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34 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 4 – 10

For the week of Nov 4 – 10, permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica came roaring back with a total of 34 permits issued (up from 13 issued the prior week). There were some VERY interesting things to note about some of the permits issued. The Keystone State (PA) issued 16 new permits, with five going to Range Resources in Washington County. And that’s the first of three interesting things to note. All five Range permits were issued for Cecil Township, which recently passed a ban on new fracking via a 2,500-foot setback regulation (see Cecil Twp Supervisors Pull the Trigger on Frack Ban Via Setbacks). Read More “34 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 4 – 10”

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17 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 21 – 27

For the week of Oct 21 – 27, there were 17 permits issued to drill Marcellus/Utica wells, up from 14 permits issued the prior week. The Keystone State (PA) had 12 new permits, with five going to Chesapeake Energy (now Expand Energy) in Wyoming County and two each for PennEnergy Resources (Beaver County) and Coterra Energy (Susquehanna County). Single permits were issued to Pennsylvania General Energy, Inflection Energy, and XPR Resources. The Buckeye State (OH) had five new permits, with four going to Gulfport Energy in Belmont County. The other OH permit was for Infinity Natural Resources (INR) in Guernsey County. The Mountain State (WV) issued a big, fat zero new permits last week. Read More “17 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 21 – 27”

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Same Two Enviro Groups Sue Shell Cracker for 2nd Time in 17 Months

In May 2023, two radicalized Big Green groups—the Environmental Integrity Project (based in D.C.) and the Clean Air Council (based in Philadelphia)—filed a lawsuit against the Shell Polymers Monaca Plant (ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA), claiming the plant has repeatedly violated federal air pollution limits (see Radical Antis File Lawsuit Aiming to Shut Down Shell PA Cracker). The lawsuit requested the court assess huge fines and force it to close down unless it can operate without any further violations of the federal Clean Air Act (CAA) and the federal Air Pollution Control Act (APCA). The same two groups are back 17 months later, telling Shell via a “notice of intent to sue” that they will soon file the same type of lawsuit again. Read More “Same Two Enviro Groups Sue Shell Cracker for 2nd Time in 17 Months”

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Shell Pa. Cracker Ready for Prime Time, but Has an Achilles’ Heel

Last Friday, RBN Energy published a blog post declaring that the Shell ethane cracker in Monaca (Beaver County), PA, is now “firing on all cylinders.” The post retrospectively covers the project’s history, from construction through recent problems as the plant was commissioned to the present day. We learned something interesting: Shell, a petrochemical giant and owner of other cracker plants producing various products, had exited the plastic pellets business years ago. The Monaca cracker is Shell reentering that market. Read More “Shell Pa. Cracker Ready for Prime Time, but Has an Achilles’ Heel”

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26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Aug 5 – 11

For the week of August 5 – 11, a total of 26 permits were issued to drill new shale wells in Marcellus/Utica, with the vast majority issued in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State had 21 new permits, with an eye-popping 19 going to EQT split between Greene and Washington counties (in the southwestern part of the state), and two issued to Range Resources in Beaver County. Ohio issued five new permits last week, with four going to Ascent Resources in Jefferson County and one to Encino Energy (EAP) in Guernsey County. West Virginia’s online data service is currently out of order, and there is no ETA for when it will be fixed, so we have no permits to report for the Mountain State. Read More “26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Aug 5 – 11”

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Shell Execs Admit Rocky Start for PA Cracker, Things are Improving

The mighty Shell ethane cracker plant in Monaca (Beaver County), PA, has a new person in charge: Emma Lewis, senior vice president of U.S. chemicals and products at Shell. We told you Lewis had replaced Hilary Mercer back in January (see Shell PA Cracker’s First Birthday – One Unit Still Not Online). Lewis splits her time between the Monaca cracker and four other sites on the Gulf Coast. According to a recent tour at the plant, Lewis said, “Let me start by saying I think we didn’t have the most smooth startup. There has been more disruption to the community than I think you would typically expect during normal operations.”
Read More “Shell Execs Admit Rocky Start for PA Cracker, Things are Improving”

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Shell CEO: Monaca Cracker Plant Not Fully Operational Til 2025/26

Wael Sawan

During last week’s second quarter update conference call by oil and gas giant Shell, the CEO, Wael Sawan, had some interesting comments about the mighty Shell ethane cracker in Monaca (Beaver County), PA. Sawan praised progress at the plant but then said it would be 2025 or 2026 before the plant would be “fully operational.” That was new news for us.
Read More “Shell CEO: Monaca Cracker Plant Not Fully Operational Til 2025/26”

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15 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jun 24 – 30

We’re playing catch-up following our brief Wednesday through Friday vacation last week. The first order of business is to bring you the list of permits issued for the week of June 24 – 30. A total of 15 new permits were issued, with most (10) issued in Pennsylvania. Ohio issued four new permits, and West Virginia issued one new permit. Both Seneca Resources and Apex Energy tied for most new permits (three each), with Seneca’s permits issued in Tioga County, PA, and Apex’s permits issued in Westmoreland County, PA.
Read More “15 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jun 24 – 30”

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Shell Files Application for Fed Title V Air Permit for PA Cracker

In March, MDN told you that the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) told Shell to file for a Title V air permit for its ethane cracker in Monaca no later than June 21 of this year or risk being shut down (see Shell PA Cracker Must File for Full Title V Air Permit, or Else). Just coming to light now is that Shell did file its Title V application with the DEP on June 19 (two days to spare!).  The DEP is currently reviewing the application for completeness to ensure nothing important is missing. After the application has been determined to be administratively complete, the DEP will post it on its Southwest Regional Community Information webpage for the facility.
Read More “Shell Files Application for Fed Title V Air Permit for PA Cracker”

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Is Shell Ethane Cracker Plant an Economic Bust for Beaver County?

Patience is a rare commodity these days. We live in a day and age of instant gratification. Our food is made and delivered in minutes. The latest gizmo we want can be on our doorstep the next day (or, in some cases, the same day) from Amazon and any number of other retailers. Entertainment and distractions are everywhere! Just lift your eyes from your own phone and observe everyone else around you staring at their phones. So perhaps it is no surprise that some people feel lied to because the mighty Shell ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, PA, hasn’t instantly delivered the promised thousands of extra jobs and dozens of relocated companies.
Read More “Is Shell Ethane Cracker Plant an Economic Bust for Beaver County?”

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Shell Cracker Air Quality Permits from PA DEP Temporarily Extended

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has extended three temporary air permits for the Shell ethane cracker plant in Monaca, PA, which would have expired at the end of April. The extended permits will suffice until Shell files for and receives what is called a federal Title V Operating Permit for air emissions from the cracker plant. In March, we told you that the DEP had told Shell to file for a Title V permit no later than June 21 of this year or risk being shut down (see Shell PA Cracker Must File for Full Title V Air Permit, or Else). Shell has indicated it will have its Title V application filed on time.
Read More “Shell Cracker Air Quality Permits from PA DEP Temporarily Extended”

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Shapiro Admin Uses Shell Cracker Money for Quid Pro Quo

Although Shell maintains flaring and accidental emissions from its multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA, have not violated state and federal air standards, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says they have — on numerous occasions. Shell didn’t argue the point, and in May 2023, the company agreed to pay nearly $10 million in fines and “contributions” to benefit the local community (see Shell Cracker Agrees to $10M Shakedown from PA, Restarting Now). Last July, the Shapiro DEP announced that it had appointed a 17-member committee to figure out how to dole out $5 million to fund local community projects near the cracker (see PA DEP Forms Ctte to Dole Out $5M in Shell Cracker Shakedown Cash). Many (not all) of the committee members are radical leftists who irrationally hate fossil energy. Translation: This is quid pro quo money given to radical left supporters of Shapiro to thank them for voting for him. The DEP released the list of grant recipients on Wednesday, including $631,534 (over a half million dollars!) going to the rabid anti-shale group Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community. Talk about a slap in Shell’s face.
Read More “Shapiro Admin Uses Shell Cracker Money for Quid Pro Quo”

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Shell PA Cracker Must File for Full Title V Air Permit, or Else

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) sent a letter to the Shell ethane cracker plant on Feb. 22 essentially saying, “You’re time is up.” The cracker plant facility has 120 days from Feb. 22 (until Jun. 21) to file for a federal Title V Operating Permit for air emissions. If the facility doesn’t at least file for the permit, it’s lights out until it does.
Read More “Shell PA Cracker Must File for Full Title V Air Permit, or Else”

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PA DEP Shakes Down Shell Another $2.6M for Cracker Air Violations

Although Shell maintains flaring and accidental emissions from its new multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA, have not violated state and federal air standards, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says they have — on numerous occasions. Shell didn’t argue the point, and last May, the company agreed to pay nearly $10 million in fines and “contributions” to benefit the local community (see Shell Cracker Agrees to $10M Shakedown from PA, Restarting Now). The shakedown agreement Shell signed said if the DEP ever determined Shell has continued to violate air standards, the company would be forced to pay even more. And so it has — yet another $2,671,044.75.
Read More “PA DEP Shakes Down Shell Another $2.6M for Cracker Air Violations”

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Beaver, PA Resident Sues Shell Cracker Claiming Pollution

Although Shell maintains flaring and accidental emissions from its new multi-billion-dollar ethane cracker in Beaver County, PA, have not violated state and federal air standards, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) says they have — on numerous occasions. Shell didn’t argue the point, and in May 2023, the company agreed to pay nearly $10 million in fines and “contributions” to benefit the local community (see Shell Cracker Agrees to $10M Shakedown from PA, Restarting Now). Even though the matter was settled, a new lawsuit was just filed by a Beaver County resident living near the cracker. He alleges that Shell continues to violate the federal Clean Air Act and the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act, harming the health of those “who live, go to school, recreate and work near the plant.” The lawsuit seeks certification as a class action.
Read More “Beaver, PA Resident Sues Shell Cracker Claiming Pollution”

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19 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Feb 5 – 11

There were 19 new permits issued to drill in the Marcellus/Utica during the week of Feb. 5 – 11, versus 20 permits issued the prior week. Pennsylvania issued 13 new permits last week. Ohio issued 4 new permits. West Virginia issued 2 new permits last week. Range Resources scored the most new permits with 5 split between Allegheny and Beaver counties in PA. Chesapeake Energy received 4 permits in Bradford County, PA. Seneca Resources received 4 permits in Elk County, PA. Encino Energy received 4 permits in Guernsey County, OH. And Diversified Energy received 2 permits in Harrison County, WV.
Read More “19 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Feb 5 – 11”