers water supplies. Look, we applaud creative “hey look at me” marketing. We like the ecorpStim technology! However, we take a dim view of useless marketing that doesn’t advance the very serious issues facing our industry. You decide which this is…
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American Water Management | Earthquakes | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio | Regulation | Trumbull County | Wastewater

OH Earthquakes May Delay Opening of New Niles Injection Well
March 24, 2014March 24, 2014

Although Niles (Trumbull County), Ohio is about 18 miles from Poland (Mahoning County), Ohio by car, it’s only about 8-9 miles “as the crow flies.” And that proximity may be a problem for a new Class II frack wastewater injection well set to open in just a few weeks in Niles. Why? Because nearby Poland is where there was a recent series of earthquakes (see # of Youngstown Earthquakes go from 2 to 11 – Fracking to Blame?).

American Water Management Services Inc. say they are about two weeks away from opening their new injection well in Niles–or could open if they get the necessary permits. The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) says it’s too early to say whether or not the new injection well will be allowed to open in the next few weeks because of the ongoing earthquake investigation…
Read More “OH Earthquakes May Delay Opening of New Niles Injection Well”
Boardwalk Pipeline Partners | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | NGLs | Pipelines | Regulation | Williams

Kentucky House Votes to End Eminent Domain for Bluegrass Pipeline
March 24, 2014March 24, 2014

The Bluegrass natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline is a $1.5 billion project that will stretch from the Utica/Marcellus all the way to Gulf Coast. It’s being built by Williams and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners and as of last October the joint venture partners held an open season and said everything is on track for a 2015 launch (see Bluegrass Pipeline Launches Open Season, on Track for 2015 Launch). But a lot has happened in the past six months, including Boardwalk’s stock tanking (see Serious Concerns about Boardwalk Pipeline Partners Continue). Not only that, but there’s been a lot of anti-pipeline sentiment in Kentucky–one of the states the new pipeline must cross on its way to the Gulf Coast. So much anti-pipeline sentiment that Boardwalk and Williams have threatened using eminent domain in order to get the property they need for a crossing (see Bluegrass NGL Pipeline’s Eminent Domain Challenged in KY Court).

The eminent domain issue is coming to a head in Kentucky with respect to the Bluegrass Pipeline. Last Friday the KY House voted to approve House Bill (HB) 31 which will strip NGL pipelines of their right to use eminent domain in the state. The measure now heads to the Senate. What are its chances? No one is saying, although Boardwalk and Williams have hired no less than nine lobbyists to make their case with KY lawmakers…
Read More “Kentucky House Votes to End Eminent Domain for Bluegrass Pipeline”
Crosstex Energy | Devon Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EnLink Midstream | Industrywide Issues | M&A

Crosstex Investors Cash in on Merger, Selling 18M Units for $550M
March 24, 2014March 24, 2014

Crosstex Energy recently got hitched with the midstream operation of Devon Energy and the new couple gave birth, or rather transformed itself, into EnLink Midstream (see Time to Congratulate Devon & Crosstex on the Birth of EnLink).The new EnLink has a growing presence in both the Utica and Marcellus Shale. They are a “player” in our space, so we keep a close eye on them.

Last Friday the newly combined and renamed EnLink announced owners of 18 million shares of stock in EnLink (called units) have put their shares up for sale with an eye to raising $550 million. However, that money will not flow to the coffers of EnLink. It will go to the owners of the units–presumably top management and/or investors in the old Crosstex. The action does make us wonder: Is this a prelude to some of top management leaving EnLink, or just big money investors cashing in to realize a big ROI? We don’t know. Here’s the announcement from Friday:
Read More “Crosstex Investors Cash in on Merger, Selling 18M Units for $550M”
Energy Services | MarkWest Energy

MarkWest Line of Credit Extension – Can Now Borrow up to $1.3B
March 21, 2014March 21, 2014

With dense financial talk about amendments, maturities and accordion options, MarkWest announced yesterday that they’ve bumped up the borrowing limit on their line of credit at the bank. They can now borrow up to $1.3 billion and not have to pay it back until 2019. And MarkWest is likely going to need every penny as they continue their rapid (and necessary) expansion in the Marcellus and Utica Shale.

MarkWest remains the region’s largest midstream company. Here’s their “we got an extension to our credit line” announcement from yesterday:
Read More “MarkWest Line of Credit Extension – Can Now Borrow up to $1.3B”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Susquehanna County | Wastewater | Williams

Williams Pipeline Connection in NEPA Leaks Brine Near Local Lake
March 20, 2014March 20, 2014

A Williams pipeline in Susquehanna County, PA used to carry brine (salty water from the depths that comes out long after fracking is done and over) was found leaking earlier this week. A pipeline interchange leaked an unspecified amount of brine and left what appeared to be a copper-colored dust over land owned by the Loomis Lake Association.

The Lake Association is understandably concerned that some of the brine may have leaked into the lake itself. Daily testing is underway to determine if the brine reached the lake. Williams has cleaned up the leftover dust–and the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection is investigating. No one is panicking, but everyone is on high alert and keeping a close eye on the situation…
Read More “Williams Pipeline Connection in NEPA Leaks Brine Near Local Lake”
Broome County | Chenango County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Delaware County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Otsego County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Schoharie County | Susquehanna County | Williams

Leatherstocking to Tap Constitution Pipeline for Local Deliveries
March 19, 2014March 19, 2014

Rural residents (and an aerospace manufacturer) located in New York’s Southern Tier and Central New York areas have a lot to be thankful for with the upcoming Constitution Pipeline–a natural gas pipeline that will deliver natural gas from the Marcellus Shale gas fields of Susquehanna County, PA all the way to two major interstate pipelines near Schoharie, NY (see New Marcellus Constitution Pipeline Announces “Final” Route). Williams is building the 124-mile pipeline with backing from Cabot Oil & Gas, whose gas will flow through it.

However, a regional gas pipeline company (think gas utility) founded just a few years, Leatherstocking Gas, will tap into the Constitution at (so far) four different locations along the pipeline so they can deliver that homegrown Marcellus gas to rural customers who are not being served by the big utilities like New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG, owned by Iberdrola). Yesterday Williams and Leatherstocking announced the deal to tap into the Constitution Pipeline in four locations…
Read More “Leatherstocking to Tap Constitution Pipeline for Local Deliveries”
Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lackawanna County | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | UGI Energy Services

NatGas Replaces Coal to Generate Electricity in Steamtown USA
March 18, 2014March 18, 2014

Coal has been a fixture in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area for generations. It is so much a part of the fabric of the community that there is a National Park smack in the middle of downtown Scranton called Steamtown National Historic Site. Railroad engines used to run on coal back in the day–so it figures Scranton was a major nexus for trains–the city was really the coal capital of the northeast. So when natural gas displaced coal at a 50 year-old coal-powered electrical generating plant south of Wilkes-Barre a few years ago, that was interesting and noteworthy. The Hunlock plant was converted to run on natural gas by installing two new turbines. The waste heat from the new turbines now powers the old/original turbine once powered by heat from burning coal. It’s called “combined cycle” electric generation and it’s happening across the United States.

The Obama EPA has demonized coal to the point that electric generating plants are switching (by necessity) to natural gas in large numbers. Hey, *something* has to create electricity–a very small scintilla of electricity comes from so-called alternative sources like wind and solar. Fossil fuels will, for generations to come, bear most of the burden when it comes to creating the electricity that powers your smart phone, lights, and your (*cough*) electric car. That’s the stark reality. The following article is an intriguing look at how utilities convert aging coal-fired electric plants into less-polluting, more efficient natgas-fired plants–in this case plants that run on Marcellus Shale gas…
Read More “NatGas Replaces Coal to Generate Electricity in Steamtown USA”
Braskem | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Odebrecht | Processing Plants | West Virginia | Wood County

Odebrecht’s WV Ethane Cracker has The Big Mo–Momentum
March 17, 2014March 17, 2014

The Shell ethane cracker plant announced for Beaver County, PA has been a roller coaster ride about whether or not it will ever get built over the past two years since it was announced. Just last week the pendulum swung again and the mood turned decidedly gloomy (see Shell’s Shale Pessimism Signals Worry for Some re PA Cracker). In stark contrast to the Shell cracker, the cracker announced late last year by Odebrecht–to be built in Parkersburg, WV–seems to have an air of optimism and inevitability (see WV Ethane Cracker – Cautious Optimism in the Mountain State). Odebrecht officials are careful to say it’s not a 100% done deal yet and that we are “very early” in the process of making this multi-billion dollar project a reality. But what MDN notices about the Odebrecht cracker is forward momentum. Rapid progress. Enthusiasm. It just “feels” like the Odebrecht project is going to happen.

Here is an update on the progress made to date on Odebrecht’s planned ethane cracker complex in Parkersburg, and what will happen next…
Read More “Odebrecht’s WV Ethane Cracker has The Big Mo–Momentum”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | TC Energy/TransCanada

TransCanada’s ANR Pipeline to Reverse & Carry Marcellus Gas South
March 14, 2014March 14, 2014

This week TransCanada’s ANR Pipeline announced an open season to gauge interest on carrying plain old natural gas from the Marcellus and Utica Shale region all the way to the Gulf Coast. The plan is to reverse the flow of the ANR Pipeline that stretches from Indiana to the Gulf, and get the gas to Indiana by using the ANR Lebanon Lateral, a pipeline that goes from Lenanon, OH to the mainline ANR in Indiana. TransCanada is offering up to 600,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d).

Here’s the story from NGI’s excellent Shale Daily publication:
Read More “TransCanada’s ANR Pipeline to Reverse & Carry Marcellus Gas South”
Accidents | Columbia Pipeline Group | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kanawha County | NiSource | Pipelines | West Virginia

NTSB Faults NiSource/Columbia for WV Pipeline Explosion in 2012
March 12, 2014March 12, 2014

On December 11, 2012, a portion of the Columbia Gas Transmission pipeline (owned by Nisource) exploded near Sissonville, WV, 10 miles north of Charleston. The resulting fire burned for more than an hour and shut down a portion of nearby Interstate 77 for days (see Columbia NatGas Pipeline Explodes Near Charleston, WV). It’s been a long time coming, but on Monday the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), that did a full investigation of the explosion, turned in their final report. It was pretty damning for NiSource/Columbia. The conclusions of the investigators are that a) the pipe had corroded in that section–a long time ago, and b) Columbia hadn’t inspected that section of pipeline since (unbelievably) 1988. In other words, it was an accident waiting to happen.

Below we have the press release from the NTSB with their high level findings, then the full 32-page report released Monday, and finally, the lame response issued by NiSource/Columbia “thanking” the NTSB for just ripping them a new one…
Read More “NTSB Faults NiSource/Columbia for WV Pipeline Explosion in 2012”
CNG/LNG | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | M&A | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | UIL Holdings

Fascinating Look Behind the Curtain of the Phila. Gas Works Deal
March 11, 2014March 11, 2014

Last week MDN told you about the potential sale of the country’s largest municipal-owned natural gas utility–the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW)–to Connecticut utility company UIL (see Phila. Gas Works Deal for $1.86B – Marcellus/Utica One of Keys). The law firm that structured and brokered the deal says that while the legal aspects were complicated, the legal aspects were the “easy” part. The hard part? The coming political buzz saw from selling the city-owned asset (an asset that’s been losing money for forever under city ownership). Labor unions are actively opposing the sale, afraid it will mean layoffs.

Why buy a money loser? According to the lawyer in charge of the deal, Gregory L. Seltzer, UIL wanted to buy PGW for three reasons…
Read More “Fascinating Look Behind the Curtain of the Phila. Gas Works Deal”
Crosstex Energy | Devon Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EnLink Midstream | Industrywide Issues | M&A

Time to Congratulate Devon & Crosstex on the Birth of EnLink
March 10, 2014March 10, 2014

As we previously told you, Devon Energy, a drilling company with some midstream assets, and Crosstex Energy, a midstream company, were due to merge (see Crosstex Energy Gets a Name Change, Merger with Devon Proceeds). It was quite a while in coming–lots of lawyers reviewing every syllable of every paper.

Last Friday the two companies announced they have finally, fully, irrevocably tied the merger knot and together they have delivered a bouncing baby…midstream company. They named the new baby EnLink. Time for a cigar…
Read More “Time to Congratulate Devon & Crosstex on the Birth of EnLink”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Pipelines | Tennessee Gas Pipeline

Anti-Drillers Turn Out to Oppose TGP Pipeline Expansion Across MA
March 7, 2014March 7, 2014

As you may recall, a few weeks ago MDN was a bit dumbfounded that residents of Massachusetts were being so reasonable about the prospect of Kinder Morgan expanding the Tennessee Gas Pipeline across the state to deliver critically needed new supplies of natural gas to New England (see Reaction to TGP’s Planned Pipeline Across Massachusetts). It’s Massachusetts for heaven’s sake! Home of some of the looniest of the loons, lefties of the left. And here they were, being all reasonable. The stars were out of alignment.

It took a little time, but true to expectations, here come the MA nutters out of the woodwork to oppose the pipeline. They’re spitting and sputtering and mouthily proclaiming Kinder Morgan has “no idea who they’re dealing with.” Now THAT’S more like the wacky MA residents we know and love. The stars are now realigned in the eco-nut firmament…
Read More “Anti-Drillers Turn Out to Oppose TGP Pipeline Expansion Across MA”