Regulation

Pennsylvania state officials estimate there are as many as 200,000 abandoned oil and gas wells in the state–the vast majority of them conventional wells drilled over 50 years ago. Most of them are not mapped or known. Some of them are hazards for shale drillers who stumble across them when drilling new wells. If you drill horizontally and clip an old/abandoned well, it becomes like an elevator pumping fluids and gas to the surface. Not good. Everyone is committed to finding and marking and capping these old wells. In March, MDN highlighted the issue (see Who Pays for Abandoned O&G Wells in PA?). Now Bloomberg is shining a light on abandoned oil wells–across the country but particularly in PA. Bloomberg calls them “lost wells”–which makes us think of the Lost Boys in Peter Pan. But it’s no laughing matter. Abandoned wells are a nuisance at a minimum, and can be dangerous when drilling a shale well. The Bloomberg article says the PA Attorney General, Kathleen Kane (herself under indictment for felonies and in danger of being dragged out of office) is reviewing rules that will require shale drillers to document abandoned wells within 1,000 feet of new shale drill sites…
Read More “Old Conventional Wells in PA Causing Problems for New Shale Wells”

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has appointed yet another left-wing Democrat to the PA Public Utility Commission (PUC). The PUC “balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.” The PUC also greatly affects the state’s shale drilling industry (see Major Milestone: PA PUC Rules Mariner East IS a Public Utility and PA PUC Says Impact Fee Payment Calculations Still “Off”). In May 2015 Wolf appointed a new head of the PUC, Gladys Brown, a true believer in man-made global warming and someone who advocates for so-called energy efficiency (i.e. lock down your thermostat) and reducing carbon emissions (i.e. tax industry into oblivion). Big Green groups were delighted with her appointment (see Anti-Drillers Cheer PA Gov Wolf’s New Appointment to Head PUC). Wolf has just appointed who was his energy advisor, David Sweet, to fill a vacancy on the PUC when the terrific Commissioner, Pam Witmer, left at the end of her term (see UGI Hires PA PUC Commissioner in Brilliant Move for PennEast Pipe). We wrote about Sweet last year (see Wolf Appoints Energy “Advisor”; Says Natgas Should Stay in PA). Sweet’s greatest claim to fame: He was the campaign manager for Ed “fast Eddie” Rendell from 2001-2003, helping fast Eddie win the PA governorship. That about says it all. The sometimes confoundingly docile Republican-controlled State Senate confirmed Sweet’s appointment 49-0…
Read More “PA’s GOP Senate Unanimously Approves Wolf Appt to PUC”