Greene County (PA) 21 - Marcellus Drilling News

Diesel Fuel Spill at Drilling Site in Green County, PA

March 7, 2012March 7, 2012

Last December, about 480 gallons of diesel fuel leaked onto the ground at a well site in Patterson Run (Greene County), PA. EQT, the driller at the site, notified the state DEP and the National Response Center. The spill was quickly cleaned up, within 24 hours, and there were no environmental impacts following the spill. However, local officials are only just now learning about the spill, and that makes them upset.

Six PA Counties to Receive $10M+ from New Impact Fee in 2012

February 16, 2012February 16, 2012

Washington County is among six counties in Pennsylvania that stand to receive more than $10 million in impact fee revenue this year from the newly adopted Marcellus drilling legislation signed into law by Gov. Corbett on Monday.

Clearfield County | Greene County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines

First Reserve Invests in Two PA Marcellus Gas Pipelines

October 12, 2011

More pipeline news. First Reserve, an investment company that invests primarily in the energy industry, has just pumped $100 million into a joint venture that will give it 50% ownership in two new pipeline gathering systems in Greene and Clearfield counties in Pennsylvania. Both pipelines service the Marcellus Shale drilling industry in those areas.

EQT Starts Construction on New Pipeline in WV/PA

September 22, 2011September 22, 2011

EQT has received federal approval to construct a new natural gas pipeline that will reach from West Virginia into Pennsylvania, and will begin construction immediately:

Two More Gathering Pipelines Seek PA Public Utility Status

September 14, 2011September 14, 2011

Even though Laser Northeast Gathering has withdrawn its application to become a public utility with the power of eminent domain as MDN reported yesterday, two other pipeline companies with applications before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission continue to move forward. Peregrine Keystone Gas Pipeline plans to construct a gathering line in Greene, Fayette and Washington counties in western PA, and Pentex Pipeline plans a gathering pipeline in Bradford County in northeast PA.

Noble Energy and CONSOL to Partner on Marcellus in $3.4B Deal

August 19, 2011August 19, 2011

handshake In March 2010, CONSOL Energy (Cecil, PA) paid Dominion Resources $3.5 billion for 500,000 acres of Marcellus Shale gas leases, instantly tripling their lease holdings. Since that time, CONSOL has continued to invest in Marcellus acreage and they now have 750,000 acres under lease. But CONSOL had a problem: Not enough money to develop their vast Marcellus acreage. So they did what is now a common practice—they found a partner to invest. Yesterday, CONSOL and Noble Energy (Houston, TX) announced that Noble will buy a 50 percent interest in 663,350 net undeveloped acres and fund drilling and completion costs in a deal worth $3.4 billion over an eight-year period.

The joint venture will concentrate on ramping up development of Marcellus Shale gas wells in three areas of Pennsylvania and West Virginia (see a map of CONSOL’s acreage below):

Marcellus Shale Drilling May Provide a Solution to Coal Mine Water Runoff Problem

May 23, 2011May 23, 2011

Pennsylvania has a decades old problem with abandoned coal mines. The mines fill with rain water. The water becomes highly acidic and contains dissolved metals such as iron, aluminum and manganese. The water then runs off into waterways and is responsible for thousands of miles of streams that are uninhabitable for wildlife and not suitable for human use. Marcellus Shale gas drilling may provide at least a partial solution to the problem.

PA DEP, Marcellus Shale Coalition Admit Drilling Wastewater Likely Contaminating Drinking Water

April 19, 2011

There are 15 (of an original 27) municipal sewage treatment plants in Pennsylvania that still accept Marcellus Shale drilling wastewater. That is, until May 19 of this year.

New Marcellus Shale Pipeline Coming to Southwestern PA, Northern WV

April 4, 2011April 4, 2011

Momentum, a company that focuses on “midstream” oil and gas assets, has signed on Chesapeake Energy and Statoil as customers for a new Marcellus Shale natural gas pipeline they are constructing in northern WV and southwestern PA.

From the press release:

Greene County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Wastewater

Southwest PA Waste Hauler Indicted for Illegally Dumping Marcellus Drilling Wastewater

March 18, 2011March 18, 2011

After a year-long investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, a waste hauler in southwest PA has been charged with illegal dumping of untreated fracking wastewater.

Allegheny County | Greene County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Wastewater

Anti-Drilling Groups Planning Federal Lawsuit to Try and Stop Drilling in Western PA

March 11, 2011March 11, 2011

Those who oppose drilling in Pennsylvania are changing tactics and are now turning to the court system to try and stop drilling:

Number of Permits Issued & Wells Drilled in Select PA Counties, including the County with the Most Wells

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011

In a story about how Armstrong County, PA has to keep the County Courthouse open late one night a week so researchers can review property records for potential Marcellus shale gas well development, we get some interesting numbers on recent drilling activity in PA:

Dimock, PA Among Likely Locations for EPA Study of Hydraulic Fracturing

February 15, 2011February 16, 2011

A critical component in the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to study hydraulic fracturing is where they will conduct case studies. Starting on page 42 of the draft proposal, we find out.

There were 48 proposed locations suggested to the EPA, from which they will select between five and eight locations. We know five likely locations right now, and two of those are in the Marcellus Shale region—the other three are in other shale formations around the country.

Cumberland County | Greene County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania

Two Landfills in South Central PA Approved by DEP to Accept Marcellus Shale Drill Cuttings

February 3, 2011February 3, 2011

Two landfills in South Central Pennsylvania—the Cumberland County Landfill and IESI Blue Ridge Landfill—have state approval to accept drill cuttings from Marcellus Shale gas drilling operations. Drill cuttings are the leftover dirt, rock, mud and lubricants that come out of the bore hole.

PA DEP Staffs Up with More Gas Well Inspectors

March 10, 2010

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is hiring more inspectors for gas and oil wells. Right now there are 125 inspectors statewide. By the summer, an additional 68 will be on board bringing the total to 193 inspectors. Which is a good thing according to the York (PA) Dispatch, which notes:

In the last year, to cite two examples, inspectors noted that a brine pipeline operated by Range Resources Corp. was spilling production fluids into the ground at Cross Creek Park near Avella, resulting in a $23,500 penalty for the Texas-based company; and Atlas Resources was fined for violations at 13 of its wells in Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.*

MDN agrees. More inspectors are a good thing. It keeps everyone honest, and reassures the general public that drilling can be done safely.

*York Dispatch (Mar 10) – Marcellus Shale: Drilling inspectors welcome