Statewide PA

Commodity Price | Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | UGI Energy Services

SE PA Natgas Customers See Rates Drop 13.5% Thx to Marcellus
May 18, 2015May 18, 2015

Last winter in the northeast saw record-setting cold temperatures in many locations–particularly in Pennsylvania–and near-record demand for natural gas. That would normally mean the price of natural gas used to heat homes and power businesses would rise–significantly. Instead, if you’re among the 178,000 customers who live or work in one of 15 southeastern PA counties served by UGI Penn Natural Gas, your rates are about to go down–again. How much? By an average of 10.3% as of June 1st and another 3.2% on December 1st (total of 13.5% in 6 months). Why? Because UGI now sources ~90% of its natural gas from the cheap, abundant, clean-burning, homegrown, FRACKED Marcellus Shale. Even with record low temps and record high demand, your price just keeps dropping. UGI customers in other PA regions (northeast and central PA) are also seeing rates drop…
Read More “SE PA Natgas Customers See Rates Drop 13.5% Thx to Marcellus”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

StateImpact Targets Philly Mayoral Candidate for “Ties” to Marcellus
May 15, 2015May 15, 2015

The anti-drilling StateImpact Pennsylvania, an initiative of taxpayer-funded PBS, recently published an “expose” on the race for Philadelphia mayor and how fossil fuel companies–namely the Marcellus Shale industry–are corrupting the race with huge donations to candidates. We mean, it’s just so unbelievable that, well, we don’t believe it! Huge. Money corrupts. Bags and bags of money from those evil, nasty frackers meant to buy off the mayor’s race in the liberal bastion of Philly. It’s absolutely sinister. Oh. How much money is being donated by frackers? Because he’s a state senator, only one of the dozen or so running is required to file financial statements–State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams. So we have the best data on Tony. By the way, Tony’s wife Shari (a fine lady whom we are privileged to have as an acquaintance) works for the enemy–the Marcellus Shale Coalition. StateImpact hates the MSC and by extension, anyone associated with them. So StateImpact poured over the recent financial filing by Williams and this is the huge smoking gun they found…
Read More “StateImpact Targets Philly Mayoral Candidate for “Ties” to Marcellus”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA | Sunoco Logistics

West Goshen, PA Reversal: Votes to Approve Mariner East Pipeline
May 14, 2015May 14, 2015

One by one the remaining communities that were fighting Sunoco Logistics and the company’s plans to re-purpose the Mariner East pipeline to flow natural gas liquids is disappearing. Sunoco is working with communities individually to address their concerns and resolve the issue to the point that the company must be near to completing the Mariner East project. As evidence, it was only last fall that West Goshen Township (near Philadelphia) took Sunoco Logistics to court in an attempt to stop them (see West Goshen’s Legal Shenanigans Try to Block Mariner East Pipeline). Yesterday West Goshen officials voted to accept a settlement agreement with Sunoco Logistics. West Goshen didn’t get everything they wanted and Sunoco didn’t either. But the agreement is done and the pipeline, which is already in the ground in West Goshen, will receive some safety enhancements and become operational…
Read More “West Goshen, PA Reversal: Votes to Approve Mariner East Pipeline”
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Winners of $100K for 2015 Shale Gas Innovation Contest Announced
May 14, 2015May 14, 2015

A huge congratulations for the four winners of this year’s Annual Shale Gas Innovation Content, hosted by the Ben Franklin Shale Gas Innovation & Commercialization Center (SGICC). The four winners each received a check for $25,000 and bragging rights as being among the most innovative with products and/or services that are new, and make a difference in Marcellus and Utica Shale energy. The four winners are: Appalachian Drilling Services, EthosGen, Fairmont Brine Processing and PixController. Here’s the unique products/services each one provides…
Read More “Winners of $100K for 2015 Shale Gas Innovation Contest Announced”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Bradford County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA | Wastewater

Reversal: Media Discredits Penn State Water Contamination Study
May 13, 2015May 13, 2015

The mask has been ripped off fractivist liars peddling what they pretend is science–and it’s been ripped off by mainstream media outlets including the Associated Press, USA Today, the International Business Times and (yes) The New York Times. Let us explain. Last week MDN brought you a story about a new research study that was ostensibly authored by Penn State researchers which found, using “non-traditional” methods of research, that wastewater leaking from an above-ground impoundment had migrated up to a mile and a half away and had contaminated three private water wells in PA–five years ago (see Penn State Finds Chemical Migration in 3 PA Water Wells from 2010). We told you how mainstream media, including the AP, had gone wild with excitement, endlessly repeating the story with the implication this is the smoking gun. The so-called research paper was published in the peer reviewed journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences–a gold standard among academic journals. It seems one of the authors of that paper lied…
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Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA | Wastewater

USGS Research – Marcellus Wastewater from 13 PA Wells Tested
May 12, 2015May 12, 2015

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has just published a new research paper on the topic of produced water–the water that comes out of a drilled hole, drilled for an oil or gas well. The paper, titled “Organic and inorganic composition and microbiology of produced waters from Pennsylvania shale gas wells” was published in the journal Applied Geochemistry and looked at produced water samples from Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale wells. The weakness in the research is that it is based on water samples from only 13 wells. Quite frankly, the research (which we think pursues a worthwhile line of inquiry) raises more questions than it answers. What can we divine from this study? In our cursory review, it appears two things stand out: (1) Although the inorganic chemistry of the produced water was pretty consistent across all 13 wells, there were big differences in the organic geochemistry and microbiology (bacteria) from well to well; and (2) volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in only a few samples–just 4 of the 13 wells…
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Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Spectra Energy | Statewide PA

More Marcellus Gas for Philly: Texas Eastern Pipeline Expansion
May 11, 2015May 11, 2015

A new pipeline expansion project that will bring more cheap, abundant and wholesomely fracked Marcellus Shale gas to the Philadelphia, PA area was announced late last year by Spectra Energy–and somehow it escaped our notice! The Greater Philadelphia Expansion Project will not involve building any new greenfield pipeline but rather will expand (using larger diameter pipes and looping new pipes next to existing pipes) for the Texas Eastern pipeline that already serves the Philly area. Currently, the Texas Eastern pipeline delivers 550,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of natural gas into the greater Philadelphia region (roughly 550 million cubic feet per day). The expansion will add an additional 475,000 Dth/d (or 475 Mmcf/d)–nearly doubling capacity. The open season–the time when customers can officially sign contracts to reserve capacity–ended last Friday. No word yet on how that went. According to Spectra Energy, this is very early days yet in the life of this proposed project. Below we have more details about the project along with a map…
Read More “More Marcellus Gas for Philly: Texas Eastern Pipeline Expansion”
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…
Read More “DRBC Makes a Play to Slow/Block the Penn East Pipeline”
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 | 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”
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”
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”