Pennsylvania

Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

The Current State of PA Gov. Tom Wolf’s Obscene Carbon Tax
January 4, 2022April 20, 2022

In 2021 Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf advanced his plan to force PA to join the obscene carbon tax euphemistically called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Of the current 11 member states of RGGI (one of which will be unjoining this year, Virginia), all of the states joined after their respective state legislatures approved joining. Not so in PA. Wolf can’t convince the Republican-controlled legislature to join. So he’s doing what all leftist dictators do–seizing power that isn’t his and attempting to force his will on the people.
Read More “The Current State of PA Gov. Tom Wolf’s Obscene Carbon Tax”
Accidents | Butler County | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines

Explosion, Fire at Revolution Pipe Compressor in Bulter County, PA
January 3, 2022January 3, 2022

Energy Transfer’s (ET) Revolution Pipeline in southwestern Pennsylvania runs through Bulter, Beaver, Allegheny, and Washington counties. The 24-inch gathering pipeline shifted and exploded in September 2018, just as it was entering service (see Revolution Pipeline Near Pittsburgh Explodes – Home & Barn Destroyed). After more than $30 million in fines, court actions, and outright acrimony, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) finally allowed ET to fix the problems and bring the pipeline back online in March of 2021 (see PA DEP Finally Allows Revolution Pipe to Restart – After $125K Fine). On Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, the “Galaxy” compressor station in Butler County that is part of the Revolution system experienced an explosion and fire during “pigging” operations.
Read More “Explosion, Fire at Revolution Pipe Compressor in Bulter County, PA”
Bradford County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Lycoming County | M&A | Pennsylvania | Repsol | Rockdale | Tioga County (PA)

Repsol Buys Rockdale PA Assets Out of Bankruptcy for $222M
January 3, 2022January 3, 2022

In September MDN broke the news that Rockdale Marcellus had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (see NEPA Driller Rockdale Marcellus Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy). On Dec. 16 an auction for Rockdale’s assets was held in Dallas, Texas. The highest bidder and winner was Repsol, buying substantially all of Rockdale’s assets for $220 million in cash, plus the assumption of $2 million in debt owed to trade creditors. Last Wednesday, Dec. 29, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania approved the auction results and sale to Repsol.
Read More “Repsol Buys Rockdale PA Assets Out of Bankruptcy for $222M”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Chester County | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA | Sunoco Logistics

Bitter Antis Admit Defeat – ME2 Pipeline to be Completed in 1Q22
January 3, 2022January 3, 2022

In early December the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) agreed to allow Energy Transfer to change the way it will install the Mariner East 2 (ME2) pipeline in the Marsh Creek Lake area in Chester County, PA (see PA DEP Approves ME2 Plan to Finish Pipe Thru Marsh Creek Lake Area). Two weeks later the DEP issued the necessary permits to allow construction to commence (see PA DEP Issues Revised Permits for ME2 Pipe Near Marsh Creek Lake). The Marsh Creek Lake work is the final big project to complete ME2. Needless to say, anti-fossil fuel zealots are distraught. Antis get funny when they get upset.
Read More “Bitter Antis Admit Defeat – ME2 Pipeline to be Completed in 1Q22”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Nacero | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants

Big Green Organizes to Oppose Nacero GTL Plant Near Wilkes-Barre
December 22, 2021December 22, 2021

Nacero technology overview (click for larger version)

A group of 16 radical left groups (far far outside the mainstream) have banded together to announce their opposition to Nacero’s recently announced $6 billion gas-to-liquids (GTL) refinery, to be built on the site of a former coal mine in Newport Township and Nanticoke in Luzerne County, PA (see NEPA Huge Deal – $6B Plant to Convert Marcellus Gas to Gasoline). The plant will convert Marcellus natural gas into zero-sulfur gasoline for use in existing cars and trucks without modification. The groups, both local and statewide, are spreading lies about the facility and its environmental and economic impacts. Typical.
Read More “Big Green Organizes to Oppose Nacero GTL Plant Near Wilkes-Barre”
Allegheny County | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Regulation

West Deer Township Denies Olympus Permit to Build Shale Pad
December 22, 2021April 20, 2022

Olympus Energy (formerly Huntley & Huntley) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Earlier this year Olympus filed an application to build a new well pad in a rural part of Allegheny County, in West Deer Township. So-called “concerned citizens” got amped up to oppose the project (see Antis in West Deer, PA Gear Up to Oppose Olympus Well Pad). Looks like the antis successfully convinced the board of supervisors to come over to the dark side. Last week West Deer supervisors voted 4-0 to deny a permit to build the pad.
Read More “West Deer Township Denies Olympus Permit to Build Shale Pad”
CNX Resources | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Diversified Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | JKLM Energy | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Southwestern Energy | Statewide PA | UGI Energy Services

Marcellus Cos. Donate Over $100,000 to Nonprofits During Christmas
December 22, 2021December 22, 2021

Major drillers and pipeline companies operating in the Pennsylvania Marcellus have, once again, stepped up to offer donations of money, toys, and coats during the 2021 Christmas season. Companies giving generously include Coterra Energy, CNX Resources, Diversified Energy, Energy Transfer, Equitrans Midstream, EQT, JKLM Energy, People’s Gas, Range Resources, Seneca Resources, Southwestern Energy, and UGI have given, collectively well over $100,000.
Read More “Marcellus Cos. Donate Over $100,000 to Nonprofits During Christmas”
Allegheny County | Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Bradford County | Carroll County | Chief Oil & Gas | CNX Resources | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Jefferson County (OH) | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Tyler County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

32 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 13-19
December 21, 2021April 20, 2022

Two weeks ago the Marcellus/Utica region saw 30 new permits to drill shale wells. Last week we improved that a bit, to 32. Pennsylvania issued 13 new permits to three drillers for five well pads in four counties. Ohio issued eight new permits to two drillers for three pads in two counties. And West Virginia issued 11 new permits to two drillers for two pads in a single county.
Read More “32 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 13-19”
Chester County | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Sunoco Logistics

PA DEP Issues Revised Permits for ME2 Pipe Near Marsh Creek Lake
December 20, 2021April 20, 2022

One week ago MDN told you that the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) signaled, via a listing in the weekly issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin, the department’s intent to issue or reissue remaining permits for erosion and sediment control needed to finish up work on the Mariner East 2 (ME2) pipeline (see PA DEP Signals Reissue of Erosion & Sediment Permits for ME2 Pipe). One week later (this past Saturday), the DEP posted another notice in the PA Bulletin issuing permits for ME2 in the most contentious and critical portion of the project to finish up–the area near Marsh Creek Lake and State Park in Chester County.
Read More “PA DEP Issues Revised Permits for ME2 Pipe Near Marsh Creek Lake”
Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants

Neighbors’ Concerns Addressed by $6B Wilkes-Barre GTL Plant
December 20, 2021April 20, 2022

In November we shared the exciting news that Nacero Inc. will build a $6 billion refinery on the site of a former coal mine in Newport Township and Nanticoke in Luzerne County, PA, near Wilkes-Barre (see NEPA Huge Deal – $6B Plant to Convert Marcellus Gas to Gasoline). The plant will convert Marcellus natural gas into zero-sulfur gasoline for use in existing cars and trucks without modification. As details about the project (this is a MASSIVE project, on the order of the Shell cracker plant in western PA) come out, some of the neighbors who will live near the plant are expressing concerns.
Read More “Neighbors’ Concerns Addressed by $6B Wilkes-Barre GTL Plant”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA House Votes to Reject RGGI Carbon Tax, Gov. Wolf to Veto
December 17, 2021April 20, 2022

The Republican-controlled House in Pennsylvania voted on Wednesday to approve a resolution against enrolling the state in the so-called Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) carbon tax scheme. RGGI is aimed at phasing out the use of coal and natural gas to produce electricity in the Keystone State–an absolute catastrophe for the Marcellus industry. The vote was 130-70, which is not enough to override a promised veto by PA’s extremely unpopular Governor, Tom Wolf, who is attempting to force the state to join RGGI without approval by the state legislature, something not done in any of the other 11 members of RGGI (mostly liberal northeastern states).
Read More “PA House Votes to Reject RGGI Carbon Tax, Gov. Wolf to Veto”
Energy Services | ESG | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Tennessee Gas Pipeline

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Announces Responsible Gas Pooling Service
December 16, 2021December 16, 2021

Yesterday Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP), a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, filed a proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to implement a “responsibly sourced natural gas (RSG) supply aggregation pooling service” at select locations across the TGP system. Translation: Utilities and other buyers will be able to buy RSG certified natural gas for their customers, costing them more money.
Read More “Tennessee Gas Pipeline Announces Responsible Gas Pooling Service”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

Wolf DEP Sec. McDonnell Tries to End-Run Legislature on Carbon Tax
December 15, 2021April 20, 2022

Last week MDN told you about Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf’s latest attempt to force through his effort to force PA to join the so-called Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a carbon tax scheme (see Gov Wolf Tries to Bypass Legislature on Carbon Tax – Gets Caught). Wolf is using his patsy in the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), Secretary Pat McDonnell, to try and get the final RGGI regulation published in the PA Bulletin. That effort bombed out when the Republican-controlled legislature blocked it. That battle continues…
Read More “Wolf DEP Sec. McDonnell Tries to End-Run Legislature on Carbon Tax”
Alliance Petroleum | Antero Resources | Apex Energy | Bradford County | Carroll County | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Jay-Bee Oil & Gas | Lycoming County | Marshall County | Monroe County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pleasants County | Range Resources Corp | Tribune Resources | Tug Hill Operating | Tyler County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County | Wetzel County

30 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 6-12
December 15, 2021December 15, 2021

There was a decent number of new permits issued across all three actively drilling Marcellus/Utica states cumulatively last week. In Pennsylvania, 19 new shale well permits were issued across the state. In Ohio, three new shale permits were issued. West Virginia issued 8 new shale permits last week, with five going to a company we had not previously heard of.
Read More “30 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 6-12”
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Permits to Drill New Shale Wells in PA Hit 13-Year Low in November
December 14, 2021December 14, 2021

As you know, MDN monitors new shale permits in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia by bringing you the weekly new permits issued report, typically on Wednesdays (see our permits archive here). Every now and again the number crunchers at S&P Global step back and look at longer periods of time, comparing stats from a given month from year to year. The crunchers have just issued a somewhat depressing analysis that says Pennsylvania’s new shale permits issued for November 2021 were the lowest number of permits issued in the month of November stretching back to 2008–some 13 years ago.
Read More “Permits to Drill New Shale Wells in PA Hit 13-Year Low in November”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA | Transco | Williams

Transco Pipe’s Leidy South Startup Keeps Gas Prices Up in M-U
December 14, 2021December 14, 2021

click for larger version

The spot price for physical natural gas traded at the Eastern Gas South trading hub near Pittsburgh (formerly called Dominion South) has taken quite a hit over the past few weeks, as evidenced by the chart at the left. However, the Eastern Gas South price most likely would have fallen even more were it not for a new pipeline expansion project for the mighty Transco system–the Leidy South project which began partial service in November with 225 MMcf/d of extra gas flows. The rest of Leidy South, a full 582 MMcf/d capacity, is set to be online sometime this month.
Read More “Transco Pipe’s Leidy South Startup Keeps Gas Prices Up in M-U”