Hydraulic Fracturing

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

100 Protesters Rally in Albany to Demand Ban on CO2 Fracking in NY
March 6, 2024March 6, 2024

A group of so-called environmental advocates (old hippies) gathered in Albany at the Capitol yesterday to continue their call to ban all “fracking,” including CO2 (carbon dioxide) used to extract natural gas. We wonder if they know that a total ban on “all” fracking includes a ban on fracking geothermal wells being pushed by the governor.
Read More “100 Protesters Rally in Albany to Demand Ban on CO2 Fracking in NY”
CNX Resources | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Chemstream to Reveal Full List of Chemicals Used in PA Fracking
March 1, 2024March 1, 2024

Last November, CNX Resources CEO Nick Deiuliis signed a voluntary deal with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to expand drilling setbacks and several other regulatory steps not mandated for shale drillers under PA law, calling it “radical transparency” (see CNX Signs Deal with PA Gov. to Increase Setbacks, Other Changes). In December, Gov. Shapiro’s office announced that CNX had begun to deliver by providing a list of the chemicals used in fracking and by posting air monitoring results in real-time for two of its well pads, with plans to expand the program across its operations statewide (see CNX Delivers on Promise to Shapiro re Chemicals List, Air Results). CNX’s main chemical provider, Chemstream, has just publicly announced it will no longer withhold “proprietary” chemical names but will now share full details for all of the chemicals it provides for drilling and fracking.
Read More “Chemstream to Reveal Full List of Chemicals Used in PA Fracking”
Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Washington County

Washington County, PA Panel Discusses Future of ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub
February 27, 2024February 27, 2024

The Washington County (PA) Chamber of Commerce held an event last week with a panel of experts involved with the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) to discuss the long-term impacts of the project on the local economy and job market. ARCH2 was first proposed by (mainly sponsored by) West Virginia. Ohio and Pennsylvania later joined in supporting the ARCH2 proposal, which was selected by the Bidenistas as one of seven regional hydrogen hubs to share in a $7 billion pot o’ gold (see Hydrogen Hub Winners Announced – WV Takes Prize in M-U Region). ARCH2’s portion of the money is $925 million.
Read More “Washington County, PA Panel Discusses Future of ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Radical Bill in NY to Block CO2 “Fracking” Advances in Assembly
February 20, 2024February 20, 2024

Earlier this month, MDN told you that several New York Democrat legislators were introducing a new bill to ban the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) in any process to extract natural gas or oil in the Empire State (see NY Democrat Legislators Introduce Bill to Ban CO2 “Fracking”). The radicals followed through (see NY Democrats Release Bill to Ban Use of CO2 in Gas Extraction). The bill is rapidly advancing in the Democrat-controlled Assembly and Senate. It appears to be a fait accompli.
Read More “Radical Bill in NY to Block CO2 “Fracking” Advances in Assembly”
Allegheny County | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | PennEnergy Resources | Pennsylvania | Regulation

PA DEP Finally OKs Use of Big Sewickley Creek Water for Fracking
February 14, 2024February 14, 2024

In 2021, PennEnergy Resources made a request to the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) to withdraw up to 3 million gallons of water a day from Big Sewickley Creek and one of its tributaries for shale fracking (see Dem PA Lawmaker Wants to Block Use of Creek Water for Fracking). In March 2022, PennEnergy reapplied for a permit to draw water, but this time, the request was cut in half to just 1.5 million gallons of water a day (see PennEnergy Reapplies to Use SWPA Creek Water for Fracking Ops). In July 2022, the application was finally christened as complete and ready for an official review (see PennEnergy Creek Water Request Now “Complete” – PA DEP Reviewing). And that’s where it’s been, hanging in limbo since then. Until yesterday, when the DEP notified those commenting on the application that it had been approved. Finally!
Read More “PA DEP Finally OKs Use of Big Sewickley Creek Water for Fracking”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Democrats Release Bill to Ban Use of CO2 in Gas Extraction
February 5, 2024February 5, 2024

On Friday, MDN told you that several New York Democrat legislators were introducing a new bill to ban the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) in any process to extract natural gas or oil in the Empire State (see NY Democrat Legislators Introduce Bill to Ban CO2 “Fracking”). The only information we had on Friday was that some kind of event would happen and would include actor Mark Ruffalo, among other luminaries (yes, we’re being facetious). We have an update on the event and a copy of the bill as introduced, including a bombshell discovery that campaign contributions from the O&G lobby have gone to one of the politicians introducing the bill!
Read More “NY Democrats Release Bill to Ban Use of CO2 in Gas Extraction”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Democrat Legislators Introduce Bill to Ban CO2 “Fracking”
February 2, 2024February 2, 2024

Well, this was predictable. In fact, we predicted it! We’re talking about today’s announcement that radicalized left Democrat members of the New York legislature, including Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (from Endicott) and Senator Lea Webb (from Binghamton), are introducing a bill to ban so-called CO2 fracking in the state. A group of leftist Democrats were joined this morning by movie star Mark Ruffalo (a really dumb person) to announce the bill to ban all forms of fracking in the Empire State.
Read More “NY Democrat Legislators Introduce Bill to Ban CO2 “Fracking””
Encino Energy | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH

Encino Gives Evolution 3-Yr Contract Extension for Utica E-Fracking
January 31, 2024January 31, 2024

Evolution Well Services announced a three-year extension of their current electric fracturing partnership with Encino Energy after achieving operational efficiencies and milestones in 2023. Evolution uses “e-fracking” technology. Traditional fracking uses diesel-fueled engines to produce electricity to power pressure pumps for hydraulic fracturing operations. E-fracking uses natural gas from the well pad (or CNG or LNG) to power turbines to create electricity. E-fracking uses a different type of “engine” and different fuel. E-fracking fleets are roughly half the size of traditional diesel fleets — and a whole lot quieter.
Read More “Encino Gives Evolution 3-Yr Contract Extension for Utica E-Fracking”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

Shapiro DEP Tweaks Reg to Publish Frack Chemicals Before Drilling
January 29, 2024January 30, 2024

Big, breathless news coming from the do-nothing Josh Shapiro gubernatorial operation last Friday. THE MAN has made an edict to those waskily Marcellus drillers: You WILL disclose the chemicals you will use to frack and drill any given well you receive a permit for. Lights! Fireworks! Loud claps of thunder (and an echo) as if GOD has spoken. It is commanded from on high. Except…Marcellus drillers *already* make those disclosures! There is no “there” there in Shapiro’s edict. He’s (sorry for laughing out loud) jumping up and down, making a spectacle of himself over nothing. Literally. He’s hoping nobody will notice that he’s just served up a cheese puff instead of a sirloin steak.

1/30/24 UPDATE: We have included a full statement issued by the Marcellus Shale Coalition. See below.
Read More “Shapiro DEP Tweaks Reg to Publish Frack Chemicals Before Drilling”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA Dem Senators Introduce Bill to Ban Most Marcellus Drilling
January 24, 2024January 24, 2024

Pennsylvania House Bill (HB) 170, introduced early last year, would increase setback distances for shale wells from 500 feet to 2,500 feet — effectively killing any new shale well drilling anywhere in the state (see PA House Bill 170 Kills New Marcellus Drilling Using Setbacks). In June, Democrat Party bosses shut down action on HB 170, telling the House to cancel a vote (see PA Dems Abandon Bill to Kill All Marcellus Drilling Using Setbacks). But the wackadoodle left couldn’t help itself. In October, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, under the “leadership” of Chairman Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), held a hearing to revive action on HB 170 (see PA Sen. Yaw Calls HB 170 Banning New Drilling Via Setbacks “Stupid”). And now, Senate Democrats want in on some of the “stupid is as stupid does” action. On Monday, two Dem Senators introduced a Senate version of the same bill — Senate Bill (SB) 581.
Read More “PA Dem Senators Introduce Bill to Ban Most Marcellus Drilling”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

RIP to One of the Fathers of Fracking: Claude Cooke
January 23, 2024January 23, 2024

One of the most important “fathers of fracking” you’ve likely never heard of before, Claude Cooke, passed away on Jan. 17 at the ripe old age of 94. Cooke is best known as the guy who invented ceramic proppant (beads) used in fracking. He invented it while working for Exxon in the seventies. The innovation allowed for drilling wells that are deeper and hotter than previously possible. It helped revolutionize fracking, especially when fracking was later married to horizontal drilling by George Mitchell, who also died at the age of 94 (see Father of Shale Fracking George Mitchell Dies at Age 94).
Read More “RIP to One of the Fathers of Fracking: Claude Cooke”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

FWW Organizes Anti-CO2 “Fracking” Protest at NY Gov.’s NYC Office
January 12, 2024January 12, 2024

click for larger version

At the end of October, MDN told you about a company called Southern Tier CO2 to Clean Energy Solutions, based in Binghamton, NY, sending fliers to landowners in Broome, Tioga, and Chemung counties (along the border with Pennsylvania, where there is no doubt large amounts of Marcellus and Utica gas beneath the ground) inviting landowners to sign up for what appears to be an exciting opportunity to sell gas rights (see Company Seeks to Lease New York Mineral & Pore Rights for Flat $10). In December, we told you that Food & Water Watch (FWW) and other nutball green groups launched an all-out assault on the Southern Tier Solutions plan, organizing a form letter sent to NY Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democrat-controlled state legislature (see Big Green Pressures NY Democrats to Reject CO2 Fracking in Upstate). Yesterday, FWW went one step further, organizing a small (but loud) protest in front of Gov. Hochul’s Manhattan office to pressure her to ban all forms of “fracking.”
Read More “FWW Organizes Anti-CO2 “Fracking” Protest at NY Gov.’s NYC Office”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Despite Less Drilling, 2023 Produced the Most O&G Ever … How?
January 5, 2024January 5, 2024

Riddle us this: In 2023, the rig count for all oil and gas rigs was 20% fewer active rigs than in 2022 (see Baker Hughes U.S. Rig Count Finishes Year @ 622, M-U @ 40). Yet, oil and natural gas production in 2023 hit new all-time highs! How does that happen? Isn’t that a paradox?
Read More “Despite Less Drilling, 2023 Produced the Most O&G Ever … How?”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Hydrogen | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Taxation

Biden’s Proposed IRA 45V Tax Credit “Kneecaps” ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub
January 2, 2024January 5, 2024

Well, you knew it was just too good to be true, right? When Santa Biden promised *billions* of dollars of “government” (i.e., your) money to prime the pump on establishing regional hydrogen hubs, with at least one of those hubs using natural gas as the primary feedstock to produce the hydrogen (which happened with the ARCH2 project in the Marcellus/Utica), it was too good to be true. And well, it was! The Bidenistas at the White House, Treasury Department, and Dept. of Energy proposed a new IRS rule last week that the 45V tax credits (part of Joe Manchin’s so-called Inflation Reduction Act) can only be used if the hydrogen produced is “green” — meaning NOT made from natural gas. In addition, the electricity used to produce the hydrogen can’t come from fossil fuel sources like natural gas (if you want the tax credit). Biden just kneecapped the ARCH2 hydrogen hub project.
Read More “Biden’s Proposed IRA 45V Tax Credit “Kneecaps” ARCH2 Hydrogen Hub”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

Big Green Pressures NY Democrats to Reject CO2 Fracking in Upstate
December 20, 2023January 24, 2024

At the end of October, MDN told you about a company called Southern Tier CO2 to Clean Energy Solutions, based in Binghamton, NY, sending fliers to landowners in Broome, Tioga, and Chemung counties (along the border with Pennsylvania, where there is no doubt large amounts of Marcellus and Utica gas beneath the ground) inviting landowners to sign up for what appears to be an exciting opportunity to sell gas rights (see Company Seeks to Lease New York Mineral & Pore Rights for Flat $10). Last week, we told you about several local politicians (Democrats) and several Big Green groups now gearing up to oppose the plan to “frack” (which is a misnomer) with CO2 (see Big Green, Democrats Launch Effort to Block NY CO2 “Fracking”). It’s time for Food & Water Watch and other nutball green groups to fundraise before the end of the year, so they launched an all-out assault on the Southern Tier Solutions plan yesterday.
Read More “Big Green Pressures NY Democrats to Reject CO2 Fracking in Upstate”
CNX Resources | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

CNX Delivers on Promise to Shapiro re Chemicals List, Air Results
December 19, 2023January 24, 2024

In early November, CNX Resources CEO Nick DeIuliis signed a voluntary deal with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to expand drilling setbacks and several other regulatory steps not mandated for shale drillers under PA law (see CNX Signs Deal with PA Gov. to Increase Setbacks, Other Changes). Gov. Shapiro’s office yesterday blew the trumpet to announce that CNX has begun to deliver by providing a list of the chemicals used in fracking and by posting air monitoring results in real-time for two of its well pads, with plans to expand the program across its operations statewide.
Read More “CNX Delivers on Promise to Shapiro re Chemicals List, Air Results”