Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Statewide NY

53 NY Towns Ask to Join Fracking Ban Court Case
October 31, 2012October 31, 2012

While New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo dithers about whether or not to allow fracking in the state, two court cases that will have a profound effect on where fracking can happen (should he finally make up his mind) continue to work their way through the court system. Those cases address of the issue of whether or not local municipalities should have the right to completely ban fracking within their borders—sometimes referred to as “home rule.”

Not long ago MDN updated you on the status of those cases with word that oral arguments are likely to take place in February with a decision by late spring (see this MDN story). A new development in those cases: 53 municipalities have filed a request with the court to join the cases on the side of pro-ban/anti-fracking:

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Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | New York | Statewide NY

NY vs ND Unemployment Rates: Why is One High, the Other Low?
October 31, 2012October 31, 2012

We interrupt this blog post to bring you the following news: New York’s unemployment rate is 8.2% (a full 9% in Chemung County). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 345 out of 372 metro areas in the country (93%) have lower unemployment rates than the New York State average. The lowest unemployment rate in the country? North Dakota—at 2.2%.

Why is ND’s unemployment rate so low? And why is NY’s so high? Is there a connection?

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Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Sandy’s Affect on Drillers in the Marcellus & Utica Shale
October 31, 2012October 31, 2012

Although Hurricane turned Super Storm Sandy gave New York City, Delaware and New Jersey a big, black eye (and we grieve for their losses), further inland Marcellus and Utica Shale drillers prepared for and appear to have avoided any major impacts from the storm. Some production was and still is shut in to avoid potential problems, but given the storm is now mostly gone from the Marcellus and Utica Shale region, shut in production should quickly come back online.

Here’s a Sandy report from four of the largest drillers in the Marcellus:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Mother Jones Fingers the Country’s Biggest Frackers
October 30, 2012October 30, 2012

Sometimes anti-drillers, especially those in the media, behave like prepubescent teen boys who have just started to swear and like to show off new words to their friends. Case in point: Mother Jones. The so-called news magazine/website Mother Jones (on the way way wacky left fringe of the political spectrum) regularly bashes the energy industry. Their latest hit piece is called “Meet the Frackers.” My how those editors at MJ are so clever. Wonder who thought that one up?

The post on the MJ website is intended to be a “hall of shame” displaying photos and quotes from CEOs of top energy companies that use the miracle of hydraulic fracturing to provide low-cost, clean-burning natural gas here in the U.S. But what MJ means as a hall of shame MDN considers a “hall of fame.” And so we celebrate the country’s biggest frackers:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

Robert Redford Anti-Fracking Commercial: Bald-Faced Lie
October 30, 2012

Sadly, but predictably, movie star Robert Redford is lending his star power to the anti-fracking movement in New York, no doubt because his long-time friend Debra Winger (Catskill Citizens for Safe Energy) asked him to. Redford has cut five radio commercials misrepresenting the miracle of hydraulic fracturing, encouraging New Yorkers to contact and tell Gov. Andrew Cuomo “fracking is a bad deal for New York.”

Unfortunately, either knowingly (or perhaps ignorantly) Redford repeats the lie that fracking is somehow responsible for the contamination of drinking water “all across the country.” That statement is 100% false. Give this latest anti-fracking lie a listen (below).

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Brits Visit PA Marcellus to Learn about Fracking
October 30, 2012October 30, 2012

America’s good friends the Brits are in Pennsylvania taking a look at how we’re fracking the Marcellus Shale as an example they may want to follow. Britain has its own shale deposits in the northern part of the country. They also have their own dedicated anti-drilling crowd, preventing them from moving forward (see this MDN story on Europe’s energy suicide).

British Consulate General Danny Lopez arrived in Pittsburgh yesterday just ahead of Super Storm Sandy:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Radon Debate: USGS Responds to Marvin Resnikoff Accusation
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is none too happy with Dr. Marvin Resnikoff and his accusations that the USGS has been “co-opted” by big fracking. MDN has written previously about “the sky is falling” – or in this case, “the radon is coming” Resnikoff. Dr. R says Marcellus Shale gas contains high levels of radon that will find its way into the kitchen stoves of New York City if we continue to allow hydraulic fracturing of shale for natural gas (see this MDN story).

In Dr. R’s zeal to crush any opposing viewpoint or research that disproves his theories, he’s recently taken to bashing the USGS as a “tool” of industry in covering up the so-called “fact” that high levels of radon exist in Marcellus Shale gas. The Akron Beacon Journal ran one of his screeds. A few days later the USGS fired back in response to set the record straight.

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Air Quality | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Pavillion, WY in the News Again: This Time for Clean Air
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

The federal Environmental Protection Agency, along with anti-drillers nationwide, have done their best to turn Pavillion, Wyoming into an example of water contamination from fracking. They’re desperate to prove a causal link between fracking and water contamination somewhere, anywhere! They have none—not a single case. And so Pavillion was to be it. Except the EPA has botched their own tests (see this MDN story). And except fracking in Pavillion is different than shale fracking (see this MDN story).

A story that’s not received any national attention is air testing that’s been done near Pavillion. The Wyoming State Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has just completed more than a year’s worth of air tests around Pavillion, and what did they find? Nothing. Air’s fine. But you won’t read about that in the New York Times, will you? Here’s the story the mainstream media won’t cover:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Public Opinion | Statewide NY

Clear Majority of New York Residents Now Favor Fracking
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

More New Yorkers now support fracking in the state than at any time in the past according to the latest Siena College Research Institute Poll. By a clear majority, 42% of New Yorkers support fracking vs. 36% who oppose it. In August, the numbers were 39% supporting vs. 38% opposing—so clearly there has been a shift over the past three months since Siena last polled on this question.

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Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Europe Commits “Energy Suicide” While America Fracks Future
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

Have you ever noticed how refreshingly honest the international media is when compared with U.S. mainstream media? Case in point: The London Telegraph has a story detailing how the miracle of hydraulic fracturing has turned the U.S. into an economic powerhouse once again—and how Europe is committing energy suicide by not leveraging fracking.

The article says, in part:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Washington County

Cecil, PA Public Hearing to Revise Zoning for Act 13
October 29, 2012October 29, 2012

Even though the Town of Cecil (Washington County, PA) is one of the seven towns suing the state of PA over the zoning provisions of Act 13, the town is going to consider changing their zoning law to be compliant with Act 13 all the same. The situation is now murky and “fluid”…

On Friday, Cecil’s town manager said this:

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Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Seneca Resources

Seneca Boasts First 100% LNG-Powered Drill Rig in Marcellus
October 26, 2012October 26, 2012

EQT was the first driller in the Marcellus Shale to convert a drilling rig to run on electricity produced by LNG, or “liquefied natural gas” (see this MDN story). CONSOL has also been experimenting with converting some of their rigs to use LNG too (see this MDN story). You may now add a third driller to the list: Seneca Resources. Seneca is the gas drilling arm of National Fuel Gas Company.

Yesterday, Seneca announced they are converting two of their rigs to run on LNG. But unlike EQT and CONSOL which mix LNG with diesel fuel in a blend, Seneca is using 100% LNG to power their rigs—a first for drilling rigs in the Marcellus Shale. Seneca says they’ve already converted one rig that’s now in operation, a second rig will be finished in November, and a third rig is coming later this year. Seneca also says someday they’d like to use the gas coming out of the ground to power the rig that’s drilling it. Cool.

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Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Washington County

PA State Rep. White Accuses Range Resources of Extortion
October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

Pennsylvania State Rep. Jesse White (D) from Cecil, PA (Washington County) is a well-known and devoted anti-driller. He’s accusing Range Resources of attempted extortion of the Town of Cecil. Here’s the background:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio

Fact and Fiction About Fracking in OH County Park
October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

An article in the Salem (OH) News points out the false impressions sometimes held by those who oppose or have concerns about fracking. The example they highlight comes from area residents who had concerns about a county park in Mahoning County, OH, not far from Youngstown. The park is called Mill Creek MetroParks—a 4,400-acre park with spectacular views and walking trails, a championship golf course, a working farm and much more.

Residents were concerned about leasing land from the park for Utica Shale oil and gas drilling. Concerns center on contamination of water supplies in the park, land being disturbed with heavy equipment use, truck traffic and the like. Concerned residents learned at a recent seminar held at the park that drilling already happens from neighboring property and there’s been 40+ wells drilled (or being drilled) under the park to date.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD | Taxation

Maryland Senators Support Lease Tax to Fund Fracking Study
October 25, 2012October 25, 2012

Two “prominent” Maryland State Senators, both from Montgomery County in the Washington, D.C. suburbs (and both Democrats), are supporting legislation that would create a long-term moratorium on shale gas drilling in the state:

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Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Norse Energy | Regulation | Statewide NY

Will Drillers Bother to Show Up if NY Allows Fracking?
October 24, 2012October 24, 2012

A new article by Platts asks the question MDN is often asked: “If shale drilling is allowed in New York State, will any drillers bother to show up and drill?” The Platts article quotes a number of experts who say, in a word, “no.” MDN has heard the same “no” sentiment from other experts as well. We’ve grappled with this issue in the past (see this MDN story from March 9, 2011).

These days, MDN has a contrary-to-popular-opinion position on the question of whether drillers will want to drill in New York soon after it’s allowed. But first, the viewpoints of those who say no:

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