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39 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 20 – 26
After the high number of new permits issued two weeks ago, we thought last week the new permit number would sink (fast) for sure. But no! For the week of October 20 – 26, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica *increased* from the previous week. There were 39 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up from the 37 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 23 new permits last week, up from 19 the previous week. Ohio issued 11 permits, a slight decrease from 13 two weeks ago. And West Virginia issued 5 new permits, the same number as two weeks ago. Just, wow! Read More “39 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 20 – 26”
On August 17, Eureka Resources’ Williamsport Second Street facility (one of the three plants previously operated by Eureka) leaked some of its stored untreated wastewater, which ended up in the nearby Susquehanna River via a storm drain (see 
Representatives from Clean Air Council, Earthworks, Environmental Health Project, Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), and Protect PT, some of the worst of the worst radical “green” groups in the Keystone State, rallied at the Pennsylvania State Capitol yesterday to demand (they always demand) that Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board (EQB) accept their petition to consider drafting a new setback regulation in the state that would effectively ban all new shale drilling. 
The Penn State Extension has developed a helpful reference guide listing common water testing parameters for well owners. This resource helps owners determine if contamination from oil and gas drilling, pipelines, and related infrastructure is affecting their water quality. Key parameters include: alkalinity, arsenic, barium, bromide, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene), chloride, gross alpha radiation, methane/ethane, and strontium. The reference also provides sources for additional information. 
The current king of U.S. data centers is Virginia. As we wrote about earlier this month, Pennsylvania has the opportunity to grab that title away from Virginia, IF PA doesn’t screw it up (see 
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro oscillates between acting like an adult and a petulant child regarding rising electricity costs in his state, costs that are due in part to his own policies (see 
The Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA) has approved a resolution to become the sole, controlling member of the Pennsylvania Independent Petroleum Producers Association, Inc. (PIPP), effectively making PIPP a subsidiary. This unification, approved by both boards in October, aims to strengthen the unified voice of the state’s oil and natural gas industry. According to PIOGA Board Chairman Michael Hillebrand and PIOGA President Dan Weaver, the move ensures independent producers speak with “one voice, one vision, and one future,” allowing the associations to operate more efficiently and amplify their advocacy efforts in Harrisburg and beyond. 
Last week, the Baker Hughes U.S. national rig count added rigs for a second consecutive week, bringing the national count up by two to 550. Despite last week’s rig increase, the total count was still down 35 rigs, or 6% below this time last year. Rigs in the Marcellus/Utica remained the same last week at a combined 37 rigs, the same number for four weeks in a row. Pennsylvania remained unchanged at 17 active rigs. Ohio was the same at 13 rigs. And West Virginia maintained its 7 rigs, which it has operated since May 30. The Marcellus had 23 rigs and the Utica 14. 
Back in July, MDN told you that the New Fortress Energy project to build a regional LNG liquefaction plant in landlocked Wyalusing (Bradford County), PA, was dead and buried, given the company had changed its plans for the site (see 
Here’s an interesting and mysterious twist. EQT Corp., through its division EQT Ventures, has secured an option to purchase a sprawling, 400-acre former steel plant site along the Monongahela River in Washington County, PA, from Mon River Partners LP. The property, known as the Mon River Industrial Park, was once the Wheeling-Pittsburgh site and offers valuable access to the river, I-70, rail lines, and heavy-duty electrical infrastructure. 
EQT Corporation self-reported a wastewater spill at its Secretariat Well Site in Gilmore Township (Greene County), PA, on October 3. Multiple spots were found after the completions crew removed its containment apparatus from the pad. EQT immediately got to work remediating the site and has (so far) removed 340 barrels of wastewater (14,280 gallons) and 21.5 roll-off boxes of dirt. EQT reported the spill to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as soon as it was observed on October 3. A DEP inspector finally showed up on October 10. 
Something remarkable has happened in the Pennsylvania State Senate, where Republicans hold a slim majority with 27 members and Democrats have 23 members. In an unusual act of bipartisanship, six of the Democrat Senators (26% of all PA Democrat Senators, more than one-quarter) voted with all 27 Republicans to pass a bill that would erase Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulations from Pennsylvania’s books. RGGI is a carbon tax on coal- and gas-fired power plants in the state. 
CNX Resources is partnering with Chicago real estate giant JLL to market and lease the 1,500-acre Zediker Station site in South Strabane Township, about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh. The property offers 400 buildable acres, access to natural gas reserves and ample water, and features a unique, carbon-neutral power solution. The companies are pitching Remediated Mine Gas (RMG)—methane captured from coal mine ventilation systems—which, when blended with traditional natural gas, can achieve carbon-neutral power generation for a potential data center.