Energy Services

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA | Transco | Williams

3rd Circuit Sides with PA Antis’ Appeal of REAE Permits 2nd Time
November 5, 2024November 5, 2024

Williams’ Transco Regional Energy Access Expansion (REAE) project expands the mighty Transco pipeline in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to deliver an extra 829 MMcf/d of Marcellus gas to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. About 450,000 MMcf/d of the total capacity went online in late 2023 along Transco’s Leidy Line in Pennsylvania. Another 160 MMcf/d went online in PA and NJ in early July. On July 26, FERC granted Williams’s request to bring online the final 219 MMcf/d ahead of schedule (see FERC OKs Request to Place Balance of Transco REAE Online Early). Two PA-based anti-fossil groups are still trying to get permits for the project in PA invalidated. They won a minor victory in that regard with a federal court yesterday. Read More “3rd Circuit Sides with PA Antis’ Appeal of REAE Permits 2nd Time”
Baker Hughes | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

PA Re-Adds One Rig to 13; National Rig Count Even 2nd Week @ 585
November 4, 2024November 12, 2024

Two weeks ago, Pennsylvania lost another rig, going from 13 rigs down to 12 rigs, the lowest that state has operated in the last 17 years (see PA Drops Another Rig to 17-Year Low; National Rig Count Even @ 585). Last week, PA picked up one rig, so the tally is back to 13. It’s still not great, but we suppose it’s progress. A little over two months ago (as of August 23), PA operated 21 rigs. We went through a period of rapid rig loss in the Keystone State. Last week, Ohio and West Virginia maintained their respective counts of 10 active rigs each. Read More “PA Re-Adds One Rig to 13; National Rig Count Even 2nd Week @ 585”
DT Midstream | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Statewide WV | West Virginia

DT Midstream Expanding Marcellus Gathering Pipe Connection to MVP
November 4, 2024November 4, 2024

DT Midstream (DTM), headquartered in Detroit, owns major assets in the Marcellus/Utica region and other regions like the Haynesville. DTM issued its third quarter 2024 update last week. Of high interest to us was the announcement that DTM is upsizing a previously announced project to connect its Stonewall Gathering System to Equitrans Midstream’s (now EQT) Mountain Valley Pipeline in West Virginia, giving DTM customers the ability to reach Mid-Atlantic markets with their molecules. Read More “DT Midstream Expanding Marcellus Gathering Pipe Connection to MVP”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Transco | Williams

Williams Files with FERC to Expand Mighty Transco Pipe in Southeast
November 1, 2024November 1, 2024

Last November, MDN brought you the news that pipeline giant Williams planned to proceed with a new Transco pipeline expansion project called the Southeast Supply Enhancement Project (see Transco Expansion to Add 1.4 Bcf/d Capacity to Flow M-U Gas South). The project was estimated to flow an extra 1.43 Bcf/d (billion cubic feet per day) of Marcellus/Utica molecules southward along the Transco pipeline system, delivering those molecules to states in the southern U.S. Williams later upped the capacity to 1.587 Bcf/d (essentially from 1.4 to 1.6). Williams pre-filed with FERC earlier this year (see Williams Pre-Pre-Files for Southeast Supply Enhancement Project). On Tuesday, now a year later, Williams finally filed the full, official request with FERC to build the project. Big Green (and their high-priced lawyers) immediately jumped on the filing. Read More “Williams Files with FERC to Expand Mighty Transco Pipe in Southeast”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream

EQT 3Q Boosts Price by Turning the Taps On/Off on Daily Basis
October 31, 2024October 31, 2024

EQT Corporation delivered its third quarter 2024 update yesterday. The big focus for EQT during 3Q was closing on the purchase and beginning the reintegration of its long-lost midstream division, called Equitrans Midstream (owner of the Mountain Valley Pipeline). CEO Toby Rice said, “All cylinders are firing,” and that 60% of the tasks needed for the integration have already been done. The company produced 581 Bcfe in 3Q, which is an average of 6.3 Bcfe per day—about a half Bcf less than the new Expand Energy. EQT is now in second place on the list of top natgas producers in the U.S. It wouldn’t take much for EQT to regain the top spot if it wanted to. Read More “EQT 3Q Boosts Price by Turning the Taps On/Off on Daily Basis”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Enbridge | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Rhode Island Radicals Pressure Governor to Block Project Maple
October 31, 2024October 31, 2024

The Algonquin Gas Transmission pipeline (owned by Enbridge) transports up to 3.09 Bcf/d of natural gas through 1,131 miles of pipeline. Algonquin connects to Texas Eastern Transmission (TETCO), Millennium Pipeline, and Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline and supplies New England with critically needed natural gas supplies for power generation and consumer use. We told you in September 2023 that Enbridge conducted an open season to gauge interest in expanding Algonquin’s capacity to flow more gas into New England — mainly from the Marcellus/Utica — called Project Maple (see Enbridge Open Season to Expand Algonquin Pipe in New England). Since then, colluding Big Green groups have targeted the governors in various states to bully them into rejecting Project Maple, even though it’s a federal project under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authority. Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee is the latest to be threatened by Big Green. Read More “Rhode Island Radicals Pressure Governor to Block Project Maple”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | ESG | Industrywide Issues | NFG Midstream | Seneca Resources

Seneca Resources, NFG Midstream Recertified as Responsible
October 31, 2024October 31, 2024

Two different subsidiaries of National Fuel Gas Company (NFG), Seneca Resources (shale driller) and National Fuel Gas Midstream Company (gathering pipelines), were certified by two different certification authorities, MiQ and Equitable Origin, respectively. Yesterday, NFG announced both companies have been recertified by their respective authorities. Everyone is still responsible. 🙂 Read More “Seneca Resources, NFG Midstream Recertified as Responsible”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Blackstone Seeks to Buy Pipeline Stake from EQT for $3.5 Billion
October 30, 2024October 30, 2024

Last Friday, Reuters reported that sources “familiar with the matter” whispered to its reporters that private equity firm Blackstone is “in advanced talks” to acquire minority stakes in the interstate natural gas pipelines now owned by EQT Corp. (following its purchase of Equitrans Midstream) for a whopping $3.5 billion. The deal would help EQT reduce the debt it accumulated from buying Equitrans. Read More “Blackstone Seeks to Buy Pipeline Stake from EQT for $3.5 Billion”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Chesterfield County | Dominion Energy | Electrical Generation | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Virginia

Antis Opposed to Gas-Fired Plant Near Richmond Hold Fake Hearing
October 30, 2024October 30, 2024

Dominion Energy plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County, VA, near Richmond (see Dominion Plans to Build 1,000-MW Gas Peaker Plant Near Richmond, VA). The Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC) calls for building four 250-megawatt gas-fired power plants (1,000 MW total) that can jump into action during the coldest and hottest days of the year to help supply enough electricity for 250,000 homes—to keep the lights on because solar and wind are not up to the task. In early June, we told you that Dominion was actively looking at changing the location of the proposed project to locate the peakers at an existing power-generating site where two gas-fired plants now operate (see Dominion Plan to Move Location of 4 Va. Gas-Fired Peakers Advances). Dominion made the change in location official in August (see Dominion Officially Changes Location of Chesterfield Peaker Plant). Last night, a local anti group calling itself Friends of Chesterfield held a fake “hearing” to bloviate against the project that would keep their lights on. Read More “Antis Opposed to Gas-Fired Plant Near Richmond Hold Fake Hearing”
Baker Hughes | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

PA Drops Another Rig to 17-Year Low; National Rig Count Even @ 585
October 28, 2024October 28, 2024

The realignment we spoke of several weeks ago about Pennsylvania losing rigs to its neighbors has deepened. Last week, PA lost another rig, going from 13 rigs down to 12 rigs, while Ohio picked up one rig and now has 10 active rigs. West Virginia also operated 10 rigs last week. Just two months ago (as of August 23), PA operated 21 rigs, OH had 9 rigs, and WV had just 5 rigs. This is a massive realignment away from PA to its neighbors. According to Reuters, PA’s rig count is at a 17-year (!) low. What the heck is going on with the mighty PA Marcellus? Read More “PA Drops Another Rig to 17-Year Low; National Rig Count Even @ 585”
Energy Services | Nine Energy Services

NYSE Threatens Nine Energy Services with Stock Delisting, Again
October 28, 2024October 28, 2024

Nine Energy’s stock performance for the past one year (click for larger version)

Nine Energy Service, an oilfield services (OFS) company that competes with companies like Halliburton and Baker Hughes, operates in a number of shale basins, including the Marcellus/Utica. Last week, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) informed Nine the company’s stock is in danger of being delisted from the exchange because the company’s average market capitalization over 30 consecutive trading days, as well as stockholders’ equity, has fallen below $50 million. This isn’t the first time Nine has been threatened with delisting (see NYSE Threatens Nine Energy Services with Stock Delisting). Read More “NYSE Threatens Nine Energy Services with Stock Delisting, Again”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Williams

Williams CEO has Never Seen Such High Demand for Natural Gas
October 23, 2024October 23, 2024

Alan Armstrong

Alan Armstrong, CEO of Williams, had some interesting things to say during a recent webinar hosted by the Global Listed Infrastructure Organization (GLIO). Among Armstrong’s comments: “Across the board, I’ve never seen a time like this. I’ve been with Williams for 38 years and in the gas pipeline and gathering business for that length as well. And I’ve never seen a time like this where we’ve seen so much demand for services in so many areas.” Read More “Williams CEO has Never Seen Such High Demand for Natural Gas”
Baker Hughes | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

PA Rig Count Stays Down, M-U @ 32; National Count Drops 1 @ 585
October 21, 2024October 21, 2024

Two weeks ago, Pennsylvania lost two rigs, down to just 13 active rigs, the lowest PA’s rig count has been since July 2016 (see PA Craters, Drops 2 Rigs, M-U @ 32; National Rig Count Adds 1 @ 586). That’s the lowest rig count for PA in more than eight years. Last week, PA and the other two Marcellus/Utica states, OH and WV, remained constant in their rig counts (13, nine, and ten, respectively). The national rig count collectively lost one rig last week and now stands at 585. Read More “PA Rig Count Stays Down, M-U @ 32; National Count Drops 1 @ 585”
Berkshire Hathaway | CNG/LNG | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Maryland

Maintenance Done: M-U Gas Flows Restart to Cove Point, Maryland
October 18, 2024October 18, 2024

Feedgas flowing from the Marcellus/Utica to the Cove Point LNG export facility located on the shore of Maryland fell to zero on Friday, Sept. 20, as the facility began its planned annual maintenance outage (see Flows Drop to Zero @ Cove Point LNG, Closed for Annual Maintenance). Most years, maintenance at Cove Point takes around three weeks. True to form, Cove Point came back online and restarted liquefying gas last Saturday, Oct 12, so the plant was out exactly three weeks (from Friday, Sept. 20 to Friday, Oct. 11). Read More “Maintenance Done: M-U Gas Flows Restart to Cove Point, Maryland”
Energy Services | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | UGI Energy Services

PA Utility & Midstream Giant UGI Corporation Gets a New CEO
October 16, 2024October 16, 2024

UGI Names Robert Flexon, President and CEO

UGI, a diversified energy company with midstream (pipeline) operations in the Marcellus and one of Pennsylvania’s largest utility companies, announced that the Board of Directors appointed Robert C. Flexon as President and CEO, effective November 1, 2024. Mr. Flexon will replace Mario Longhi, UGI’s Chair, who has served as Interim President and CEO since December 2023. Flexon worked briefly for UGI as CFO in 2011. Read More “PA Utility & Midstream Giant UGI Corporation Gets a New CEO”
CNG/LNG | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Lackawanna County | Litigation | Pennsylvania | UGI Energy Services

UGI Sues Scranton Suburb for Refusing to Allow LNG Storage Site
October 16, 2024October 16, 2024

In early September, MDN told you that UGI Corporation, one of PA’s largest utility companies, plans to store trailers of LNG in the parking lot of a storage facility near Scranton, PA, and is seeking a zoning variance to do so (see UGI Seeks to Store LNG in Trailers in Scranton Suburb During Winter). UGI wants to locate LNG storage (and regasification) in the parking lot of Scranton Storage LLC’s property at 1011 Business Route 6 in Dickson City (a former K-Mart). However, the borough of Dickson City is refusing to issue a zoning variance to allow the use of the site for that purpose. UGI has filed two lawsuits in Commonwealth Court challenging the borough. Read More “UGI Sues Scranton Suburb for Refusing to Allow LNG Storage Site”