In early December, the U.S. Senate confirmed Bernard McNamee in a razor close 50-49 vote to become the fifth member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission–the third Republican member (see U.S. Senate Confirms McNamee to FERC with 50-49 Vote).
Read More “We Still have a Problem at FERC – Potential Deadlock in 2019”
Here’s the opening line in a newspaper story about the fantastic news that Energy Transfer/Sunoco Logistics’ Mariner East 2 (ME2) NGL pipeline is finally up and running: “Mariner East 2 is online, and its legions of critics are outraged.”
Read More “Sunoco LP’s Mariner East 2 NGL Pipeline Now Online!”
Pennsylvania strippers are back in the news. Hold on, this is a family-friendly site! We’re talking about stripper wells.
Read More “PA Supreme Court Rules Strippers Not Exempt from Impact Fee”
It’s not often a vital pipeline project, no matter how small, escapes our attention–but this is one of those times.
Read More “NFG Building 4.5 Mile NatGas Pipe to Feed Shell Cracker Complex”
On Sunday, Dec. 23, residents living near the Lackawanna Energy Center (LEC) in Jessup, PA (near Scranton) woke to a loud noise that sounded like a jet engine–and the release of natural gas into the air.
Read More “NEPA Gas-Fired Plant Gets Noisy, Scares the Neighbors”
Tenaska Westmoreland Generating Station, a new natural gas-fueled power plant in southwest Pennsylvania, is now online.
Read More “Tenaska’s Westmoreland, PA Gas-Fired Plant Goes Online”
In January 2016, Invenergy announced their intention to build a natgas-powered electric plant in Elizabeth Township, in Allegheny County (see Invenergy Eyes SWPA for Second Marcellus-Powered Electric Plant).
Read More “Elizabeth Twp in Allegheny Co. OKs Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant”
Grrrr. It appears that just like last year, more Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) is going to be unloaded at Boston for use in Massachusetts and New England. Not only that, a second shipment is going to Cove Point!
Read More “Outrage: More Russian NatGas Heads to Boston…and Cove Point!”
Following an extensive (underscore extensive) review, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has approved the permit applications for Shell’s Falcon ethane pipeline project.
Read More “PA DEP Approves & Permits Shell Falcon Ethane Pipeline”
Because of lawsuits, regulatory actions by Pennsylvania, and (most relevant) delays from problematic underground geology near Philadelphia, the Mariner East 2 and 2X pipelines, being laid side by side, will temporarily use a 12-inch pipeline near Philadelphia already in the ground but no longer in use to patch together and complete the ME2 and 2X project.
Read More “Independent Report Shows Temporary 12-Inch Pipe for ME2 is Safe”
In November Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam abruptly replaced two (of seven) Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board members who were leaning against an approval for a compressor station needed for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) project (see Virginia Gov. Northam Replaces Regulators Before Compressor Vote).
Read More “VA Air Pollution Control Bd Delays ACP Compressor Stn Vote, Again”
A company that’s in the business of selling natural gas to homeowners and businesses, Berkshire Gas Co. (in Massachusetts), can’t get more gas supplies nor build a short 14-mile pipeline in order to add new customers to its system, so they have put an ongoing moratorium (we call it a permanent ban) on any new customers from signing up for their gas service (see New England Utility Makes Ban on New Gas Hookups Permanent).
Read More “New England Gas Co. Spending $1M on “Alternatives” to Gas Heat”
We’re not intentionally picking a fight, but we can’t ignore a big, glaring issue we’ve noticed for some months. A reporter at the Charleston Gazette-Mail is now funded by Big Green backers, and his reporting has taken a decided and noticeable turn against the shale industry.
Read More “Antis Get a Reporter at the Charleston Gazette-Mail”
As we previously reported, an explosion and fire last week at the MarkWest Energy natural gas processing plant in Chartiers (Washington County), PA sent four people to the hospital–carried there by helicopter (see MarkWest Plant Explosion in Washington Co. Injures 4; 1 Critical). We are profoundly sad to report that the man who was in critical condition has died. The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office reported that Jeffery Fisher, 61, of Salem, WV died at 3:38 p.m. Tuesday at UPMC Mercy hospital. Below is an update on the situation, with additional new details.
Read More “Sad Postscript: Man Dies of Injuries from MarkWest SWPA Explosion”
The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) issued third quarter 2018 production numbers for Utica shale oil and gas production yesterday. And what a report it is! Natural gas production was up an amazing 31% over the same period last year (after being up 42% in 2Q18). Utica natgas production broke another record, hitting a new all-time high of 605 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in 3Q18. But perhaps the biggest story was Utica oil production. In 1Q18 Utica oil production was down 3.6%. In 2Q18 Utica oil production was up 11%. But in 3Q18, Utica oil production soared, going up 32%.
Read More “ODNR Releases Ohio Utica O&G Production for 3Q18 – Top 25 Wells”
Two separate cases before U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone (in Pennsylvania) were settled yesterday by EQT. One of class action cases, brought against EQT, alleged the company had intentionally misclassified employees as independent contractors to avoid paying overtime. The settlement awards “more than 100” workers back wages totaling $2.8 million. The other class action case is similar, except it was filed against Rice Energy before Rice was bought out by EQT. Now that Rice is part of EQT, it is EQT paying the bills. In the Rice Energy lawsuit, some 90 workers are being paid $2.9 million for unpaid overtime. Wednesday was an expensive day for EQT.
Read More “EQT Settles 2 Class Action Lawsuits for $5.7M re Employee Issues”