Pennsylvania

Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County | Wastewater

Mt Pleasant Tells Range Resources “No Deal” on Water Impoundments
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

An update of the ongoing kerfuffle between Range Resources and their four water impoundments (i.e. ponds) and Mt. Pleasant Township officials in Washington County, PA (for background, see Range Water Impoundment Public Hearing Postponed 2nd Time). Mt. Pleasant recently served Range with zoning violation notices for the four impoundments–they want them all closed. Range recently proposed a compromise that would allow them to keep three of the four impoundments open.

The town board of supervisors met and discussed Range’s proposal during a rare Saturday session–and said “no thanks” to the proposal…
Read More “Mt Pleasant Tells Range Resources “No Deal” on Water Impoundments”
Berks County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Spectra Energy

Spectra’s TEAM 2014 Pipeline Loops Coming to Berks County, PA
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

Spectra Energy is in the midst of a multi-year $500 million project to expand its Texas Eastern pipeline in the northeast to boost capacity to bring Marcellus and Utica Shale gas to markets in the northeast, Midwest and south. The project, called the Texas Eastern Appalachia to Market Expansion 2014 (or “TEAM 2014”) involves upgrading existing compressor plants and building new “loops” of pipeline next to existing pipeline in southeastern Pennsylvania.

One of the counties where Spectra plans to build new looping pipeline is Berks County, where residents have until mid-October to make comments on (and support!) Spectra’s proposed TEAM 2014 plans…
Read More “Spectra’s TEAM 2014 Pipeline Loops Coming to Berks County, PA”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA DEP’s O&G Division Gets High Marks from Independent Review
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

An independent, third-party peer review organization–State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc.–has given the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Oil and Gas Management a very close examination. What did they find? They found it to be “proficient” and “ready to address the increase in oil and gas operations in Pennsylvania.” The review gave the DEP high marks for the actions they’ve taken (and new regulations instituted) over the past two years under Gov. Tom Corbett.

DEP Acting Sec. Chris Abruzzo said this independent review proves that PA’s world class shale drilling is matched by world class oil and gas management and regulations…
Read More “PA DEP’s O&G Division Gets High Marks from Independent Review”
Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA | XTO

Exclusive: MDN Interviews PA DEP Sec. Chris Abruzzo
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

MDN became aware that newly nominated (and currently Acting) Secretary of the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, Chris Abruzzo, would be attending Shale Insight 2013. So we requested an interview with the Secretary, and he obliged! To our knowledge, we were the only media interview he granted during a brief walking around the show visit on Wednesday.

MDN editor Jim Willis asked Sec. Abruzzo some tough questions, including his take on the PA Attorney General’s criminal lawsuit against XTO (see PA AG Abuses Her Authority, Files Criminal Charges Against XTO); his biggest challenge since holding the office in April; how he responds to the charge that the DEP is sometimes too cozy with the drilling industry; an update on the DEP’s study of air quality near drilling sites and compressor stations (see DEP Marcellus Air Study in SW PA Extended Extra Half Year); and his response to John Hanger (former Secretary of the DEP) about his remarks that Abruzzo’s appointment was “bizarre and irresponsible”…
Read More “Exclusive: MDN Interviews PA DEP Sec. Chris Abruzzo”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | UGI Energy Services | Wyoming County (PA)

Victory! UGI Nears Completion of New Pipeline Gate Station
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. The point where two different natural gas transmission pipelines connect–to transfer gas from one to the other–is called a gate station. Utility company UGI wanted to build a gate station near Scranton, PA so it could tap into locally-produced (and very cheap) Marcellus Shale gas from northeast PA. And of course anti-drillers objected, even though there’s been another gate station operating safely in the area for 50 years (see Anti-Drillers Try to Stop Pipeline Connector in NE PA and Back to Kindergarten: UGI Explains NatGas Gate Stations).

In August a judge finally cleared the way for UGI to build their new gate station–and it’s nearly done. Finally! A victory against the anti-drilling Luddites…
Read More “Victory! UGI Nears Completion of New Pipeline Gate Station”
Butler County | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Rex Energy

Rex Energy Water Contamination Case Shifts Focus to Water Pipeline
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

An update on the lingering/ongoing story of a community in western Pennyslvania (in Butler County) who say that nearby drilling by Rex Energy led to contamination of their well water supplies. The last MDN update on this story was in August of last year (see PA Residents Weary of Fight with Rex over Water Contamination). Some families have retained legal help and either have, or intend, to sue Rex. The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, after an extensive investigation, said that Rex’s drilling is not at fault in the situation.

However, for most of the families, the issue has now progressed beyond blame–apparently water quality in the area was never the greatest to begin with. Rex had built a water line in the area to supply water for fracking and expects to turn over control/ownership of that line later this year. That water line can potentially be used to supply fresh water to the affected homes. The debate now: Who will pay to hook up the homes and to maintain the pipes and infrastructure required?
Read More “Rex Energy Water Contamination Case Shifts Focus to Water Pipeline”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Soil | Statewide PA | Wastewater

Pittsburgh Water-Testing Lab’s Certification Pulled, $60K Fine
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

We don’t know if any Marcellus drillers in Pennsylvania were previously using Pittsburgh-based Microbac Laboratories to test water or soil for drilling purposes–but we do know they aren’t using them now. The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) investigated Microbac and found 50 violations at their Baltimore, Maryland lab. Microbac has voluntarily relinquished its accreditation and will pay a $60,000 fine. Ouch. They will also pay to have an independent third-party audit (i.e. someone will come in and tell them what they’re doing wrong)…
Read More “Pittsburgh Water-Testing Lab’s Certification Pulled, $60K Fine”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Meetings | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Shale Insight Philadelphia: Day One (Tuesday)
September 25, 2013September 25, 2013

MDN editor Jim Willis is in Philadelphia for the next few days attending the Marcellus Shale Coalition’s Shale Insight event. Jim is taking copious notes, as he does when visiting such events–so you’ll get to read about it in the coming days. Yesterday (Tuesday) was the “pre-conference” day. Of special interest was the Technology Showcase where established and up-and-coming companies shared their technologies for treating water, dealing with silica dust and a variety of other applications. If you’re “into shale,” it was fascinating.

Rather than recount it all for you right now, we’ll share a good story (very fair and balanced, surprisingly) written by the Philadelphia Inquirer who had a reporter on hand. The write-up does a good job of recounting the Technology Showcase, and in forecasting the coming protest from anti-drillers. One thing we can tell you–security is really, really tight at the Philadelphia Convention Center. They clearly believe there’s going to be a sizable crowd of antis parading out front…
Read More “Shale Insight Philadelphia: Day One (Tuesday)”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PennEnvironment Supports PA Dem Frack Ban Bill, Gins Up Report
September 25, 2013September 26, 2013

Editor’s Correction: We slipped up! The original version of this story contained a headline and introduction (below) that said PennFuture was the organization that issued the report. It was not. It was PennEnvironment. Our sincere apologies to PennFuture.

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In a pathetic attempt to give political cover to their anti-drilling collaborators in the PA legislature, yesterday anti-drilling group ~~PennFuture~~ PennEnvironment issued a so-called report that demands that Pennsylvania turn the lights out on fracking for shale gas–at least for now and the foreseeable future–until…we don’t know, just until. Until they say so.

Last week MDN told you about PA Democrats who decided to leap over the cliff hoping a net (of public support) would appear by introducing legislation to ban fracking in the state (see PA Dems Go Over the Cliff – Introduce Statewide Frack Ban Bill). Thunk. No net appeared and the Dems now face annihilation at the next election. So ~~PennFuture~~ PennEnvironment is attempting to throw out a lifeline with a ginned up “report” that supports a loony frack ban…
Read More “PennEnvironment Supports PA Dem Frack Ban Bill, Gins Up Report”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | TerrAqua Resource Mgmt | Washington County | Wastewater

TerrAqua a Half Step Closer to New Frack Wastewater Facility
September 25, 2013September 25, 2013

TerrAqua Resource Management wants to build a new frack wastewater recycling/treatment plant in Smith Township, Washington County, PA (see Hearing on Proposed TerrAqua Wastewater Recycling Facility in PA). A public hearing was held Monday night, which moves TerrAqua one step closer to gaining permission.

However, the Smith Township public hearing was not without its bumps for TerrAqua…
Read More “TerrAqua a Half Step Closer to New Frack Wastewater Facility”
Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Lawyers Say Don’t Ignore Chesapeake’s PA Lawsuit Settlement Letter
September 24, 2013September 23, 2013

Chesapeake Energy recently settled a lawsuit with Pennsylvania landowners in which they agree to pay (a pitifully small) $7.5 million to landowners after shorting them on royalty payments (see Chesapeake Settles PA Royalty Lawsuit for Pittance: $7.5M). The National Association of Royalty Owners Pennsylvania chapter is telling landowners to pay “very close attention” to the settlement letter when it comes.

The settlement letter may have much broader implications than just getting a check for a few bucks from Chesapeake. It may set the rules for how your future royalties will be calculated…
Read More “Lawyers Say Don’t Ignore Chesapeake’s PA Lawsuit Settlement Letter”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PA Electric Generation Plant Will Get its Own Marcellus Well
September 24, 2013September 23, 2013

GEI Global Energy Corp announced yesterday they have signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Owl Eco Group to build a 100 megawatt electric generation plant in western Pennsylvania that runs on Marcellus Shale gas.

Not only will this be a massive project taking several years and costing $470 million to build, but GEI says the plan calls for the power plant to get its very own Marcellus Shale well drilled to supply it. Smart…
Read More “PA Electric Generation Plant Will Get its Own Marcellus Well”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

Cabot Oil & Gas Sponsors Clay Shoot for NE PA Charity
September 24, 2013September 23, 2013

Cabot Oil & Gas continues to be one of those companies that truly impresses MDN. Last year the company was a key in donating more than $2 million of its own money, and key in spurring on other companies to contribute another $2.4 million so that a stalled project to build a new hospital in Montrose, PA finally got off the ground (see Cabot Effort Raises $4.4 Million for PA Physicians Clinic). Cabot’s actions are more than just a photo op and quick PR gimmick. You don’t pony up $2 million of your own (and investors’) money, and dedicate countless hours of your staff’s time, unless you’re serious about being a good neighbor.

Cabot is “at it again”! This time they’re sponsoring a sporting clay tournament in northeastern PA with all proceeds to benefit what they call “the amazing” St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton, PA. MDN encourages you to consider going to the clay shoot or if you can’t, donating to this very worthy cause…
Read More “Cabot Oil & Gas Sponsors Clay Shoot for NE PA Charity”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Vertical/Shallow Gas Wells in PA Try Going Horizontal
September 23, 2013September 23, 2013

A fascinating story in Sunday’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about a developing trend in Pennsylvania’s gas (and oil) fields–the trend of smaller drillers and even some larger drillers who are now targeting shallow rock layers with horizontal drilling. Vertical or conventional natural gas drilling produces a lot less gas than deeper unconventional/horizontal drilling. A LOT less. So how can “mom and pop” vertical drillers compete against the big boys? By going horizontal too.

Seems that some vertical drillers are giving horizontal drilling in their existing vertical wells a try. Instead of drilling down 5,000 feet to the Marcellus, they’re drilling down only 2,000 feet before turning the bit horizontal. The rock layers they’re targeting won’t be anywhere near as productive as the Marcellus–but hey, if you can goose production by 5-10X that of a traditional vertical-only well, it’s very profitable for a tiny fraction of the cost it takes to drill a Marcellus well. Thing is, we won’t know just how productive (or profitable) until next year because these shallower wells only self-report annually…
Read More “Vertical/Shallow Gas Wells in PA Try Going Horizontal”
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

No More “Acting” for Abruzzo – Nominated as Secretary PA DEP
September 23, 2013September 23, 2013

Congratulations to Chris Abruzzo, Acting Secretary of the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP). Gov. Tom Corbett has just nominated Abruzzo to permanently fill the role as Secretary of the DEP. Abruzzo had big shoes to fill after the departure of Michael Krancer (see Developing… PA DEP Sec. Krancer Resigns).

When Abruzzo was appointed Acting Secretary this past spring, former DEP Sec. John Hanger, a Democrat, blasted his appointment by Corbett as “bizarre and irresponsible” (see Former PA DEP Sec. Hanger Blasts Interim Replacement for Krancer). Undeterred by such criticism, Abruzzo has done an outstanding job over the past six months (see PA Acting Sec of DEP Making his Agency a “Problem-Solver”). Abruzzo’s problem-solving approach has now been duly rewarded with a promotion…
Read More “No More “Acting” for Abruzzo – Nominated as Secretary PA DEP”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | TerrAqua Resource Mgmt | Washington County | Wastewater

Hearing on Proposed TerrAqua Wastewater Recycling Facility in PA
September 23, 2013September 23, 2013

A potential new frack wastewater recycling/treatment plant is on the way in Washington County, PA. If it can get zoning approval from Smith Township. TerrAqua Resource Management has applied for a zoning variance that would it allow it to build a Marcellus Shale wastewater fluid recycling facility near the village of Bulger. The original application was turned down by Smith, but TerrAqua refiled for the variance.

No one (from TerrAqua nor the town) is talking about this new request ahead of a public hearing tonight…
Read More “Hearing on Proposed TerrAqua Wastewater Recycling Facility in PA”