Industrywide Issues

  • | |

    SRBC Facts Expose DRBC Lies with Respect to Fracking

    The difference between the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) and Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) with respect to the issue of shale drilling is striking. The SRBC wisely knows it is not charged with regulating oil and gas drilling within their borders. They are charged with (and do a great job of) managing the water resources within the basin. On the other hand, the DRBC is populated with ultra-liberals who disregard Constitutional law and have taken it on themselves to simply ban shale drilling within their basin. A court case is now playing out that will slap the DRBC back into its proper role. The DRBC claims the water that flows through the basin provides drinking water for 15 million people, including New York City. The SRBC provides drinking water for 4.1 million people. If fracking really does “harm” the environment–specifically water resources–you would think with thousands of Marcellus wells drilled in the SRBC area something would have shown up long ago. But it has not–which exposes the lies being used to try and stop fracking in the DRBC area. In December Penn State University’s Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research entered the lion’s den–by giving a presentation and answering questions at a meeting of the Upper Delaware Council, held in Narrowsburg, NY. David Yoxtheimer from MCOR compared the SRBC to the DRBC and used science to debunk many of the wild claims heard in DRBC’s efforts to ban fracking. While Yoxtheimer’s presentation was by-the-book and based on science (he’s not a combative guy), there’s no missing the fact that he obliterated the anti-fracking arguments put forth by the DRBC…
    Read More “SRBC Facts Expose DRBC Lies with Respect to Fracking”

  • | |

    FERC’s Vital Role as Referee in Building NatGas Pipelines

    The current cold snap and resulting high prices for natural gas in New York City and Boston are happening for one simple reason: lack of pipelines. In particular, as we pointed out yesterday, much of the blame can be laid at the feet of New York’s corrupt governor, Andrew Cuomo (see New England Can “Thank” NY Gov. Cuomo for Sky High NatGas Prices). Cuomo, using his lackeys at the state Dept. of Environmental Conservation, has blocked numerous important pipeline projects from entering NY from PA. Those pipelines can/would provide more natural gas for New Yorkers, AND provide more gas to other states, the New England states. Instead of paying $10-$15/thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for natural gas, New York and Boston are paying up to $175/Mcf and $105/Mcf respectively. It’s insane! The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) was created to oversee authorization and construction of pipelines that cross state lines–specifically to prevent a single state (like NY) from blocking a pipeline that will benefit other states (like the New England states). We often read the flat-out lie that FERC is a rubber stamp for pipeline companies because in all of its history it’s only reject two pipeline projects. That’s just not true. Pipeline projects are submitted and FERC will tell the builder “make this change or that change, or you don’t get a permit”–and the changes get made. Or the pipeline company simply withdraws the project from consideration. A proper understanding of FERC and its role is crucial to the ongoing debate about whether states like NY can/should be allowed to destroy opportunities for other states. Writing in the Houston Chronicle, the president of the Iroquois Pipeline, Jeff Bruner, gives us a proper understanding of FERC and its vital role…
    Read More “FERC’s Vital Role as Referee in Building NatGas Pipelines”

  • | | | | | |

    PA DEP Caves to Big Green Pressure, Stops All Work on ME2 Pipeline

    We suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has caved to intense pressure from a cabal of Big Green groups and has told Sunoco Logistics Partners to suspend all work on the $2.5 billion Mariner East 2 (ME2) NGL pipline–from one side of the state to the other. Just yesterday MDN told you about the mounting pressure on the DEP to halt ME2 work, particularly work on underground horizontal directional drilling (see Big Green Says ME2 Pipe Violating Settlement; DEP Turns Up Heat). The shrill voices of Democrat Gov. Tom Wolf’s left flank were so shrill he couldn’t ignore them any longer, hence this action. The DEP in its order said construction will be halted, “until Sunoco can demonstrate that the permit conditions can and will be followed.” So there’s no particular time frame for when Sunoco can resume work–it will be up to the arbitrary gut feeling of the DEP. However, DEP does offer some criteria for when construction may be able to resume. Work can resume IF Sunoco satisfies the terms outlined in DEP’s order, including, but not limited to: (1) Address all impacts to private water wells in Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County; (2) Identify all in-progress or upcoming construction activities and detail the specific Chapter 102 and Chapter 105 permit under which the activity is authorized; (3) Submit a detailed Operations Plan outlining additional measures and controls to minimize inadvertent returns. In essence, the DEP is saying Sunoco has willfully violated the permits (and previous settlement) in constructing ME2, and they (DEP) have had enough. The DEP’s action immediately throws thousands of pipeline workers out of jobs across the state–thank you Tom Wolf and DEP. Big Green groups, including the odious Clean Air Council of Philadelphia, pounced on the DEP announcement, saying the agency should not just suspend construction, but CANCEL it. That has been their aim all along. These pressure groups want to stop the ME2 project cold. End it. Kill it. Finish it off. The DEP isn’t ready to grant that particular wish–yet. However, the suspension is certainly not good news for the project nor for thousand of families who will now have to make do with unemployment checks…
    Read More “PA DEP Caves to Big Green Pressure, Stops All Work on ME2 Pipeline”

  • | | | | | | |

    It’s Time We Stop Missing the Point About the Mariner East Pipes

    Yesterday the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection suspended all work on the Mariner East 2 NGL Pipeline project (see today’s lead story, PA DEP Caves to Big Green Pressure, Stops All Work on ME2 Pipeline). The project has been vigorously opposed by antis in the greater Philadelphia area from the beginning. Their opposition stems from a deeper philosophical preference to end the use of fossil fuels. Last September, MDN editor Jim Willis had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Garland Thompson at the Shale Insight event in Pittsburgh. Garland, who lives in Philly, has written for the Career Communications Group of publications, including US Black Engineer & Information Technology, Hispanic Engineer & IT, and their siblings Woman of Color and Science Spectrum, for many years. He’s covered the shale revolution for those publications since 2008–before MDN began writing about it! Jim had an interesting conversation with Garland, about the need to educate folks, particularly the folks in the greater Philly area, about the benefits of pipelines. Springboarding on yesterday’s news, Garland has written a great opinion piece pointing out that opposition to the Mariner East pipelines (plural) is misguided and shortsighted. Garland builds a case for why everyone in the Philly region should want to see these important projects get built…
    Read More “It’s Time We Stop Missing the Point About the Mariner East Pipes”

  • | | | |

    Appalachian NGL Storage Hub Gets Serious with DOE Loan Guarantee

    Just yesterday MDN told you that Mountaineer NGL Storage wants to be THE main ethane/NGL storage hub for the Marcellus/Utica region (see Mountaineer NGL Wants to be THE Appalachian Storage Hub). There has long been talk of a major, $10 billion regional NGL storage hub. But until know it’s been just that–talk. A major hub is now much more of a possibility. Last June West Virginia’s U.S. Senators, Shelley Moore Capito (Republican) and Joe Manchin (Democrat), introduced Senate Bill 1337–the “Capitalizing American Storage Potential (CASP) Act”–a bill that would make a regional ethane storage hub (hopefully built in WV) eligible for the Department of Energy’s Title XVII loan guarantee program (see WV Sens. Capito & Manchin Introduce 2 More Ethane Storage Hub Bills). The bill didn’t go anywhere, but the intention of the bill certainly did. Yesterday it was announced that the DOE has invited those promoting the regional ethane storage hub to submit “Part II” of the application for a Title XVII loan guarantee of $1.9 billion. There’s a lot to unpack in the announcement below. First, the regional storage hub has an official name: The Appalachia Storage & Trading Hub (first time we’d read of it). Second, the project has an official backer: the Appalachia Development Group, LLC (or “ADG”). Third, ADG previously filed Part I of the application with the DOE, back in September. Fourth, since the DOE has invited ADG to supply Part II of the application, that implies Part I from September was/is approved. Fifth, $1.9 billion is far short of the eventual cost bandied about of $10 billion–but it can certainly get this project off the ground and running. And sixth, this is NOT a loan from the government, it is a guarantee. Someone else would make the loan, but the full faith and credit of the United States would back it up, in case of default. A Title XVII loan guarantee makes it much easier to find a loan…
    Read More “Appalachian NGL Storage Hub Gets Serious with DOE Loan Guarantee”

  • | | | |

    DOE Spending $8M on Research to Evaluate Nora Field in SW VA

    Yesterday the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the selection of six projects to receive approximately $30 million in federal funding for cost-shared research and development in unconventional oil and natural gas recovery. One of the six projects is for the Appalachian region (Marcellus/Utica area). DOE is chipping in $8 million and another $3.1 million is coming from other sources for a total of $11.1 million to study “the resource potential for multi-play production of emerging unconventional reservoirs in the Nora Gas Field of southwest Virginia.” That’s the first we’ve heard of the Nora Gas Field. Turns out the Nora field, located mainly in Dickenson County, VA, has a lot of conventional and coalbed methane gas wells. The research project will determine if the gas locked away in the Nora might be accessed with horizontal fracking. The project will also look at “novel completion strategies for lateral wells in the unconventional Lower Huron Shale” and the “resource potential of the Cambrian Rogersville Shale.” In other words, this research may well lead to active shale drilling in the Old Dominion State…
    Read More “DOE Spending $8M on Research to Evaluate Nora Field in SW VA”

  • | | | | | | |

    CONE Midstream Gets a New Name: CNX Midstream Partners

    CONE Midstream is, or rather was, a pipeline joint venture between CONSOL Energy and Noble Energy (“CO” from CONSOL and “NE” from Noble Energy), formed in the summer of 2014 to service wells drilled as part of CONSOL & Noble’s drilling joint venture (see CONSOL & Noble Energy Form New Marcellus Midstream Company). Following Noble’s exit from the Marcellus last year, they began to shop their 50% share of CONE, and thought they had found a buyer in Quantum Energy Partners–for $765 million. However, as we reported in December, that deal hit a snag (see Noble’s 50% CONE Midstream Sale in Trouble – Shopping Deal to CNX). Not long after, CNX Resources (formerly CONSOL Energy) issued a press release to announce they had cut a deal to buy Noble’s 50% CONE share–for $305 million, which is 60% less than of the deal price Noble previously worked out with Quantum (see CNX to Buy Noble’s 50% Share of CONE Midstream for $305M). Two bits of news to share with you regarding the CONE deal: (1) the deal is now done, and (2) CNX Resources has renamed CONE Midstream to be CNX Midstream–which should not be a surprise since the NE part of CONE is now gone, and since the CO part changed its name. Here’s the news…
    Read More “CONE Midstream Gets a New Name: CNX Midstream Partners”

  • | | | |

    Still a Few Openings for Free Training for M-U Pipeline Jobs in SWPA

    In November MDN brought you details about a 100% FREE training program for those interested in a career building pipelines in the Marcellus/Utica region (see 4-Wk FREE Training Program Helps Unemployed Get M-U Pipeline Jobs). The first batch of students to successfully complete the training (classes held each Wednesday), graduate today! Following graduation is a job fair with potential employers who are ready, willing and eager to hire those new graduates. A next section of the 4-week program begins next Wednesday at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s campus in the Northpointe Technology Center (Armstrong County, PA). Believe it or not (we don’t know how this can be true), there’s still a few open spots. Each section is limited to 20 students. If you are interested and live somewhere within driving distance of Armstrong County, what are you waiting for? We have the details of how to enroll for FREE in this training course–a course worth $3,500…
    Read More “Still a Few Openings for Free Training for M-U Pipeline Jobs in SWPA”

  • | | | | |

    FERC Launches Review for for Transco “Gateway Expansion Project”

    In November Williams filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to upgrade certain facilities in New Jersey along Williams’ mighty Transco Pipeline (see Williams Files FERC Appl for Transco “Gateway Expansion Project”). The $85 million project, called the Transco “Gateway Expansion Project,” will flow an extra 65,000 dekatherms per day (or 65 million cubic feet) of natural gas to a couple of utility companies that have already signed on the dotted line as customers. The upgrades include a new compressor unit at Transco’s existing Compressor Station 303 in Essex County, NJ, a new valve and electric transformer also in Essex County, and equipment upgrades at a metering station in Passaic County, NJ. Both PSEG Power and UGI Energy Services have signed up to receive the extra gas–to be distributed to their customers in the region. On Tuesday FERC announced it has launched an environmental review of the project–the first step in approving such a project. FERC is accepting comments on the project through February 2nd…
    Read More “FERC Launches Review for for Transco “Gateway Expansion Project””

  • | | | | | | | | |

    Dominion, MVP File to Dismiss VA-WV Lawsuit Against Pipe Projects

    In September a group of 57 gentry landowners in Virginia and West Virginia, backed by an out-of-state Big Green group, sued the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in an attempt to gut the 80-year old Natural Gas Act that gives FERC the right to grant eminent domain for pipeline projects (see VA, WV Landowners Sue FERC re Pipelines, Seek to Gut Natural Gas Act). Specifically, the colluding landowners oppose Dominion’s $5 billion, 594-mile natural gas pipeline that will stretch from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina, and EQT’s $3.5 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline project, a 303-mile pipeline that will run from Wetzel County, WV to the Transco Pipeline in Pittsylvania County, VA. The frivolous lawsuit, titled BOLD ALLIANCE, et al. v. FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It claims the landowners’ property is a “taking” not properly compensated under the U.S. Constitution. Yesterday two important parties to the lawsuit–Dominion (representing Atlantic Coast Pipeline) and Mountain Valley Pipeline–filed a motion to dismiss the case. They have a strong argument. Why dismiss? Because the gentry landowners filing the lawsuit have ignored United State laws, which specifically state that (a) ONLY FERC has jurisdiction over the projects and decisions about whether or not they can get built, (b) if a supposedly aggrieved party disagrees with FERC’s decisions, they must first file for a rehearing, and if FERC still refuses, then (c) the supposedly aggrieved party can file a lawsuit ONLY with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The suers (Bold Alliance) did file for a rehearing and FERC has not yet ruled on the rehearing. Bold Alliance tried to sidestep the law by moving forward with a lawsuit prematurely. However, the really big no-no is that they filed in U.S. District Court for DC, NOT the Court of Appeals for DC. Big difference. We see no other choice for the judges in U.S. District Court but to dismiss the case since Bold Alliance should not have brought the case in their court in the first place…
    Read More “Dominion, MVP File to Dismiss VA-WV Lawsuit Against Pipe Projects”

  • | | | | |

    New England Can “Thank” NY Gov. Cuomo for Sky High NatGas Prices

    As we pointed out earlier this week, New England now has the dubious distinction of paying the highest prices for natural gas–in the world (see New England’s Lack of Pipelines = Most Expensive Gas in the WORLD). The recent cold snap, which continues, has made natgas in New England about as valuable as gold. As we pointed out in our post, New Englander’s have nobody to blame but themselves and their uber-liberal, lefty, know-nothing leaders. Except maybe there is someone else who shares at least some of the blame–New York’s corrupt Democrat governor, Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo not only banned fracking (which screws all New Yorkers), he’s also blocked important pipeline projects through NY that would connect Marcellus gas supplies to New England (screwing New Englanders). So New Englanders can blame themselves AND blame Gov. Cuomo. Forbes writer David Blackmon does a masterful job in laying the blame where it belongs–at the feet of Prince Andrew…
    Read More “New England Can “Thank” NY Gov. Cuomo for Sky High NatGas Prices”

  • | | | | |

    Leach XPress Goes Online; FERC Approves Mountaineer & Gulf XPress

    In mid-December MDN told you that the Leach XPress project–some ~160 miles of new natural gas pipeline and compression facilities in southeastern Ohio and West Virginia’s northern panhandle which will flow 1.5 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of gas all the way to Leach, Kentucky (hence the name)–would go online January 1st (see Leach XPress Starting Up Jan 1 – Marc/Utica Gas Heading to the Gulf!). And indeed it did! TransCanada, the owner of the project, announced Leach XPress is now online and flowing Marcellus/Utica gas to Kentucky. And from Kentucky, the gas flows south–some it all the way to the Gulf Coast via the Rayne pipeline. TransCanada also announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has just issued final approvals for two more Columbia Pipeline-related projects: Mountaineer XPress and Gulf Xpress. Both projects will carry significant volumes of Marcellus/Utica gas to new markets. Mountaineer XPress will build 170 miles of new pipeline to flow 2.7 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of natural gas from existing and future points of receipt along or near the Columbia pipeline system–most of it located in West Virginia (see Details on Columbia Pipeline Mountaineer XPress Pipeline Project). At 2.7 Bcf/d, Mountaineer XPress is the second largest (by volume) new pipeline project for the Marcellus/Utica region–second only to Rover’s 3.25 Bcf/d pipeline. Gulf XPress consists of building seven new midpoint compressor stations along the existing Columbia pipeline system in Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi, with the aim of moving an additional 875 million cubic feet (MMcf) of Marcellus/Utica gas per day southward, to the Gulf Coast region. Here’s the details, along with a copy of the FERC approval, for these two important projects…
    Read More “Leach XPress Goes Online; FERC Approves Mountaineer & Gulf XPress”

  • | | | | |

    New Town Board Tries to Stop Nearly-Done Gas-Fired Plant in Jessup

    Just yesterday MDN warned you about a group of antis who had seized political control in the Pennsylvania borough of Jessup, where Invenergy is nearing completion of the state’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant (see PA’s Largest NatGas-Fired Elec Plant Near Scranton Nears Startup). True to form, no sooner than the antis were sworn in, they began to throw up roadblocks to completing the Lackawanna Energy Center project. As we explained yesterday, Invenergy has filed a request with Jessup to use the borough’s sewer system to dispose of up to 56,600 gallons of “wastewater” (heated water) per day. The first thing the new board did was to hire a radical, far-left attorney (who also represents the odious Delaware Riverkeeper) to “review” Invenergy’s request. It’s a total sham. Jessup’s new Council President, Gerald Crinella, lied through his teeth when he said, “What we’re looking to do is have an expert look at it and say, ‘What other options are available?’ What are the pros and cons of them? What are the costs associated with them?” The aim of hiring the Riverkeeper attorney is to STOP this project and has nothing to do with being extra careful. Council is supposed to vote by Jan. 15 on Invenergy’s request to use the sewer system in order for the project to remain on track. The yesterday decided to ask Invenergy to delay the Jan. 15 date–the classic first move antis always make. First delay, then deny. We predict a lawsuit will swiftly be filed by Invenergy, who will be ready to start the plant up in February…
    Read More “New Town Board Tries to Stop Nearly-Done Gas-Fired Plant in Jessup”

  • | | | | |

    Mountaineer NGL Wants to be THE Appalachian Storage Hub

    When the topic of NGL (natural gas liquids) storage comes up with respect to the Marcellus/Utica region, there are two separate and distinct projects mentioned: A massive, $10 billion ethane/NGL storage hub with no specific location identified as yet (but West Virginia often named), and the much smaller Mountaineer NGL storage hub proposed for Monroe County, OH. Recently none other than the U.S. Dept. of Energy issued an NGL primer to call attention to the need for a large NGL storage hub (see DOE Publishes NGL Primer for Marcellus/Utica, Pushes NGL Storage). The Mountaineer project was mentioned in the DOE report. We’ve written plenty about Mountaineer NGL, located just across the river (and border) from West Virginia (see our Mountaineer NGL Storage stories here). What do we know about the proposed Mountaineer NGL Storage project? The Colorado company behind the project plans to spend up to $500 million to build it; some 20 drillers have expressed interest in contracting with the facility to store ethane; and both the nearby PTT Global cracker plant project (if it gets built) and the under-construction Shell cracker plant are both interested in connections to the facility. In November, we learned there is a construction delay until mid-this year (see Yet Another Update on Stalled Mountaineer NGL Storage Proj in OH). We are on record having previously said this: “Could the Mountaineer NGL Storage project end up being THE main NGL project for the entire region, being touted by so many? No. But it is an important project–one of the key pieces of the NGL storage puzzle that will serve our region.” It appears Mountaineer may not agree with our take. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Business Times, Mountaineer makes it clear they want to be THE NGL storage hub for the Marcellus/Utica region. Instead of building a huge $10B project from the start, Mountaineer’s strategy is to grow slow but steady–responding to market conditions along the way. Mountaineer says that’s how it was done in Texas, and that’s how they believe it can (and should) be done in our region…
    Read More “Mountaineer NGL Wants to be THE Appalachian Storage Hub”

  • | | | | | |

    Big Green Says ME2 Pipe Violating Settlement; DEP Turns Up Heat

    Sunoco Logistics Partners continues to feel the heat over their construction of the Mariner East 2 (ME2) natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline project. Most of the heat comes from underground horizontal directional drilling (HDD)–drilling holes to install pipelines under structures like roads and streams, in places where you can’t just dig a trench. The problem is that sometimes the mud used to cool the drill bit for HDD work “leaks” or disappears into cracks and crevices, and sometimes the drilling mud ends up coming back to the surface. It’s called an “inadvertent return.” Bear in mind that drilling mud is otherwise known as bentonite–a nontoxic clay mixture. Bentonite is the same chemical compound used to make kitty litter, toothpaste and all sorts of cosmetics. It’s totally safe for the environment–unless you spill a lot of it and smother little critters like salamanders and fishies. Several Big Green groups sued to stop ME2’s HDD work last year. In August, Sunoco “settled” that lawsuit. The terms of the “settlement” called for Sunoco to reevaluate and resubmit plans for HDD drilling at 47 locations for review by the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP). Since that time more spills have occurred, and keep occurring (see Sunoco Continues to Rack Up ME2 Drilling Mud Spill Violations). Sometimes a spill is a few gallons–literally a nothing, but it must be reported anyway. Sometimes a few hundred gallons gets spilled–again, not a threat to the environment. But sometimes the spills are in the thousands of gallons–and that does begin to be a problem. Because of the ongoing spills, a Big Green group (part of the original lawsuit) is now demanding the PA DEP shut down all further HDD work. They admit their aim is to “shut down the entire project”–not just HDD drilling. While the DEP isn’t ready for such a drastic measure, the DEP is turning up the heat on Sunoco. Here’s an update…
    Read More “Big Green Says ME2 Pipe Violating Settlement; DEP Turns Up Heat”

  • | |

    Dynacorp Energy & Energes Merge to Form EnerCorp Sand Solutions

    Energes, an an oilfield services company providing flowback, well testing and sand management services, has just sold off its Oilfield Solutions subsidiary to Dynacorp, a Canadian designer and manufacturer sand filtration, sand cyclonic, and flowback equipment, for an undisclosed amount. The two private companies, both with a presence in the Marcellus/Utica region, are merging to form a new company: EnerCorp Sand Solutions. EnerCorp will be “a leading provider of sand management products and technologies for the oil and gas industry” according to the official announcement. Dynacorp, the company doing the buying, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intervale Capital, an energy services investment firm based in Houston, Texas. We previously wrote of another company snapped up by Intervale, back in June (see Pro Oil & Gas “Recapitalizes” with PE Firm Intervale Capital). Here’s the news of this “new” oilfield services player, with a big emphasis on sand…
    Read More “Dynacorp Energy & Energes Merge to Form EnerCorp Sand Solutions”