Ohio

Crosstex Energy | Energy Services | Enerven Compression Services | Ohio | Statewide OH

Crosstex Invests Another $25M in OH Midstream JV
May 9, 2013May 9, 2013

In March, MDN told you about a new joint venture between Crosstex Energy and Enerven Compression Services to build new compressor stations and a condensate processing plant in the Ohio Utica Shale (see Crosstex Energy to Build New Compressors, Processing Plant in OH). At the time Crosstex said they had secured a $75 million line of credit and were investing $50 million of it in the jv. Scratch that. Yesterday Crosstex announced they’re investing another $25 million in the jv, so it looks to us like they’re using up the rest of their line of credit to do it.

The Crosstex announcement:
Read More “Crosstex Invests Another $25M in OH Midstream JV”
Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Latest Grand Tally for OH Utica Shale Well Permits: 639
May 9, 2013May 9, 2013

The latest Utica Shale permits and wells drilled numbers, as of May 4:

Read More “Latest Grand Tally for OH Utica Shale Well Permits: 639”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio | Regulation

Youngstown, OH Votes Down Fracking Ban Amendment
May 8, 2013May 8, 2013

Yesterday was D-Day, Decision-Day in the City of Youngstown, Ohio. Would the citizens of the city vote to commit economic suicide by adopting an amendment to the city’s charter that would not only ban fracking in the city, but also ban just about any activity related to shale drilling? A group of anti-fracking zealots, aided and abetted by Democrat city council members, were pushing for just that (see Youngstown, OH to Commit Utica Suicide with Vote to Ban Drilling).

Good news: Wiser heads have prevailed in Youngstown. Rational-thinking people voted down the ban by a vote of 57% to 43%. Closer than we’d like to see, but a convincing win nonetheless:

Read More “Youngstown, OH Votes Down Fracking Ban Amendment”
DTE Energy | Enbridge | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Spectra Energy | Stark County | Summit County

Nexus NatGas Pipeline to Run Through Akron/Canton Area
May 7, 2013May 6, 2013

Last September MDN told you about a newly announced major Utica Shale natural gas pipeline that would run from Ohio through Michigan and into Canada (see New Utica Shale Pipeline to Midwest Announced). The project, called the Nexus Gas Transmission system, is a joint venture between DTE Energy, Spectra Energy and Enbridge. Although details of its planned route have still not been disclosed, the Akron Beacon Journal is reporting the pipeline will run through several communities in the Akron-Canton area.

An update on the project from the Beacon Journal:
Read More “Nexus NatGas Pipeline to Run Through Akron/Canton Area”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

List of “Things to Consider” Before You Sign a Pipeline Lease
May 3, 2013May 3, 2013

The rapid ramp-up in Utica Shale drilling in Ohio, and Marcellus drilling in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, has meant a shortage of “infrastructure” like pipelines to carry all of the bountiful shale gas being mined. Infrastructure development–pipelines and processing plants–are not being built at a furious pace across both the Utica and Marcellus–but particularly in the Utica. That means a pipeline company landman may come knocking on your door, if you’re a landowner. What are the things to watch out for, before you sign a lease to allow a pipeline?

The attorneys at Bricker & Eckler (with several offices in Ohio) have a handy list of “things to consider” before you sign on the dotted line to allow a pipeline across your property…
Read More “List of “Things to Consider” Before You Sign a Pipeline Lease”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH

OH Company Builds Units to Convert NatGas to Diesel
May 3, 2013May 3, 2013

Ohio company Velocys, located in Plain City, just outside Columbus, has just opened for business and the impact for both the Utica and Marcellus Shale region could be huge. The company makes machines (based on 1920s technology from Germany) that convert natural gas into diesel fuel. Right now diesel is about 6 times more expensive than an equivalent amount of natural gas. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is starting to come on strong–witness UPS’ announcement last week to purchase 700 new tractor trailers that run on LNG (see UPS to Grow NG Fleet with Additional 700 LNG Tractor Trailers). That’s certainly one very necessary solution.

However, Velocys believes there’s a market to convert natural gas to diesel to feed the already existing market of millions of diesel engines on the roads today. And they’re right…
Read More “OH Company Builds Units to Convert NatGas to Diesel”
Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

OH Utica Permits Now 627 – See Who & Where
May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

The latest numbers from the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) shows that Utica Shale permits have risen to a total of 627, out of which 310 of them have been (or are being) drilled.

Here’s a summary of the latest numbers, along with a table showing all of the permits issued as of April 27, listing the county, town, driller and well name:
Read More “OH Utica Permits Now 627 – See Who & Where”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Landfills | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH | Wastewater

ODNR Wants Fracking Regs Added Back to Kasich Budget Bill
May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

On Monday, the head of the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, James Zehringer, asked Ohio Senators to restore a number of non-budget-related oil and gas provisions to the budget bill scrapped by the House in the version they passed. The provisions could be brought back if the Senate includes them and the final version is agreed to in committee.

The provisions Zehringer wants added back?…
Read More “ODNR Wants Fracking Regs Added Back to Kasich Budget Bill”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | NGLs | NiSource | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Utica Shale

Location ID’d for Mahoning County, OH Cryo Processing Plant
May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

In December, MDN told you the name of a newly formed joint venture between drilling company Hilcorp and midstream company NiSource would be Hickory Bend. The new joint venture will build a wet gas (natural gas liquids) pipeline and processing plant somewhere in the Youngstown, OH area (see Mahoning Utica Pipeline/Processing Plant “Moving Forward”). At the time, no plans had been announced about where the pipeline or cryogenic gas processing plant will be located.

Although the jv is still mum on a pipeline route (they’re acquiring lease rights to build it), we do know where the processing plant will be built…
Read More “Location ID’d for Mahoning County, OH Cryo Processing Plant”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Athens County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Wastewater

Athens Politicians Support Injection Well Ban for Frack Wastewater
May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

Although no Utica Shale permits have been issued for drilling in southeastern Ohio Athens County so far, the potential does exist (see Athens County, OH Upgraded to “Good” on ODNR Utica Map). Along with drilling comes wastewater. Many drillers recycle it, but some dispose of it via deep injection wells throughout Ohio. Athens County commissioners have voted to support a ban on all fracking wastewater disposal by injection wells.

Are the Athens commissioners trying to send a message to the drilling industry to stay away?…
Read More “Athens Politicians Support Injection Well Ban for Frack Wastewater”
Crime | Industrywide Issues | Landfills | Mahoning County | Ohio | Wastewater

Alleged New Case of Illegal Shale Waste Dumping in OH
May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

An Ohio company close to the Pennsylvania border has been accused of illegally accepting and disposing of (burying) drilling wastewater and drill cuttings. Since the landfill where the material is buried sits close to the Mahoning River, there is a concern that some nasty substances may have or are leaking into the river.

An alphabet soup of OH state and federal government agencies served Soil Remediation Inc. in Lowellville (Mahoning County), OH with a search warrant early last week…
Read More “Alleged New Case of Illegal Shale Waste Dumping in OH”
Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

OOGA Rep Says Bloomberg Wrong About OH Shale Boom
April 30, 2013April 30, 2013

The executive vice president of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association, Thomas Stewart, isn’t buying the Bloomberg News theory that Ohio’s Shale boom is over before it’s really even begun (see Bloomberg Says Ohio Utica Shale is Gassy, Not Oily). Stewart says the oil is there but may present some challenges in retrieving it–challenges that technology can solve.

Comments from Stewart, including his view on where the Utica “fairway” is located:
Read More “OOGA Rep Says Bloomberg Wrong About OH Shale Boom”
Forced Pooling | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH

Ohio Force Pooling Requests: 4 Granted, 5 Pending, 2 Other
April 29, 2013April 29, 2013

An extensive article on “unitization” (what MDN calls “forced pooling”) in Ohio appeared in the Sunday Youngstown Vindicator. The article gives a good overview of the history of unitization in Ohio, along with current requests pending with the ODNR.

The article begins this way:

Read More “Ohio Force Pooling Requests: 4 Granted, 5 Pending, 2 Other”
Antero Resources | Belmont County | Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Utica Shale

OH School District Gets $400K Lease Bonus from Antero Resources
April 29, 2013April 29, 2013

The Barnesville Exempted Village School District in Belmont County, OH has just signed a lease with Antero Resources for $5,700 per acre plus 20% royalties. Antero also kicked in an extra gift of $37,500 making the grand total for the lease bonus just over $400,000 for the school district. The school’s superintendent Randy Lucas said Antero plans to start drilling “sometime over the next two years”…

Read More “OH School District Gets $400K Lease Bonus from Antero Resources”
Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Ohio | Processing Plants | Tuscarawas County

New Processing/Fractionation Plant Coming to Tuscarawas County OH
April 29, 2013April 29, 2013

MDN first told you about a new natural gas processing and fractionation plant that may be coming to Tuscarawas County, OH back in early March (see Kinder Morgan to Build Processing & Fractionation Plants in OH?). Good news for Ohioans—Kinder Morgan has confirmed that the necessary EPA permits have been secured and once they have customers lined up, they plan to move forward with construction…

Read More “New Processing/Fractionation Plant Coming to Tuscarawas County OH”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH

Ohio Moves One Step Closer to Quarterly O&G Production Reports
April 29, 2013April 29, 2013

It looks like Ohio may finally move from reporting oil and gas production every 12 months to every three months. A provision in the state budget (passed by the Ohio House nearly two weeks ago) will require drillers in Ohio to provide production numbers every three months. According to the head of Ohio’s Oil and Gas Resources division at the Dept. of Natural Resources, Rick Simmers, drillers have dropped their opposition to more frequent reporting…

Read More “Ohio Moves One Step Closer to Quarterly O&G Production Reports”