Allegheny County

Allegheny County | Pennsylvania

PA DEP Emergency Plugs 2 Conventional Gas Wells in SWPA This Week
February 6, 2024February 6, 2024

Scott Township, Allegheny County

Yesterday, both Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office and the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued the same press release (below) to announce the DEP has begun an emergency project to plug two leaking abandoned conventional natural gas wells in Scott Township, Allegheny County. A DEP-appointed contractor will begin plugging work today. The DEP is using emergency plugging funds even though the owner of both wells is known and, in fact, owns 268 wells in the region.
Read More “PA DEP Emergency Plugs 2 Conventional Gas Wells in SWPA This Week”
Allegheny County | Antero Resources | Apex Energy | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Butler County | CNX Resources | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | Gulfport Energy | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Jefferson County (OH) | Laurel Mountain Energy | Lycoming County | Ohio | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Tyler County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County

27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 22 – 28
February 2, 2024February 2, 2024

There were 27 new permits issued to drill in the Marcellus/Utica during the week of Jan. 22 – 28, versus 20 permits issued during the prior week. Pennsylvania issued 19 new permits last week. Ohio issued 5 new permits. West Virginia issued 3 new permits last week. Olympus Energy scored the most new permits with 7, all of them in Westmoreland County, PA. Apex Energy came in second with 6 new permits, also in Westmoreland. In fact, Westmoreland County, in southwestern PA, received 15 new permits last week, by far the most of any county.
Read More “27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 22 – 28”
Allegheny County | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater

2nd Plum Injection Well Approval Suffers Minor Court Setback
January 31, 2024January 31, 2024

Score a (very) minor victory for the radicals of a Little Green Group (funded with money from Big Green groups) called Protect PT. Last October, a lawsuit brought by Protect PT against a second injection well planned for Plum Borough (Allegheny County), PA, had oral arguments before the state’s Commonwealth Court (see PA Court Hears Arguments Against 2nd Plum Injection Well Permit). The lawsuit challenged an approval by Plum’s Zoning Board. Yesterday, the judges of the mostly conservative Commonwealth Court ruled in favor of the radicals to send the approval back to the Zoning Board for another look and more justification.
Read More “2nd Plum Injection Well Approval Suffers Minor Court Setback”
Allegheny County | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | M&A | Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh Airport NatGas Microgrid & Two Others Sold for $165M
January 31, 2024January 31, 2024

In early 2013, the Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County, PA, signed a deal with CONSOL Energy (now CNX Resources) to lease 9,000 acres surrounding the airport for natural gas drilling (see $50M Check in the Mail: Pittsburgh Airport Lease a Done Deal). The airport added an electric microgrid that burns Marcellus gas from airport property, and since July 2021, the airport has produced all of its own electricity (see Pittsburgh Airport Now Generates All Its Power Using Marcellus Gas). The microgrid was built and is owned by the utility company Peoples Gas (now called Essential Utilities). Essential announced yesterday it is selling the airport microgrid and two other microgrids it owns in the Pittsburgh region to Cordia for $165 million.
Read More “Pittsburgh Airport NatGas Microgrid & Two Others Sold for $165M”
Allegheny County | Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp

Range Drilling 3 New Wells/Pads in Fawn Twp, Allegheny County, PA
January 22, 2024January 22, 2024

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Range Resources, the first driller to sink a Marcellus well back in 2004, has applied for and received a conditional use application to build three well pads in Fawn Township in Allegheny County, PA. The township secretary says a road into the property is now being built. Construction of the well pads is not expected “until the weather breaks.”
Read More “Range Drilling 3 New Wells/Pads in Fawn Twp, Allegheny County, PA”
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23 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 8 – 14
January 19, 2024January 19, 2024

There were 23 new permits issued to drill in the Marcellus/Utica during the week of Jan. 8-14, versus 18 permits issued for the prior week. Pennsylvania issued 13 new permits last week. Ohio issued just 2 new permits. West Virginia issued 8 new permits — for the second week in a row. EQT scored the top slot for new permits, receiving 7 permits to drill in Lycoming and Greene counties in PA.
Read More “23 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 8 – 14”
Allegheny County | Armstrong County | Ascent Resources | Bradford County | Chesapeake Energy | Doddridge County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Greylock Energy | Guernsey County | HG Energy | Inflection Energy | Lycoming County | McKean County | Ohio | PennEnergy Resources | Pennsylvania | Potter County | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Southwestern Energy | Susquehanna County | Tuscarawas County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wetzel County

25 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 27 – Dec 3
December 8, 2023December 8, 2023

New shale permits issued for Nov 27 – Dec 3 in the Marcellus/Utica were much improved over the previous few weeks. There were 25 new permits issued last week versus 14 issued two weeks ago and just one new permit three weeks ago. So the trend is our friend! Last week’s permit tally included 15 new permits in Pennsylvania, 8 new permits in Ohio, and 2 new permits in West Virginia. Three companies tied for top place with 4 permits each: Seneca Resources in PA, Ascent Resources and Encino Energy in OH.
Read More “25 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 27 – Dec 3”
Allegheny County | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania

SWPA Unions Split with Dem Left re Loss of Gas-Fired Power Plant
November 27, 2023November 27, 2023

In January 2016, Invenergy announced its intention to build a natural gas-powered electric plant in rural Elizabeth Township, in Allegheny County, PA (see Invenergy Eyes SWPA for Second Marcellus-Powered Electric Plant). It took a few years, a lawsuit, and a new location, but eventually, Elizabeth commissioners approved Invenergy’s plan in December 2018 (see Elizabeth Twp in Allegheny Co. OKs Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant). In June 2021, the Allegheny County Health Department’s permitting section held a hearing to discuss potential emissions from the plant. The Health Department subsequently issued an installation (but not an operating) air permit. A mishmash of Big Green groups promptly challenged the installation permit (see Anti Groups Challenge Permit for Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant in SWPA). Sadly, Invenergy threw in the towel a few weeks ago, canceling the project (see Invenergy Caves to Pressure and Cancels Allegheny Gas-Fired Plant). Labor unions in Southwestern PA are not happy about the project being canceled.
Read More “SWPA Unions Split with Dem Left re Loss of Gas-Fired Power Plant”
Allegheny County | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania

Invenergy Caves to Pressure and Cancels Allegheny Gas-Fired Plant
November 14, 2023November 14, 2023

In January 2016, Invenergy announced its intention to build a natural gas-powered electric plant in rural Elizabeth Township, in Allegheny County, PA (see Invenergy Eyes SWPA for Second Marcellus-Powered Electric Plant). It took a few years, a lawsuit, and a new location, but eventually, Elizabeth commissioners approved Invenergy’s plan in December 2018 (see Elizabeth Twp in Allegheny Co. OKs Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant). In June 2021, the Allegheny County Health Department’s permitting section held a hearing to discuss potential emissions from the plant. The Health Department subsequently issued an installation (but not an operating) air permit. A mishmash of Big Green groups promptly challenged the installation air permit (see Anti Groups Challenge Permit for Invenergy Gas-Fired Plant in SWPA). Sadly, Invenergy has just thrown in the towel, canceling the project.
Read More “Invenergy Caves to Pressure and Cancels Allegheny Gas-Fired Plant”
Allegheny County | Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Bradford County | Chesapeake Energy | CNX Resources | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Monroe County | Monroe County | Northeast Natural Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Repsol | Southwestern Energy | Susquehanna County | Tioga County (PA) | Tuscarawas County | Tyler County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

37 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 30 – Nov 5
November 9, 2023November 9, 2023

New shale permits issued for Oct 30 – Nov 5 in the Marcellus/Utica saw a significant increase. It almost felt like old times again! There were 37 new permits issued last week, versus 26 the week before. Last week’s permit tally included 24 new permits in Pennsylvania, 11 new permits in Ohio, and 2 new permits in West Virginia. Coterra Energy was the top permittee for the week, drawing 9 permits in Susquehanna County, PA. This will really rub the antis raw: Coterra received several permits to restart drilling in Dimock Township. 🙂
Read More “37 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 30 – Nov 5”
Allegheny County | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater

PA Court Hears Arguments Against 2nd Plum Injection Well Permit
October 11, 2023October 11, 2023

Penneco Environmental Solutions wants to site a second injection well in Plum Borough (Allegheny County), PA, next to an existing one. Penneco’s first wastewater injection well in Plum finally opened for business in mid-2021, overcoming all sorts of smears, slanders, and lawsuits by the enviro-left (see Plum Boro Injection Well in SWPA Now Open for Business!). In September 2021, Penneco announced plans to build a second wastewater injection well in Plum, located next to the first one (see 2nd Shale Wastewater Injection Well Planned for Plum Boro in SWPA). Plum’s Zoning Board approved the plan, which prompted the Plum Borough Council to join Big Green group Protect PT and sue Plum’s Zoning Board, to overturn the variance it had issued. The antis had their day in court yesterday.
Read More “PA Court Hears Arguments Against 2nd Plum Injection Well Permit”
Allegheny County | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Pennsylvania

EQT Plaza in Downtown Pittsburgh May Convert to Residential
October 11, 2023October 11, 2023

EQT Plaza

Is EQT getting ready to leave downtown Pittsburgh? The office building in Pittsburgh that bears the company’s name, EQT Plaza, has 32 floors and is the 13th largest office building in the city. In October 2019, MDN told you that EQT was looking to sublease space in its mammoth downtown office building (see EQT Looks to Sublease HQ Space – Leaving Downtown Pittsburgh?). The company shrunk its use to just 15 floors. Then, in February 2020, EQT announced it was shrinking its use of the building again, down to a piddly five floors (see EQT Subleasing Most of its Downtown Pittsburgh Office Building). Given the City of Pittsburgh’s hostility to the shale industry (and given various rumors we had heard), we theorized that EQT was getting ready to leave downtown. However, the company has a lease until 2024 (EQT does not actually own the building). EQT Plaza’s owner, Highwoods Properties, recently spoke to the Pittsburgh Business Times about potential plans for the building.
Read More “EQT Plaza in Downtown Pittsburgh May Convert to Residential”
Allegheny County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater

Federal EPA Approves 2nd Injection Well in Plum Borough, PA
September 25, 2023September 25, 2023

Penneco Environmental Solutions wants to site a second injection well in Plum Boro, next to an existing one. Penneco’s first wastewater injection well in Plum finally opened for business in mid-2021, overcoming all sorts of smears, slanders, and lawsuits by the enviro-left (see Plum Boro Injection Well in SWPA Now Open for Business!). In September 2021, Penneco announced plans to build a second wastewater injection well in Plum, located next to the first one (see 2nd Shale Wastewater Injection Well Planned for Plum Boro in SWPA). It didn’t long for Big Green to begin colluding and coordinating the attack to block the second well (see Big Green Mounts Big Effort to Stop 2nd Plum, PA Injection Well). Last Thursday, the federal EPA issued a final permit to Penneco for its Sedat #4A wastewater injection well located in Plum.
Read More “Federal EPA Approves 2nd Injection Well in Plum Borough, PA”
Accidents | Allegheny County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation

Plum, PA House Explosion that Killed 6 NOT Caused by Local O&G Wells
September 11, 2023September 11, 2023

Two firefighters stand on the debris around the smoldering wreckage of the three houses that exploded in Plum, Pa., on Aug. 12, 2023. (AP)

In mid-August, a house exploded in Plum, PA, causing two neighboring houses to burn to the ground. Plum is located in Allegheny County near Pittsburgh. Five people died in the initial blast and fires. However, a sixth person later died from his injuries. We grieve with the families and friends of those who died or were injured. The incident is under investigation. The house is part of a development built on abandoned mine land surrounded by shallow oil and gas wells, some of which have been abandoned. Two wells still producing gas are about 1000 feet from the home. So, to be thorough, the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched its own investigation to see if nearby wells (active or inactive) or the pipelines that connect them could have contributed to the tragedy (Plum, PA House Explosion Investigation Expands to Local O&G Wells). On Friday, the DEP said its investigation has found that “stray gas” from area wells and/or pipelines is NOT the cause of the explosion.
Read More “Plum, PA House Explosion that Killed 6 NOT Caused by Local O&G Wells”
Allegheny County | Energy Companies | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp

Range Res. Gets Permit for 5th Well Pad in Frazer, Near West Deer
August 31, 2023August 31, 2023

Funny how a couple of miles can make all the difference. In West Deer, a township in Allegheny County, PA (near Pittsburgh), Olympus Energy faces organized opposition to every project it proposes. Some Olympus well pads get approved, and some don’t. Every Olympus pad is vigorously opposed by anti-fossil fuelers. Yet in the township immediately next door, Frazer (also Allegheny County), Range Resources appears to have no opposition. We hope we don’t jinx it for them! Range has just received a permit for the company’s fifth multi-well pad. No hew and cry from the crazy left–no nothing. Just business as usual.
Read More “Range Res. Gets Permit for 5th Well Pad in Frazer, Near West Deer”
Allegheny County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation

Olympus Applies to Build Compressor Stn at West Deer Well Pad Site
August 28, 2023August 28, 2023

Olympus Energy (formerly Huntley & Huntley) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Olympus owns a pipeline subsidiary called Hyperion Midstream that builds gathering lines to the company’s wells. Hyperion applied to build a compressor station on a recently approved Olympus well pad in rural West Deer Township (Allegheny County). The PA State Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) will hold a public hearing on Sept. 26 about the proposal. Grab the popcorn.
Read More “Olympus Applies to Build Compressor Stn at West Deer Well Pad Site”