Ohio 207 - Marcellus Drilling News

OH Landowners May be Able to Reclaim Severed Mineral Rights

May 16, 2013May 16, 2013

Are you an Ohio landowner who doesn’t own the mineral rights under your property (those rights being previously separated or “severed”), but you want to? According to Ohio’s Dormant Minerals Act, if the mineral rights owner has not “used” those rights in 20 years, you may be able to reclaim the mineral rights as the surface landowner.

The law firm of Bricker & Eclker LLP explain:
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Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

ODNR Approves 22 More Utica Permits, Grand Total Now 660

May 16, 2013May 16, 2013

The new grand total for permits to drill in the Ohio Utica Shale has hit 660 as of the latest Dept. of Natural Resources report. Another 22 new permits were issued as of last week. Here’s the rundown of where they were issued:
Read More “ODNR Approves 22 More Utica Permits, Grand Total Now 660”

Cincinnati City Council Wants to Ban OH Wastewater Injection Wells

May 16, 2013May 16, 2013

Agitated for by the odious anti-drilling group Food & Water Watch and supported by elected Democrats, the Cincinnati City Council yesterday passed a resolution calling for a statewide ban on disposing shale wastewater and brine via injection wells. City Council disingenuously says the substances being disposed of (injected in the wells) is hazardous to human health, which is true enough in high concentrations, but they fail to also call for the banning of all such injection wells throughout the state.

Other injection wells in Ohio dispose of far more toxic substances than fracking wastewater. Injection wells are made to hold such substances–yet, no resolution to ban these far more “dangerous” injection wells. How come Cincy? Sauce for the goose…
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EV Energy Partner’s Utica Strategy Becomes Clear on Investor Call

May 13, 2013May 13, 2013

On an investor’s conference call on Friday, EV Energy Partners/EnerVest (EVEP) executive chairman John Walker gave some clarity to the company’s strategy Read More “EV Energy Partner’s Utica Strategy Becomes Clear on Investor Call”

Nexus Pipeline May Also Run Through Lorain & Medina Counties, OH

May 10, 2013May 11, 2013

The Nexus Gas Transmission line keeps popping up in the news. Read More “Nexus Pipeline May Also Run Through Lorain & Medina Counties, OH”

Jefferson County (OH) | Ohio | Utica Shale

Steubenville, OH Councilman Wants to Frack City Parks

May 10, 2013May 11, 2013

In a move that is sure to bring both cheers of support and wails of protest, last week a councilman for the city of Steubenville, OH asked officials to consider leasing Read More “Steubenville, OH Councilman Wants to Frack City Parks”

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:
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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:

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:

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:
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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…
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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…
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Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

OH Utica Permits Now 627 – See Who & Where

May 1, 2013May 1, 2013

question sign 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”

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?…
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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”

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”