Industrywide Issues

El Paso | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Pipelines

Marcellus/Utica Gas Heading South on Expanded El Paso Pipeline
August 16, 2013August 16, 2013

Examples of the enormous economic power of the Marcellus/Utica to influence the entire nation’s economy keep coming–almost daily it seems. Latest example: Kinder Morgan’s El Paso Pipeline Partners announced yesterday that not only has the most recent “open season” (when buyers and sellers of natural gas commit to using a pipeline in the future when it’s built) resulted in commitments for the original proposed expansion of 600 million cubic feet of natgas per day (Mmcf/d), they also have additional demand for another 400 Mmcf/d. That’s demand to deliver 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day (Bcf/d) to markets in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.

And where, do you think, will the extra 1 Bcf/d of gas supplies come from? You guessed it: The Marcellus and Utica Shale…
Read More “Marcellus/Utica Gas Heading South on Expanded El Paso Pipeline”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | New York | Tompkins County

If NY Electric Plant Can’t Convert to NatGas, School Gets Screwed
August 16, 2013August 16, 2013

As MDN has previously reported, anti-drillers in Tompkins County, NY are making a serious attempt to prevent an electrical generating plant near Ithaca, NY from converting from coal to clean-burning natural gas (see NY Eco Group Protest to Stop Plant Converting from Coal to NatGas). If the utility company is not granted permission to convert, they’ll shut the plant down, which is exactly what the anti-drillers want.

Problem is, if that plant shuts down, it will remove one of the largest sources of tax revenue for the local Lansing school district. But the antis, blinded by their twisted “renewables-only” energy philosophy, don’t care…
Read More “If NY Electric Plant Can’t Convert to NatGas, School Gets Screwed”
Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | NiSource | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH

More Progress for Hickory Bend Pipeline/Processing Plant in OH
August 16, 2013August 16, 2013

The Pennant Midstream “Hickory Bend” pipeline continues to make good progress. Pennant is a joint venture between NiSource and Hilcorp Energy, established to build a $300 million wet gas pipeline and processing plant in eastern Ohio (see the original announcement from July 2012: NiSource, Hilcorp Energy Joint Venture in Utica Shale).

Although the project has faced its challenges and minor delays, it has made excellent and steady progress. The cryogenic processing plant in Springfield Township is now being reported as “completed” (the first time we’ve heard that), and pipeline boring crews are working this week in Columbiana County. An update:
Read More “More Progress for Hickory Bend Pipeline/Processing Plant in OH”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Astonishing: Marcellus Gas Production Up Estimated 50% Over 2012
August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

According to Bentek Energy, Marcellus Shale gas production is up 50% compared with the same time last year–much more than energy experts had predicted. And apparently there’s no end in sight.

Bentek also says Marcellus production is so prolific it’s “actually starting to displace” natural gas production from the Gulf of Mexico…
Read More “Astonishing: Marcellus Gas Production Up Estimated 50% Over 2012”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Obama’s New EPA Chief McCarthy Shows Her True Tyrannical Colors
August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

In what MDN views as an illegal seizing of power, the Obama administration and it’s newly appointed EPA administrator, Gina McCarthy, say they’re done waiting for Congress to act on the issue of mythological man-made global warming and so they, like the bullies they are, will now act unilaterally and in contravention of the U.S. Constitution by using so-called “administrative authorities” (i.e. executive orders) to force their distorted worldview on all Americans–this year. In other words, more of our freedoms are about to die. Is there no one in Congress willing to impeach these people and reign them in–before the country goes all the way into the crapper?

Here is what the out-of-control-and-never-should-have-been-confirmed EPA chief McCarthy said yesterday in Boulder, CO:
Read More “Obama’s New EPA Chief McCarthy Shows Her True Tyrannical Colors”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Industrywide Issues

Maine Anti-Drillers Get Away with Crime – Block Train Tracks
August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

A group of anti-drilling protesters from 350 Maine and Earth First (considered by many to be an eco-terrorist group) illegally blocked train tracks in Fairfield (Somerset County, Maine) in June. The “protesters” blocked the tracks because trains are hauling tanker cars with oil that comes from domestic shale plays–you know, oil produced by using that evil, godawful fracking. And so these very twisted individuals took it on themselves to stop a train–and they were rightly arrested for their crime.

But now, the DA won’t press charges. Why?…
Read More “Maine Anti-Drillers Get Away with Crime – Block Train Tracks”
Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

Company Acquires Technology from LANL to Clean Frack Wastewater
August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Making a very big claim, IX Power Clean Water, based in Albuquerque, NM, announced yesterday it has acquired the patent rights to a technology developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that can clean fracking wastewater (“produced water”) so clean the resulting water can be used for agriculture and livestock–and with “additional processes” can even be used for drinking water for humans. It is a big boast indeed. Let’s hope it proves to be true.

IX Power’s press release announcing this “new” technology:
Read More “Company Acquires Technology from LANL to Clean Frack Wastewater”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

EIA Deputy Says Most Federal Lands, Shale Plays Don’t Intersect
August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Is all the hullabaloo over new Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rules for fracking on federal lands just a bunch of, well, hullabaloo? According to Howard Gruenspecht, deputy administrator at the Energy Information Administration (EIA)–perhaps. In a speech he delivered yesterday at the Summer NAPE Expo in Houston, Gruenspect said that most federal lands are located in the western part of the U.S., and most shale plays don’t overlap with those lands. Which is an interesting perspective because according to the American Petroleum Institute the BLM rules as originally drafted would cost drillers big bucks (see New BLM Fracking Rule will Cost Drillers Nearly $100K per Well).

Some of Gruenspecht’s comments from yesterday’s early morning session:
Read More “EIA Deputy Says Most Federal Lands, Shale Plays Don’t Intersect”
Forced Pooling | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Courageous PA State Rep Tackles Shameful Forced Pooling Law
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

Finally, a PA state representative with ~~balls~~ intestinal fortitude: Rep. Michele Brooks (Republican from Greenville, 17th District). MDN previously told you about bone-headed legislation (SB259) signed into law last month by PA Gov. Tom Corbett (see PA Gov Corbett Signs Back-Door Forced Pooling Bill into Law). No matter how you try to pretty it up, and no matter what redeeming qualities the legislation has for landowners who need more royalty calculation transparency–at the last minute a provision was slipped in to the law providing for forced pooling for some landowners with old leases. It’s a bad law for PA landowners. Already EQT has used the law against landowners in the Pittsburgh area (see Bad News: EQT Sues 70 Landowners Using New PA Forced Pooling Law).

PA Rep. Michele Brooks has had the courage to step forward to offer a new bill repealing the forced pooling provision in SB259. She’s currently looking for some of her fellow Republicans (and perhaps a few pro-drilling Dems) to stand up and be counted with her. Who will match her courage?
Read More “Courageous PA State Rep Tackles Shameful Forced Pooling Law”
Energy Services | GreenHunter Resources | Industrywide Issues | Marshall County | Regulation | Wastewater | West Virginia

Wheeling, WV Approves GreenHunter Frack Wastewater Facility
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

With capes gently flapping in the breeze, it was a crushingly sad defeat for the brave and noble Wheeling Water Warriors who sought to stop the evil frackwater company from establishing yet another facility along the shores of the pristine (*cough*) Ohio River…. OK, enough of that drivel! A great victory for GreenHunter Water and for sanity: The Wheeling (WV) Planning Commission has approved GreenHunter’s plan to develop a frack wastewater recycling/barge facility at the former Seidler’s Oil Service site on North 28th Street. The plan, opposed by a small band of anti-drilling protesters who called themselves the Wheeling Water Warriors, came before the Planning Commission several times without a vote in recent months (see Wheeling Delays Vote Again on GreenHunter Wastewater Facility).

The Commission took up the matter again at it’s Monday meeting and finally voted to approve GreenHunter’s plan. Eventually, GreenHunter hopes to use the facility to not only recycle shale drilling wastewater, but also ship some of it (by barge) down the Ohio River to locations in Ohio for disposal via injection wells. Shipping wastewater by barge is currently under review at the federal level, awaiting approval…
Read More “Wheeling, WV Approves GreenHunter Frack Wastewater Facility”
Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Washington County

Range Resources Argues with Mt Pleasant over Water Impoundment
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

Range Resources seems to have a problem maintaining good relations with southwestern PA townships on the matter of water impoundments. In May, MDN told you about Cecil Township’s concerns over a 15 million-gallon water impoundment still actively used by Range even though the three gas wells at the impoundment site were drilled long ago (see Cecil, PA Supervisors Want Better Relations with Range, but…). Range had another tangle with a town board last night–this one in Mt. Pleasant Township. The same issue has once again appeared: a water impoundment is being used not for the wells drilled at the site, but for other wells being drilled in the region.

According to Cecil and now Mt. Pleasant officials, Range has the habit of expanding the use of water impoundments from their original intent. Range says the water impoundments are properly regulated by the state and not the towns. Who’s right?
Read More “Range Resources Argues with Mt Pleasant over Water Impoundment”
Antero Resources | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Antero Resources Rolls Dice on 1/2 Billion Dollar Marcellus Pipe
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

According to a story in The Wall Street Journal, Antero Resources will spend half a billion dollars to construct an 80-mile pipeline in the Marcellus/Utica Shale region. But this rather expensive pipeline will not carry natural gas, gas liquids or even oil. Instead, it’s a pipeline that will deliver water from the Ohio River to some of Antero’s most active drilling locations scattered in West Virginia and Ohio–to be used for fracking.

For Antero with some 100K acres of leased land in the Marcellus, committing to half a billion dollars (the company grossed $265 million last year) is a huge roll of the dice…
Read More “Antero Resources Rolls Dice on 1/2 Billion Dollar Marcellus Pipe”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wayne County

Hypocritical Governor of Delaware: No for Thee But Yes for Me
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

The anti-drilling Democrat governor of Delaware–Jack Markell–is one of five voting members of the Delaware Basin River Commission (DRBC). He’s been a reliable “no” vote when it comes to the release of new drilling rules to allow Marcellus Shale drilling in the Delaware River Basin since 2011, even though there is no Marcellus gas under his own state (see DRBC Says No Marcellus Vote Until Nov. 2012 Earliest).

Last month, Gov. Markell attended an event to celebrate the conversion of a coal-fired power plant in Dover, DE to clean-burning, cheap Marcellus Shale natural gas. Er, what’s wrong with this picture?…
Read More “Hypocritical Governor of Delaware: No for Thee But Yes for Me”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Pennsylvania | Pike County | Pipelines | Tennessee Gas Pipeline

TGP Spokesman Addresses Pike County Chamber – Protesters MIA
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

In March of this year, anti-drilling malcontents tried to physically stop the expansion of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP). The TGP’s “Northeast Upgrade” is an extra 40 miles of pipeline in PA and NJ that will expand the pipeline’s capacity to handle additional Marcellus Shale gas. A judge told the malcontents to knock off their aggressive “protests” (illegal blocking of public roadways) or face jail time and stiff fines (see PA Judge Grants Injunction Against Protesters of TGP NE Pipeline).

At the time, the malcontents also plotted to disrupt a meeting of the Pike County, PA Chamber of Commerce where TGP was going to speak about the project, so the Chamber postponed the event. The rescheduled talk finally took place last week. Here’s a summary of what was said:
Read More “TGP Spokesman Addresses Pike County Chamber – Protesters MIA”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Bombshell Disclosure in “Final” Document of Hallowich Court Case
August 13, 2013August 13, 2013

Two weeks ago, MDN told you the final document in the long, drawn-out affair known as “the Hallowich family” court case had been released (see Last Document Released in Hallowich v Range $750K Settlement). We were wrong.

Yesterday, the final final (pinky swear) last document was finally finally released. Until the next one comes along… Yesterday’s document was the confidential settlement agreement (embedded below). It contains a bombshell surprise…
Read More “Bombshell Disclosure in “Final” Document of Hallowich Court Case”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Gov. Cuomo Continues Trend of Excuses on Fracking Issue
August 13, 2013August 13, 2013

Is New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is an economic ignoramus? His own statements seem to indicate he’s clueless when it comes to the benefits of shale drilling and how it would impact the upstate economy.

Yesterday, Gov. Spineless offered yet more excuses for his waffling on the issue of fracking:
Read More “Gov. Cuomo Continues Trend of Excuses on Fracking Issue”