NJ Residents Unhappy with Pipeline’s Power of Eminent Domain
This is a cautionary story. You know that MDN is pro- but safe drilling. You may also know that MDN does not think, in general, that pipeline companies should be granted status as public utilities with the right of eminent domain—the right to condemn and take land for its own use in constructing a pipeline. But pipelines are a complex issue. Should large, interstate pipelines be granted public utility status? Perhaps. They are similar to large electric lines running through a state. But what about smaller, gathering pipelines? Should they have the right to cross any property they want? MDN says no.
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Dominion, one of the country’s largest producers and transporters of energy, has just announced they will build a large natural gas processing and fractionation plant along the Ohio River in Natrium, W.Va. to process shale gas from the Marcellus and Utica Shale regions. The plant’s first phase of construction will be completed by the end of next year. The new facility will provide construction jobs initially, and when completed, 40-50 permanent jobs. Dominion reports they have already pre-sold 90 percent of the first phase’s processing capacity of 200 Mmcf (million cubic feet) of natural gas per day and fractionation of 36,000 barrels of gas liquids per day. Dominion’s largest customer for the first phase is Chesapeake Energy, reserving 100 Mmcf of processing capacity.
Texas-based GreenHunter Energy, Inc. announced they’ve purchased acreage in West Virginia where they will establish a facility to treat and dispose of fracking wastewater. Part of GreenHunter’s plan includes disposing wastewater using an existing injection well with plans for additional injection wells. The press release (in full below) does not mention the exact location for the new facility and injection wells.