Industrywide Issues 1301 - Marcellus Drilling News

Sierra Club Files Objection to Cove Point LNG Export Facility

February 16, 2012February 16, 2012

The Sierra Club continues to oppose clean-burning natural gas as a “dirty” fuel. Their latest attempt to force Americans to wean themselves from this nasty, dirty fuel is to oppose expansion of the Cove Point, Maryland liquefied natural gas export facility. Why? Because if cheap natural gas becomes even more popular than it is throughout the world, it will slow down adoption of the Sierra Club’s preferred energy sources, solar and wind.

Potential Cracker Plant Site in WV Leased for Drilling

February 15, 2012February 15, 2012

One of the possible locations for a new ethane cracker plant in West Virginia is a 1400-acre parcel of land owned by Bayer Corp. located on the border of Marshall and Wetzel counties. Ahead of an announcement on a cracker plant, Bayer has decided to move forward with leasing the New Martinsville plant for shale gas drilling to Gastar Exploration in a deal expected to net Bayer $30 million over 30 years.

Start a Company or Get a Job in the Marcellus? Try Water

February 15, 2012February 15, 2012

Looking for a way to participate in the Marcellus and Utica Shale economic boom? As an investor, or as a business owner or even as a job seeker, you might want to consider water. Yeah, water. Try these numbers on for size: In 2011, drillers paid somewhere between $1.3-$1.7 billion to dispose of fracking wastewater in the Marcellus Shale. In 10 years it’s estimated to be a $15-$22 billion market—just in the Marcellus Shale.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Steuben County

Fremont, NY Considers a Ban on Fracking

February 15, 2012February 15, 2012

The Town of Fremont, NY is heading toward a vote to ban hydraulic fracturing. Fremont is in Steuben County, and a ban would adversely affect the property rights of rural landowners in the township.

Alternative Energy | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Earthworks Admits Real Reason they Oppose Gas Drilling

February 15, 2012February 15, 2012

Although MDN has long pointed out the ideological underpinnings in the opposition of drilling for shale gas, here is yet another brief moment of honesty from an anti-drilling group about their true motivation:

Gov. Corbett Signs New Marcellus Drilling Law

February 14, 2012April 16, 2026

private No public ceremony for the signing of historic legislation to regulate Marcellus Shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania. Monday evening, Gov. Tom Corbett’s office announced he had privately signed the new legislation into law. A detailed summary of the legislation is embedded below.

Among the key provisions in the final bill:

PA Finally Joins the Cracker Plant Sweepstakes

February 14, 2012February 14, 2012

It seems that Pennsylvania has finally woken up to the fact that Shell is about to decide where they will invest some $2 billion and generate thousands of new jobs by building an ethane cracker plant. One of three bills signed into law by PA Gov. Tom Corbett on Monday was a bill that,

Bradford County | Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania

Bradford County, PA: “The Recession Passed Right Over Us”

February 14, 2012February 15, 2012

A balanced article looking at arguments both for and against shale gas drilling posted on the 13-WHAM TV website begins this way:

Maryland Delegates Propose 15% Severance Tax

February 14, 2012February 14, 2012

They must be smoking something good in Maryland—at least in the Maryland House of Delegates where Del. Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore) and Del. Sheila Hixson (D-Montgomery) introduced a bill last Friday that would require the state collect 15 percent of the wholesale value of any natural gas produced from Maryland’s portion of the Marcellus Shale.

Mum’s the Word on New Tygart Valley Pipeline in WV

February 14, 2012February 14, 2012

In December, MDN reported that Houston-based Crestwood Midstream will construct a new 16” inch Marcellus gathering pipeline that will run 42 miles through Preston, Taylor and Barbour counties in northeast West Virginia, connecting to Columbia Gas Transmission’s WB Pipeline in Randolph County, WV, delivering Marcellus gas to the Washington, DC and Baltimore markets (see this MDN story).

EPA Investigation Launched in Washington County, PA

February 13, 2012February 13, 2012

Washington County is the most active county in southwestern Pennsylvania for Marcellus drilling, including most numbers of wells drilled, pipelines to transport the gas and compressor stations to power the pipelines. Word has just leaked that last September the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began a “multi-media” probe into drilling in Washington County. A multi-media probe means they analyze air, water and land impacts of drilling. Apparently the EPA doesn’t believe the PA Department of Environmental Protection can do its own job and needs an assist.

How Much Revenue will NE PA Counties Get from Impact Fee?

February 13, 2012February 13, 2012

Pennsylvania’s northeastern counties stand to bring in millions of new revenue this year under the impact fee that Gov. Corbett is soon due to sign. Once the legislation is signed, county governments will have 60 days to decide whether or not to adopt an ordinance adopting the new fee structure, along with the restrictions it imposes on a county’s ability to regulate drilling via zoning (see this MDN story). Each county is allowed to keep 60 percent of the total impact fee collected. The other 40 percent? That goes to the state. The 40 percent is the “spread the wealth around” compromise lawmakers needed to strike in order to pass the legislation.

Here’s a rundown on how much in new revenue northeastern PA counties stand to collect in direct fees, the 60 percent portion:

Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA’s New Tax on Drilling (er Sorry, Impact Fee)

February 13, 2012February 13, 2012

The new Marcellus drilling legislation passed by the Pennsylvania House and Senate (both controlled by Republicans), and due to be signed by Gov. Tom Corbett (also a Republican) is a great milestone. It places new restrictions on drilling and makes regulation of drilling across the state more even-handed. There are many things to like about the new legislation.

But it’s also a disappointment. The so-called impact fee is really just a tax trying to fly under the radar as a fee. Why a tax? Because the fee as originally proposed would stay in the areas where drilling happens, where drilling is having an “impact.” If a municipality has to repair roads, or spend more on emergency services and policing, or hire extra workers in government offices—that extra expense should be reimbursed. That’s what an impact fee is supposed to do.

Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

Chesapeake’s Fracking Wastewater Treatment Technology

February 13, 2012February 13, 2012

Chesapeake Energy, the nation’s second-largest natural gas producer, has pioneered a new technology that allows them to recycle up to 100 percent of fracking wastewater to be reused on new wells being fracked. The technology, called Aqua Renew (video embedded below) means less wastewater going either to municipal treatment facilities or injection wells for disposal.

PA DEP Fines Chesapeake Energy $565K for Three Violations

February 10, 2012February 10, 2012

gavel on money The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) yesterday fined Chesapeake Energy a total of $565,000 for major violations at three Marcellus Shale wells in Potter and Bradford counties in 2010 and 2011.

From the DEP press release:

Anadarko | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | NGLs

The Massive Shift Underway from Dry to Wet Gas Drilling

February 10, 2012February 10, 2012

An article on the SNL Financial website about the “massive shift” from drilling in dry gas (methane only) shale gas areas to the natural gas liquids (NGLs) areas begins this way: