Columbiana County

Columbiana County | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Taxation | Utica Shale

OH County Engineer Speaks Truth to (Utica Taxation) Power
January 6, 2014January 6, 2014

It takes a “lowly” county engineer in an Ohio Utica Shale county–Columbiana–to have the guts to stand up and say if Republican politicians are going to cave and raise taxes on Utica Shale drilling, they ought to at least allocate some of the new-found money to the places that are actually impacted by drilling, instead of giving all the money away to people who had nothing to do with it! So we pin a medal on Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson for having the guts to stand up and say (in essence) “the Kasich emperor has no clothes” when it comes to this insane tax increase he keeps pushing…
Read More “OH County Engineer Speaks Truth to (Utica Taxation) Power”
Columbiana County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Processing Plants | Utica East Ohio Midstream | Utica Shale

Behind the Scenes at UEO Buckeye’s Kensington, OH Cryo Plant
November 19, 2013November 19, 2013

MDN friend and ace reporter Bob Downing (Akron Beacon Journal) recently went on a field trip to visit the Utica East Ohio Buckeye Midstream Kensington (Columbiana County), OH. The $400 million cryogenic plant processes natural gas, separating methane–or what we think of as natural gas–from “wet gas” compounds like ethane and butane.

Ever wondered what it would be like to visit a processing plant? Bob filed this “behind the scenes” report for the Beacon Journal:
Read More “Behind the Scenes at UEO Buckeye’s Kensington, OH Cryo Plant”
Belmont County | Carroll County | Chesapeake Energy | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Jefferson County (OH) | Monroe County | Ohio | Utica Shale

OH Utica Drilling Shifting from North to South, Gradually
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

Although the Ohio Utica Shale is still in its relative infancy (very early days yet) when it comes to figuring out where the best places to drill are located, the “sweet spot” is ever-so-gradually taking shape. Early on Chesapeake Energy guessed it was in the northern counties of eastern Ohio–particularly in Carroll and Columbiana counties. But in December 2012 they admitted they got it wrong (see Chesapeake Admits Misjudging Ohio Utica Sweet Spot). Gulfport seems to have dialed in on one of the more productive locations in the Utica–in Belmont and Harrison counties (see Gulfport’s New Record-Breaking Well in Belmont Cnty – 30.3 Mmcf/d).

In fact, Belmont County now has 50 permits to drill. That may seem small compared to 339 permits in Carroll County, but as we said, ever-so-gradually the focus on drilling seems to be shifting south in Ohio. An update…
Read More “OH Utica Drilling Shifting from North to South, Gradually”
Columbiana County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Sand/Proppant | Utica Shale

Columbiana, OH Frack Sand Operation Continues to Expand
October 25, 2013October 25, 2013

In March MDN told you about an Ohio property management firm in Columbiana County, OH that ended up in the frack sand business (see OH Property Management Firm Plugs into the Shale Supply Chain). A quick check-in finds that business for Buckeye Transfer Realty is booming, because of the Utica Shale.

If the received wisdom for buying real estate is “location, location, location,” we would add a fourth important ingredient, a key ingredient to Buckeye Transfer’s success: timing…
Read More “Columbiana, OH Frack Sand Operation Continues to Expand”
Arrowhead Utica Pipelines | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Ohio | Sunoco Logistics | Trucking

Progress for Arrowhead NGL Transload Facility in Wellsville, OH
October 23, 2013October 23, 2013

Progress for the Arrowhead Utica Pipeline transloading facility being built on property leased by Arrowhead Utica (a subsidiary of Utica driller Hilcorp) from the Columbiana County Port Authority in Wellsville, OH. The transloading facility is a $20-$40 million project that will bring natural gas liquids (NGLs) to the facility to be loaded on rail, truck and barge.

On Monday, the Port Authority approved easements and rights of way to Arrowhead and Sunoco Pipeline to install and maintain pipelines near the Wellsville facility…
Read More “Progress for Arrowhead NGL Transload Facility in Wellsville, OH”
American Energy Partners | Carroll County | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Utica Shale

Aubrey Leases More Land for Drilling — in the Northern Utica!
October 7, 2013October 7, 2013

The puzzle pieces continue to fall into place with respect to the deals being done by former Chesapeake Energy CEO Aubrey McClendon in the Utica Shale. Last week MDN told you about a joint venture between McClendon’s new company, American Energy, and Red Hill Development, to lease land for drilling in southeastern Ohio–counties like Guernsey and Harrison (see McClendon’s Utica Company Does JV with OH Driller, Drilling Soon). We now know about a second joint venture–this one with Great River Energy–a new production company formed through a partnership between McClendon’s American Energy and Texas firm Orange Energy Consultants.

The surprise about this new jv? They’re leasing land in Columbiana and Carroll counties, north of what is thought to be the “sweet spot” in the Utica wet gas area. Looks like Aubrey just can’t stay away from the northern Utica!…
Read More “Aubrey Leases More Land for Drilling — in the Northern Utica!”
Beaver County | Columbiana County | Energy Services | Mahoning County | MarkWest Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania

MarkWest Energy Buys an Ohio Short Line Railroad – Why?
October 3, 2013October 3, 2013

As we’re always fascinated with a good railroad story, our eyes perked up when we saw that a MarkWest subsidiary company is about to close a deal to purchase a 36-mile short line railroad from the Columbiana County (OH) Port Authority–for just $3 million. The railroad, known as the Youngstown & Southern Railroad, runs from Boardman (Mahoning County), OH through Columbiana, Rogers and Negley (all in Columbiana County), ending it’s tracks at Darlington (Beaver County), PA.

What will MarkWest do with a railroad? Right now, they’re being tight-lipped…
Read More “MarkWest Energy Buys an Ohio Short Line Railroad – Why?”
Chesapeake Energy | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio | Regulation

Salem, OH Votes Down Ordinance to Restrict Drilling in City
October 2, 2013October 2, 2013

In July 2012, the city of Salem, OH signed a lease with Chesapeake Energy to allow drilling on 381 acres of city-owned land (land outside city limits). Terms of the lease: $7,000 signing bonus and 20% royalties (see Salem, OH to Sign Lease Deal with Chesapeake for $7K+20%). It probably wouldn’t send the right signal to turn around and pass a law that would prevent drilling inside city limits after signing a lease and accepting millions of dollars. Yet, such a law was under serious consideration by Salem City Council.

Tuesday night, City Council wisely chose to vote down a proposed zoning amendment that would have prevented drilling inside city limits…
Read More “Salem, OH Votes Down Ordinance to Restrict Drilling in City”
Arrowhead Utica Pipelines | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Trucking | Utica Shale

Utica Shale Transfer Facility Gets Road Upgrade
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

In February, MDN brought you the news that the Columbiana County Port Authority would spend nearly $1 million to improve a stretch of road leading to the Wellsville industrial park where Arrowhead Utica Pipelines, a Hilcorp subsidiary, is building a shale gas transfer facility (see Hilcorp Subsidiary Leases Property for Utica Transfer Facility). Looks like it won’t take anywhere near that much money to get the project done.

Last Friday the Port Authority voted to accept a bid and move forward to have the work done–at a cost of $526,000…
Read More “Utica Shale Transfer Facility Gets Road Upgrade”
Chesapeake Energy | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Utica Shale

Is Chesapeake Robbing Graves in OH Village…or Getting Robbed?
September 6, 2013September 6, 2013

We can see the headlines now: Chesapeake Energy is a (Gas) Grave Robber! Wait until the anti-drillers get hold of this story… Chesapeake has struck a deal with the Village of Salineville (Columbiana County), OH to lease and drill under 17 acres at the Woodland Cemetery. The deal stipulates no surface disturbance of any kind (a very good idea).

But who is robbing whom? Listen to the deal the village got: Chesapeake is paying Salineville $44,145 annually for five years, plus 15% royalties. The annual payments add up to $220,725, or if you think of it as a signing bonus stretched over 5 years, it’s $12,984 per acre. Wow!! That’s perhaps the highest per acre signing bonus we’ve heard of in the entire Marcellus or Utica Shale. Kudos to the Salineville board members who ~~suckered~~ negotiated the deal with Chesapeake…
Read More “Is Chesapeake Robbing Graves in OH Village…or Getting Robbed?”
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”
Carroll County | Chesapeake Energy | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Harrison County | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Chesapeake’s Current Thinking on their Utica Shale Program
August 12, 2013August 12, 2013

At a meeting in Mahoning County, OH, a Chesapeake Energy representative tackled the question of how long Ohio residents will see drilling in their midst. The rep then spoke about the next phase after drilling–production and piping product to market. The answers given were not anything we haven’t heard before. Still, some of the Chesapeake rep’s comments did give us insight into the company’s current thinking about the Utica Shale and the counties where they intend to concentrate their efforts…
Read More “Chesapeake’s Current Thinking on their Utica Shale Program”
Carroll County | Chesapeake Energy | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Chesapeake’s Latest Thinking about the OH Utica Shale
August 5, 2013August 5, 2013

More analysis of last Thursday’s investor/analyst phone call with Chesapeake Energy officials. Specifically, this article looks at the comments made by new CEO Doug Lawler and long-time COO Steve Dixon comments about the Ohio Utica Shale:
Read More “Chesapeake’s Latest Thinking about the OH Utica Shale”
Access Midstream Partners | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EV Energy Partners | Industrywide Issues | M3 Midstream | NGLs | Ohio | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

M3’s Kensington, OH NGL Plant Now Live & Processing
July 30, 2013July 30, 2013

A new $400 million natural gas liquids (NGL) processing plant in Kensington (near Hanoverton, OH) has went online Sunday. The Utica East Ohio Midstream (UEO) plant, a joint venture owned by M3 Midstream, Access Midstream (formerly Chesapeake Energy) and EV Energy Partners, was originally supposed to be online in May. That date slipped. In June, MDN picked up on a bit of news that indicated the plant would go live “by the end of July” (see M3 Midstream’s Kensington, OH NGL Plant Launch Date Slips). The July rumored date proved correct.

Yesterday, M3 issued the following press release announcing that the UEO plant is now operating and processing NGLs. It is the first plant of its kind to go online in the Utica Shale:
Read More “M3’s Kensington, OH NGL Plant Now Live & Processing”
Access Midstream Partners | Carroll County | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EV Energy Partners | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | M3 Midstream | Ohio | Processing Plants | Statewide OH

M3 to Build Heliports at OH Processing Plants “Just in Case”
July 3, 2013July 3, 2013

Utica East Ohio Midstream–a joint venture between M3 Midstream, Access Midstream and EV Energy Partners–is in the process of building three natural gas processing plants in eastern Ohio. Two of the plants–Leesville (in Carroll County) and Kensington (in Columbiana County) will be cryogenic plants used to separate natural gas liquids from methane. MDN recently told you about delays in building the Kensignton plant (see M3 Midstream’s Kensington, OH NGL Plant Launch Date Slips). The third facility, located in Scio (Harrison County), will be a fractionation plant used to further separate NGLs from Kensington and Leesville into their constituent compounds, like ethane, propane and butane. Both Kensington and Scio are scheduled to go online sometime “this summer” (see Scio fractionation plant scheduled to go online this summer).

This story, however, is not about schedules for the launch of Utica East Ohio’s plants. It is about M3’s plans to build heliports at the Kensington and Scio plants…
Read More “M3 to Build Heliports at OH Processing Plants “Just in Case””
Atlas Energy | Chesapeake Energy | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio

Lease Activity in Columbiana OH Heats Up, Drilling on the Way?
June 20, 2013June 20, 2013

Carroll County, OH has been the epicenter of Utica Shale drilling activity in Ohio. While that’s not expected to change anytime soon, Columbiana County, which borders Carroll County to the northeast, may see its own boom in drilling soon, based on recent lease filings:
Read More “Lease Activity in Columbiana OH Heats Up, Drilling on the Way?”