Statewide OH

Energy Companies | EnerVest | EQT Corp | EV Energy Partners | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Utica Shale Oil Far from Dead – EnerVest, EQT Try Again
April 14, 2014April 14, 2014

In September 2012 EV Energy Partners/EnerVest put 539,000 Ohio Utica Shale acres on the auction block. It didn’t sell. A year ago they announced they would begin selling sections piecemeal, a strategy that has netted a few sales since then (see EnerVest Strategy: Sell Utica, Drill Vertical, Expand Midstream). However, EnerVest still retains a lot of Utica acreage–in fact they are the largest Utica acreage holder according to the NGI’s Shale Play Factbook (with 903,000 acres, more than Chesapeake!).

A recent article in the Akron Beacon Journal takes a look at EnerVest’s interest in figuring out how to get the oil that everyone knows is present in the Utica, out of the ground. The company recently got approval from the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources to drill two Utica wells targeted at getting oil in southern Tuscarawas County. EnerVest is not the only driller who is taking another run at striking oil in the Utica…
Read More “Utica Shale Oil Far from Dead – EnerVest, EQT Try Again”
Antero Resources | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Anti-Drillers Win Minor Victory Against Muskingum Watershed Dist
April 14, 2014April 14, 2014

Last October MDN told you about a lawsuit filed by a Guernsey County, OH couple seeking to stop drilling and fracking under Seneca Lake (Ohio). The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) approved a $40.3 million lease with Antero Resources to allow drilling around and under 6,400 acres, including the Seneca Lake. It’s not surprising that the odious Food & Water Watch is behind the lawsuit (see Muskingum Watershed Taken to Court by Anti-Frackers (Yawn)). Last week a Franklin County judge ruled that the lawsuit brought by Leatra Harper and her husband Steven Janstro (strong anti-drillers) can move forward.

Below is the story of their minor victory, a decision that simply means the lawsuit continues, for now. However, it brings up an important issue. Later this week the MWCD is due to sign another lease with Antero–this one for drilling around and under 6,700 at Piedmont Lake (see MWCD Close to Signing Utica Lease for Piedmont Lake, OH Property). Will this small victory at Seneca Lake embolden the odious Food & Water Watch to find sympathetic, fossil fuel-hating landowners around Piedmont to stir up yet another new lawsuit?…
Read More “Anti-Drillers Win Minor Victory Against Muskingum Watershed Dist”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA

Marcellus/Utica Anti-Drilling Group Back with Impacts “Research”
April 14, 2014April 14, 2014

The Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative (MSSRC) attempts to pass itself off as a non-partisan, “just the facts ma’am” kind of organization dedicated to measuring the “impacts” of Marcellus and Utica Shale drilling. They are anything but. The organization is extremely partisan and anti-drilling, backed by the likes of the Heinz Endowments and Park Foundation, two organizations that back only anti-drillers when it comes to the issue of shale drilling (just ask Bobby Vagt, former president of the Heinz Endowments, Bobby Vagt Out as Pres of Heinz Endowments – Fracking Connection?).

Last November the MSSRC issued a faux research “report” that said, “Nah, Marcellus/Utica doesn’t create all that many jobs after all” (see Anti-Drilling Cabal Issues Biased Report on Marcellus/Utica Jobs). The anti-drilling MSSRC is back with a series of four “case studies” on counties in the Marcellus/Utica and how they’ve fared with a number of metrics. As you might expect, the “study” found loads of negative impacts. It’s all crap, but we highlight it for you so you know that it’s crap and so you’re not taken in by their lame attempt at covering up who they really are and their insidious agenda…
Read More “Marcellus/Utica Anti-Drilling Group Back with Impacts “Research””
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Taxation | Utica Shale

OH Severance Tax Blues – Kasich Says the Tax Trains’ a Comin’
April 11, 2014April 11, 2014

With apologies to the memory of the late, great Johnny Cash, to be sung to the tune of Folsom Prison Blues…

I hear the severance tax train a comin’
It’s rolling round the legislative bend
And I ain’t seen a better vote-buying scheme since, I don’t know when
I’m stuck in Tea Party prison, and time keeps draggin’ on
But that severance tax train keeps a rollin’, on down to a legislative vote.

RINO Gov. John “foreigner hunter” Kasich is so excited, he may pee his pants. After a year of debating stupid Tea Party Republicans, his administration is “really close” to reaching an agreement with those in his own party to start soaking the Utica Shale drilling industry in his state. Really close. Really. But, you’ll have to wait until next month to find out just how much the industry will get soaked. They want to announce it and slam bam vote on it before anyone can raise the alarm. So deliberative. So open and transparent. What paragons of authority and leadership to emulate. What jerks.

Here’s the story of a RINO governor and Republicans who apparently are willing to cave on their principles…
Read More “OH Severance Tax Blues – Kasich Says the Tax Trains’ a Comin’”
Accidents | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

WV Conference Speaker Says PA is Tops with Spill Containment Regs
April 10, 2014April 10, 2014

The main focus for the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association’s ShaleSafe Conference and Expo at Oglebay Park in Wheeling this week was silica dust exposure (see MDN’s related article published today). However, another session was a close second as Topic A–the session on spill containment. The sole presenter on spill containment was Beth Powell from New Pig Energy. Spill containment became a huge topic for everyone in West Virginia after a chemical spill related to coal mining affected the drinking water for 300,000 WV residents earlier this year. In the aftermath of that spill, the WV legislature passed new regulations for chemical storage tanks–regulations that affect not only the coal industry guilty of the spill, but also the shale drilling industry too (see Impact of WV’s New Chemical Tank Law on Marcellus Drillers).

Ms. Powell had some interesting things to say about spill containment–and she should know since well pad containment systems are New Pig’s business. Among her comments, Powell said Pennsylvania’s Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations are far more strict than either West Virginia or Ohio when it comes to spills and spill containment. Now that’s something you don’t hear from anti-drillers in PA who try to paint the DEP as lax, derelict in their duty, and in bed with the drilling industry…
Read More “WV Conference Speaker Says PA is Tops with Spill Containment Regs”
Economic Impact | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Plastics, Low Electric Rates from Utica/Marcellus Help NE OH Cos.
April 10, 2014April 10, 2014

How can northeastern Ohio, once thought to be the epicenter for Utica Shale drilling but now yesterday’s news, still profit from the shale drilling revolution happening in the southern part of the state? As Dustin Hoffman’s character was told in The Graduate, one word: plastics. Plastics and petrochemicals were the main focus of the “Plastics Products from Utica Energy” event held in Canton, OH on April 7th. Ethane from Utica and Marcellus Shale drilling can be cracked to produce ethylene, the raw material used in making plastics. With two cracker plants planned in the region–one in Beaver County, PA and one in Parkersburg, WV–petrochemical manufacturers in northeastern OH are in a great geography to take advantage of shale drilling, even if it’s not happening where they are located.

However, plastics is not the only thing Ohio manufacturers need. They also need cheap electricity, and natural gas used to fire electric generating plants is lowering the cost of electricity throughout the region (along with lowering pollution), which is very good news for northeastern OH, giving their manufacturers a leg up on other areas…
Read More “Plastics, Low Electric Rates from Utica/Marcellus Help NE OH Cos.”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Statewide OH

Anti-Frackers Win Lawsuit Against Muskingum Watershed District
April 8, 2014April 7, 2014

Last October MDN told you the anti-drilling group calling themselves the FreshWater Accountability Project (FWAP), a front group for the Washington, D.C.-based (and odious) Food & Water Watch had thrown a snit fit and sued the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District’s (MWCD) to gain access to personal details (names, addresses, phone numbers) of people living in the watershed so FWAP and FWW could launch smear campaigns against the MWCD over their decision to sell a thimble full of water for fracking and lease some of their considerable acreage for shale drilling (see Muskingum Watershed Taken to Court by Anti-Frackers (Yawn)).

Last week the liberal Fifth District Court of Appeals granted the anti-drillers their wish: access to MWCD records along with a fine for holding back the information. Let the smear campaigns begin!…
Read More “Anti-Frackers Win Lawsuit Against Muskingum Watershed District”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Summit County | Supply Chain | Utica Shale

The Tough Process of Breaking into the Utica Shale Supply Chain
April 8, 2014April 7, 2014

A small, 24-person company in Akron, OH is looking to break into the Utica Shale supply chain. Excelsior Marking, a marking and engraving company, is looking to see if their existing services/products, or perhaps a new service/product, would be a match for the Utica Shale industry. But breaking in–landing that first oil & gas customers, is not easy.

Here’s a look at what Excelsior has done, and the things that have given them the most success (so far) in their quest to get connected to the Utica supply chain…
Read More “The Tough Process of Breaking into the Utica Shale Supply Chain”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Media Picks Up on Report Listing $18.7B of OH Shale-Related Projects
April 8, 2014April 7, 2014

Last week MDN called attention to a report “quietly” released by the Columbus, Ohio law firm of Bricker & Eckler LLP that lists more than 100 small to large infrastructure and economic investment projects under way in Ohio, county by county, related to the shale industry (see New List of Shale-Related Infrastructure/Economic Projects in OH). We noticed that after we highlighted the report, a number of other media outlets did too (jest sayin’).

In fact on Monday, Crain’s Cleveland Business ran a big article highlighting the report and the data about the projects found in it, including the grand tally of the projects now being developed thanks to shale drilling in Ohio: $18.7 BILLION. We thought you would like to read more about the good economic news happening in Ohio, thanks to shale…
Read More “Media Picks Up on Report Listing $18.7B of OH Shale-Related Projects”
Air Quality | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH

OH EPA Issues New Regs for Drillers, Looks for “Fugitive” Methane
April 7, 2014April 7, 2014

On Friday the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) lowered the boom on shale drillers in the state. Although it’s been expected for some time, the OEPA suddenly issued new rules under their General Permit Program that require drillers to use infrared cameras to scan equipment being used at drill sites once per quarter. For what? Methane, of course. So called “fugitive methane” that, you know, contributes to mythical global warming (that doesn’t really exist). Oh the “fugitive” methane may exist–a little bit. But it’s tie to causing non-existent global warming has never been proven. Makes no difference. All the Kool Aid drinkers are so convinced of a tie between methane and warming that it’s an article of scientific faith now–it’s “scientific consensus” so that means it’s real (at least in their minds). Never mind that said drillers are in the business of capturing as much methane as they can because every atom of it they grab they can sell. But hey, such brutal common sense doesn’t play well with the warmists. Nasty drillers can’t be trusted to do a good job.

The Environmental Defense Fund, the least offensive of the environmentalist wacko groups, was positively gushing with praise for OH Gov. John “foreigner hunter” Kasich and his Republican administration for implementing the new standards–especially since Republicans are such evil, vile things, ya know. Somehow those Republicans swerved into the doing something good for a change, according to the EDF…
Read More “OH EPA Issues New Regs for Drillers, Looks for “Fugitive” Methane”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Litigious OH Sierra Club Sues ODNR (Again) Over Fracking
April 4, 2014April 4, 2014

Once again, the ever-litigious, fundraising Ohio Sierra Club (an organization no one should ever support with their money) has sued the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources because the ODNR is not jumping to every Sierra Club demand to provide emails in triplicate on the topic of crafting new fracking regulations. The Sierra Club is on a fishing expedition. They think they can use language in ODNR emails in future fundraising appeals (See! See! The ODNR sent an email to Chesapeake Energy!) The ODNR is not playing along with their scam, and so the Sierra Club has launched yet another lawsuit (third time in two years). Hey, the lawyers are on staff so who cares, right?

Here’s the latest fundraising press release from the OH Sierra Club:
Read More “Litigious OH Sierra Club Sues ODNR (Again) Over Fracking”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Supply Chain | Utica Shale

New List of Shale-Related Infrastructure/Economic Projects in OH
April 1, 2014April 1, 2014

Researchers with the Ohio energy law firm of Bricker & Eckler LLP have done us all a huge favor. They have assembled a really cool list infrastructure and business projects county by county in Ohio that are known or rumored–all related to the Utica/Marcellus Shale industry. The list (full copy embedded below) lists the county where the project is occurring, the company(s) involved, a brief description of the project and if known, the projected amount of investment.

Workers looking for jobs, businesses that want to get a piece of the action (supply chain), competitors and more will want to review this awesome list. Yes, it does bear a passing resemblance to our own list of infrastructure projects in Vol. 2 of the Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook. Some of the same projects are listed. However, Bricker & Eckler’s list is specific to Ohio and includes many smaller non-pipeline related projects. Kudos to them for producing a great report…
Read More “New List of Shale-Related Infrastructure/Economic Projects in OH”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH | TC Energy/TransCanada

ANR Pipeline Succeeds, Reversing Flow to Ship Utica/Marcellus Gas
April 1, 2014April 1, 2014

MDN told you a few weeks ago that ANR Pipeline, owned by TransCanada, would potentially become bi-direction and reverse flows to carry Utica and Marcellus Shale gas to the Gulf Coast–if they can secure enough commitments from shippers (see TransCanada’s ANR Pipeline to Reverse & Carry Marcellus Gas South). ANR offered up to 600,000 dekatherms (or 600 million cubic feet, Mmcf) per day of capacity in the Utica/Marcellus. Yesterday ANR announced they have met their goal–and then some. Not only have they got 600 Mmcf/d of commitments for the portion coming from the Utica/Marcellus, they’ve secured enough commitments in other locations to move a total 2 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day along the ANR Pipeline system both north and south, which stretches 10,600 miles through the midsection of the U.S.

Here is the good news announcement from ANR that they’re going bi-directional and now have firm commitments for the next 23 (!) years:
Read More “ANR Pipeline Succeeds, Reversing Flow to Ship Utica/Marcellus Gas”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH | Sunoco Logistics

Sunoco Logistics Oil Pipeline Leaks 20K Gal in OH Nature Preserve
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

Last Tuesday Sunoco Logistics discovered a 5-inch crack leaking crude oil from their Mid-Valley Pipeline–and the oil was leaking into the Oak Glen Nature Preserve just west of Cincinnati, OH. Ouch. Initial reports were that 10,000 gallons of oil had leaked before the pipeline between Hebron, KY and Lima, OH was shut off. That estimate has been doubled–it’s now thought more than 20,000 gallons of oil leaked. Double ouch.

What does this have to do with Marcellus/Utica shale drilling? Not much. It’s possible some of the oil comes from Ohio–more likely from other locations (we don’t know). Sunoco Logistics is the company that has built (and is building) the Mariner West and Mariner East ethane/NGL pipelines–but it’s a stretch to compare those gas pipelines with the Mid-Valley oil pipeline. The connection between the oil spill and northeast shale drilling is this: MDN editor Jim Willis first learned about the leak at the Oil & Gas Awards’ “Conference for Excellence” last week in Pittsburgh. Jim was sitting next to an official from McCutcheon Enterprises–one of the companies called in to clean up the mess–who told Jim about the spill and his company’s rapid response to work on getting it cleaned up…
Read More “Sunoco Logistics Oil Pipeline Leaks 20K Gal in OH Nature Preserve”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Taxation | Utica Shale

Ohio Republicans About to Go Goose Hunting with Severance Tax?
March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

It seems MDN is not alone in encouraging the weak-kneed Republican politicians in Ohio to not screw up the economic miracle happening in their state by imposing an overzealous severance tax on Utica Shale drilling.

The editorial writers at the Wheeling News-Register think Gov. John Kasich and the House Republicans should tread lightly and make double-dog sure whatever new taxes they vote for, they don’t kill the goose laying the golden eggs in Ohio…
Read More “Ohio Republicans About to Go Goose Hunting with Severance Tax?”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | Taxation | West Virginia

Best Way to Kill Drilling in PA/OH/WV: “Uniform” Severance Tax
March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

A few weeks ago MDN said the plan floated by lefties and libs to create a so-called uniform severance tax across PA, OH and WV is one of the dumbest things we’ve heard in a long time (see Stupid Idea of the Year: Create Uniform Severance Tax in PA-OH-WV). The plan as proposed means all three states hold hands and jump off the economic cliff together. Apparently it’s more fun to die together (economically) than alone.

MDN is not the only voice to point out the lunacy of this plan. The head of the PA Chamber of Business and Industry also says the proposed mega-tax is nuts. As Gene Barr highlights in the following letter to the editor, it’s apparent the people proposing such a plan–including the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center–are ignorant of how taxes in PA and other places actually work. You would think an organization with a name that includes the word “budget” would employ at least one economist or accountant. Apparently they don’t. They are economic illiterates who don’t realize what they are proposing is anything but fair–especially to Pennsylvanians…
Read More “Best Way to Kill Drilling in PA/OH/WV: “Uniform” Severance Tax”