Pennsylvania

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA

The Fight to Build the PennEast Pipeline: Arguments For & Against
May 11, 2015May 11, 2015

About a month ago MDN editor Jim Willis granted an interview with Kevin Mooney, on assignment writing for The Daily Signal, a publication of arguably the top conservative think tank in the country–the Heritage Foundation. Kevin wanted to talk about the PennEast Pipeline and the controversy surrounding what should be a straightforward and non-controversial project. These days anything to do with fossil fuels is being opposed by the likes of the Sierra Club and (in the case of the PennEast), regional anti-drilling groups like THE Delaware Riverkeeper–a group now being investigated by pro-drillers for possible violations of ethics laws in their dealings with the Delaware River Basin Commission. Kevin not only talked with MDN, he also spoke to Tom Shepstone of the always excellent Natural Gas Now, and Nicole Jacobs from the excellent Energy in Depth–both good friends of MDN’s Jim Willis. Kevin got the other side of the story too–from none other than Maya van Rossum, who is THE Delaware Riverkeeper herself (see Delaware Riverkeeper Gets a French Kiss from Phila. Inquirer). Kevin turns in a well-balanced and useful overview of the fight to build the PennEast. What are the arguments for it, and against it? We bring you Kevin’s article here…
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Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Rig Counts Continue Big Decline in April, NE May Have Bottomed
May 8, 2015May 8, 2015

The rotary rig count tabulated by Baker Hughes continued to slide in April. The latest monthly rig count report shows another 134 land-based rigs in the U.S. were laid down between March and April. As of April there were 943 active rigs drilling on land in the U.S., down from 1,067 rigs in March. Ouch. What about the Marcellus and Utica region? MDN has done some analysis and we have reason to hope that we may have hit the bottom in the northeast as far as declining rig counts…
Read More “Rig Counts Continue Big Decline in April, NE May Have Bottomed”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

Anti-Drillers Cheer PA Gov Wolf’s New Appointment to Head PUC
May 8, 2015May 8, 2015

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) “balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.” The PUC also greatly affects the state’s shale drilling industry (see Major Milestone: PA PUC Rules Mariner East IS a Public Utility and PA PUC Says Impact Fee Payment Calculations Still “Off”). So it was with keen interest that we noticed newly elected Gov. Tom Wolf has appointed a new head of the PUC, Gladys Brown, a true believer in man-made global warming and someone who advocates for so-called energy efficiency (i.e. lock down your thermostat) and reducing carbon emissions (i.e. tax industry into oblivion). We see a coming disaster with Brown at the helm of the PUC. Still glad you elected Wolf? No, we didn’t think so…
Read More “Anti-Drillers Cheer PA Gov Wolf’s New Appointment to Head PUC”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA

DRBC Makes a Play to Slow/Block the Penn East Pipeline
May 7, 2015May 7, 2015

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), currently under investigation by pro-drilling groups for its collusion (possibly illegal) with groups like THE Delaware Riverkeeper, appears to be making a play to block the Penn East Pipeline. The Penn East Pipeline will be 114 miles of 36-inch diameter natural gas pipeline that will run from Luzerne County, PA to Mercer County, NJ–running through the DRBC’s “territory.” The DRBC has contacted the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)–the only agency empowered to approve or not approve the project–declaring DRBC’s interest in being part of the process to approve it. How convenient that the DRBC is in bed with the virulent anti-drilling Delaware Riverkeeper–and the main focus of Riverkeeper right now is to stop the Penn East…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA

Penn State Uses Anti-Drilling Trout Unlimited for Marcellus Monitoring
May 7, 2015May 7, 2015

More than a year ago MDN pointed out that a group begun with good intentions but later co-opted by anti-drillers, Trout Unlimited, has been outted as a radical so-called green group (see Trout Unlimited, Other Groups Outted as Radical Green Groups). So it was surprising to read that Penn State researchers, apparently desperate for volunteers for a stream monitoring project, are turning to the anti-drilling “volunteers” of Trout Unlimited to help them collect “scientific” samples from streams located near Marcellus Shale drilling. Anyone else here see a big red flag and potential conflict of interest?…
Read More “Penn State Uses Anti-Drilling Trout Unlimited for Marcellus Monitoring”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

PA Fracktivist Permanently Banned from Cabot Property
May 7, 2015May 7, 2015

A little-known (outside of northeast Pennsylvania) anti-driller, Vera Scroggins, has been permanently banned from trespassing on Cabot Oil & Gas well sites according to a recent court order. Vera had previously agreed to the restrictions that don’t allow her to get near Cabot’s many sites in Susquehanna County, PA. Then she got the trespassing itch again and re-offended, according to court records, in January 2015 (see PA Anti-Driller Fined $1K for Trespassing on Cabot O&G Site, Jail?). Until now it had been a temporary injunction. Now it’s a permanent injunction, something Vera says she’s going to continue fighting…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Study: If You’s Po’ and Lives in Rural PA, You’s Gettin’ Fracked
May 7, 2015May 7, 2015

If you’s po’ and lives in Penns’vania, ‘hio or West Gini, you’s gettin’ polluted by that evil, nasty frackin’. And chances are, you’s too stupid to knows it.” That’s the essential conclusion of a highly discriminatory and inaccurate “study” called “Spatial distribution of unconventional gas wells and human populations in the Marcellus Shale in the United States: Vulnerability analysis,” recently published in the so-called journal Applied Geography by so-called researchers from Clark University. The “researchers” don’t bother with fundamental research, like reviewing health records of people who live near active Marcellus Shale drilling areas. That would take waaaay too much work. Instead, they just assume that if you live near drilling, you’re getting polluted. The focus of the “research” is on the cockamamie theory of environmental justice. The “researchers” found that people living out in the country–where this activity typically takes place–by and large are poorer than those living in towns and cities (and on elite college campi). Wow–such a brilliant insight! “Because they po’, they don’t read all that much…they can’t figure out theys gettin’ polluted.” Yes, its disgustingly prejudiced–but that’s what passes for scholarship these days…
Read More “Study: If You’s Po’ and Lives in Rural PA, You’s Gettin’ Fracked”
Accidents | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA

Media Continues to Demagogue PA “Water Contamination” Research
May 6, 2015May 6, 2015

Yesterday MDN alerted you to the coming buzz saw of media lies about a new study that reportedly shows three Pennsylvania water wells that may have been contaminated by nearby fracking operations (see Penn State Finds Chemical Migration in 3 PA Water Wells from 2010). As we pointed out yesterday, this is an isolated case from five years ago where a wastewater impoundment was found to be leaking–hardly a smoking gun that “fracking contaminates surface water supplies” (the lie that psychotics like Daily Kos readers chant to themselves every day). Anti-drilling reporters in mainstream media are committing malpractice in their reporting of this study. The reporting has reached a fevered pitch–almost like the reporters are experiencing an ecstatic LSD acid trip. The story has gone worldwide and the headlines (and lies) continue to pour in. We spotted a great analysis of the research and what the research says–and doesn’t say–by the always-excellent Energy in Depth. We think it’s worth repeating here for the MDN audience…
Read More “Media Continues to Demagogue PA “Water Contamination” Research”
Air Quality | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Progress: DEP & Shell Hold Info Session on PA Cracker Plant
May 6, 2015May 6, 2015

Another positive sign that Shell continues to be very serious about building a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker plant in Monaca (Beaver County), PA. Yesterday representatives from Shell and the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection held a two-hour meeting (with Q&A) to discuss the air quality permit required to build the plant. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the crowd in attendance was almost all in favor of the project. Air wasn’t the only issue discussed–some had questions about potential noise from the plant. The session began with Q&A and ended with two dozen or so speakers who had signed up to give official, on the record comments about the plant…
Read More “Progress: DEP & Shell Hold Info Session on PA Cracker Plant”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | PennEast Pipeline | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA

Time for Pro-Drillers to Take Action on the Penn East Pipeline
May 6, 2015May 6, 2015

A shout-out to everyone in Pennsylvania and New Jersey who wants to pay less for natural gas and electricity. Nefarious groups like THE Delaware Riverkeeper, Sierra Clubbers and others have turned the volume button all the way up on their opposition to the Penn East Pipeline–a 114-mile, 36-inch diameter natural gas pipeline that will run from Luzerne County, PA to Mercer County, NJ. There is no coherent or logical reason to oppose this pipeline, but reason and logic aren’t the stock in trade for anti-fossil fuelers. They just hate all fossil fuels and will lie about projects like the Penn East in an attempt to support their twisted philosophy of ridding the world of fossil fuels (don’t get us started!). At any rate, it’s time for those of us who support clean burning Marcellus Shale gas to step up to the plate and do two simple things: (1) send a comment to FERC supporting the pipeline, (2) send a comment to your elected officials supporting it. We have details below for how you can do it…
Read More “Time for Pro-Drillers to Take Action on the Penn East Pipeline”
Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County | WPX Energy

Mystery Buyer to Pay WPX Energy $200M for NE Marcellus Assets
May 5, 2015May 5, 2015

WPX Energy announced yesterday that they’ve sold more of (the rest of?) their northeast Marcellus Shale assets. This time it’s not leases and wells, but instead “various long-term natural gas purchase and sales agreements, along with 135 million Btu per day of firm transportation capacity on Transco’s Northeast Supply Link project.” That is, WPX was on the hook to either buy or sell natural gas along pipelines at certain locations in the northeast region, and those deals to buy and sell gas were sold, along with WPX’s contract to flow up to 135 million Btus (which equates to just 135 thousand cubic feet, or 135 Mcf) of natural gas on Transco’s Northeast Supply Link pipeline system. The combined sale was to an unnamed buyer for approximately $200 million. MDN has a guess about who the mystery buyer is…
Read More “Mystery Buyer to Pay WPX Energy $200M for NE Marcellus Assets”
Cambria County | Chevron | Clearfield County | Energy Companies | Pennsylvania

Chevron Shops Another 11,700 Marcellus Acres in Central PA
May 5, 2015May 5, 2015

Chevron continues to pare back on its Marcellus Shale acreage. With nearly 700,000 Marcellus Shale acres under lease, what’s a few thousand acres here and there? The Pittsburgh Business Times noticed that Chevron has posted 11,700 acres in central PA up for sale. You may recall Chevron previously shopped 17,000 acres in the same region in February (see Chevron Selling 17K Marcellus Shale Acres, More Sales Coming). At that time the company said more sales would be coming, and well, here we are! We might chalk it up to Chevron simply actively managing their portfolio and tweaking the locations where they intend to drill. Except. Except they’re also cutting way back on personnel too (see Chevron Laying Off 23% of their Marcellus Workforce in Pittsburgh). So this may be just tweaking the portfolio, or it may be a trickle in what will become a steady stream of divestiture. We just don’t know at this point. Here’s the details as we know them about the current 11,700 acres up for sale…
Read More “Chevron Shops Another 11,700 Marcellus Acres in Central PA”
Accidents | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA

Penn State Finds Chemical Migration in 3 PA Water Wells from 2010
May 5, 2015May 5, 2015

Media reaction to research findings that trace amounts of chemicals used in Marcellus fracking were found a mile and a half away in three water wells is nearly orgasmic. “Finally! We can shut down this evil, wicked, nasty drilling for fossil fuels!” That’s the unstated (but very clear) reaction from anti-drilling “reporters” at the Associated Press, Bloomberg, StateImpact Pennsylvania and other assorted mainstream media outlets. They do their best to hide all of the pertinent facts in their “reporting.” So MDN is here to set the record straight. First, researchers at Penn State set out to tackle a particularly thorny problem. Back in 2010 (yes, over five years ago) three (yes, only three) property owners near a shale drilling operation reported problems with their drinking water. The researchers, using breakthrough, new “nontraditional” methods have determined that it’s likely (not 100% sure, but reasonably sure) that flowback water that was stored in an open pit leaked out of that pit and hit some underground fractures that allowed the flowback water to travel up to 2 kilometers (1.6 miles) away and contaminate the water wells of those three nearby neighbors. It happened one time, to three water wells, five years ago and was related to a leaky impoundment. Those are the facts. Here’s some of the headlines you’re reading yesterday and today in over 100 major news outlets coast to coast currently bombarding the population with this earth-shattering “news”…
Read More “Penn State Finds Chemical Migration in 3 PA Water Wells from 2010”
Allegheny County | Meetings | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Still Time to Attend SGICC’s Free May 12 Event & See Cool Tech
May 5, 2015May 5, 2015

Who says there’s no free lunch?! On May 12, you can attend the Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center’s (SGICC) free event (with lunch!) at the Southpointe, PA Hilton Garden Inn. And what’s the event? It is the unveiling of four winners of the SGICC’s annual Shale Gas Innovation contest. Each year the SGICC runs a contest to highlight early-stage technologies that enhance responsible stewardship of the environment while properly utilizing our bountiful Marcellus Shale as an asset. Four winners (out of the final 14 selected) will receive a $25,000 cash prize each–$100,000 total. The event will celebrate the newest winners and give YOU the opportunity to mill around and review each of the 14 finalists and their truly unique and innovative technologies. Here’s more details and how to register…
Read More “Still Time to Attend SGICC’s Free May 12 Event & See Cool Tech”
Energy Companies | Forest County | Lease & Royalty Payments | Pennsylvania | SWEPI | Tioga County (PA)

PA DCNR Publishes Lease Agreements for Deals Under Rivers/Creeks
May 4, 2015April 30, 2018

In February 2015, MDN did a deep dive into the issue of Pennsylvania leasing underneath rivers and streams to allow Marcellus/Utica Shale drilling (see PA DCNR Program Leases Under Rivers/Creeks for Marcellus Drilling). PA maintains the state owns the land underneath any river or creek that is “navigable” and therefore has the right to lease it for drilling, denying the landowners who own the land along the banks of that stream signing bonuses and royalties. It is a thorny issue. Does the state actually “own” the land under rivers and creeks? It’s an issue that (seems to us) should be litigated and decided. In that story in February MDN brought you a list of river and creek deals signed, as of early January, with an indication of who signed and how much the signing bonus was for. At the bottom of that list (we’ve included the list below for your convenience) are six deals with Shell’s SWEPI–five of the deals for tracks of river/creeks in Tioga County, PA, and one in Forest County, PA. Interestingly, the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), the state agency doing the leasing on behalf of the state, has just published notification for those six SWEPI deals in the May 2 Pennsylvania Bulletin which include the full details for each deal…
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Allegheny County | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

US Attorney Looks for “Environmental Crimes” in Marcellus/Utica
May 4, 2015May 4, 2015

On Friday MDN told you of an observation about anti-drillers trying to criminalize accidents and (in some cases) sloppy neglect when it comes to Marcellus and Utica Shale drilling (see Youngstown Injection Wells Previously Shut Down Resume Operation). The emphasis on so-called “environmental crimes” seems to be coming from the federal government–in the Youngstown case, from the EPA. We spotted another such effort–this one from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in southwest PA (Pittsburgh). U.S. Attorney David Hickton began meeting (colluding?) in December with the FBI, EPA, and the PA DEP and PA anti-drilling Attorney General “to discuss opportunities for improved environmental enforcement.” Another such meeting is scheduled for this week…
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