Statewide PA

Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

Officials Ask PA Supreme Court to Hurry Up with Act 13 Case
July 31, 2012July 31, 2012

A court filing by state officials yesterday—including the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, the Attorney General and the Dept. of Environmental Protection—asks the PA Supreme Court to expedite an appeal of the Act 13 zoning case. Last week the appellate court in PA ruled against the state’s new Act 13 law zoning provisions (see this MDN story). According to Gov. Tom Corbett, without the zoning portions of Act 13, the new law will be gutted.

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Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA

The Shift from Dry to Wet Gas Continues
July 30, 2012July 30, 2012

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has a story in today’s edition on the recurring theme that dry gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale is slowing down in Pennsylvania and is shifting to wet gas drilling in the Utica Shale in eastern Ohio and southwestern PA.

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Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA Gov. Corbett Appeals Act 13 Zoning Case to Supreme Court
July 30, 2012July 30, 2012

Last week the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, the “appellate” court in PA, ruled in favor of seven towns who had sued the state over the zoning portion of the newly enacted Act 13 drilling law (see this MDN story). At the time Gov. Tom Corbett said he would appeal the decision and he has made good on his word. The case now heads to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

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Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA Court Overturns Zoning Section of Act 13 Drilling Law
July 27, 2012July 27, 2012

The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (the appellate court in PA) yesterday issued ruling on the zoning portion of the newly enacted Act 13 drilling law—and they ruled it unconstitutional. A full copy of the court’s opinion and ruling is embedded below. This is round two in the court fight. Round three, an appeal to the PA Supreme Court, will almost certainly come from Gov. Tom Corbett (he has as much as promised it).

MDN will give our overview of what the court decided, and of the dissenting opinion. But one thing caught our eye right away. MDN has made the argument several times that the Delaware Riverkeeper Network has no standing to be part of the lawsuit against the state and against Act 13 (see this MDN story). The good news with yesterday’s decision is that the justices tossed the Delaware Riverkeeper Network from the lawsuit, saying (as MDN has all along) they have no standing to participate and bring the suit in the first place. It’s a small and symbolic victory for those of us who support drilling, but a victory nonetheless.

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Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Landfills | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Marcellus Well Pad Liners Get Recycled
July 26, 2012July 26, 2012

Every Marcellus Shale well drilled has a heavy-duty plastic liner. When the well is finished being drilled, that plastic liner is usually disposed in a landfill. An interesting new joint venture between two Pennsylvania companies, WellSpring Environmental Services and Ultra-Poly Corporation, aims to recycle those pad liners. According to the companies, they will remove 20 million pounds of plastic well pad liner each year from the waste stream and ultimately turn it into products like composite railroad ties and building materials. The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection has already granted the two companies their blessing (and permission) for the plan.

Once again capitalism and the free market (not government regulation) solves the problem. From the WellSpring news release:

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Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PA Marcellus Creates 238,000 Jobs – So Far
July 25, 2012July 25, 2012

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry keeps track of jobs and job growth in the Commonwealth. And according to their latest jobs report, direct jobs in the Marcellus Shale went up by 18,000 jobs over the past four years (159%). The report also says total employment related (generated by) shale gas drilling in the state has grown a whopping 238,000 jobs since 2008.

So all those articles and letters to the editor that have cropped up lately questioning whether the shale industry actually creates jobs are nothing but hot air? Yeah.

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Air Quality | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PA DEP Announces 1 Year Study on Air Quality in Marcellus
July 24, 2012July 23, 2012

Yesterday the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced a one-year study that will look at impacts on air quality from Marcellus drilling and the infrastructure (pipelines and compressor plants) that comes with shale gas drilling. The study will focus on Washington County in western PA, primarily in and around Chartiers Township, home of a gas processing plant.

The DEP plans to use this initial study and its results to guide them on whether, and where, to conduct other air quality studies.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA

US Chamber Launches PR Initiative to Support Shale Drilling
July 20, 2012July 20, 2012

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week launched a major new initiative—a public relations campaign—to support shale gas drilling, particularly in the Utica and Marcellus Shale. The Chamber rolled out their “Shale Works for US” campaign on Tuesday in Ohio, and yesterday (Thursday) in Pennsylvania. According to the press release (see below), the campaign’s purpose is to “build support for the vast economic and energy security benefits of natural gas and oil produced from shale.” The chief driver of the new PR effort is the Chamber’s Institute for 21st Century Energy—the energy policy “arm” of the Chamber.

The Chamber is touting the massive number of jobs being created by the shale energy industry—rightfully so. The real shame? That such an effort is even needed. It should be obvious shale jobs are good jobs and the shale drilling industry a good industry. It’s sad but true that organizations like the Chamber have to spend massive amounts of money to counter the constant drumbeat of mainstream media against clean and safe natural gas. Go figure.

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Energy Services | GES | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Tom Ridge Forms Alliance with GES to Promote Marcellus
July 19, 2012July 19, 2012

Former PA Gov. Tom Ridge heads his own consulting service called Ridge Policy Group, specializing in “government relations” and “issue management.” Ridge was heavily involved in the past with the Marcellus Shale Coalition—he was their public spokesperson for a year, a contract which ended in 2011.

Ridge has found a new Marcellus client, forming a “strategic alliance” with Groundwater & Environmental Services (GES), a company involved with drilling-related issues. MDN gathers from the press release gobbledygook (below) that Ridge will use his extensive rolodex to make business connections in the industry (and in government) for GES, and help out with public relations, raising the visibility of GES. Which is why you hire a famous ex-governor. 🙂

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Energy Companies | Penn Virginia Corporation | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Penn Virginia Sells Appalachian Drilling, Closes Office
July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

Penn Virginia announced today it’s selling off all of its Appalachian drilling operations—except for its Marcellus Shale drilling operations—for $100 million. They are also closing their Canonsburg, PA regional office. Why the sale? They want to get out of debt and plow the proceeds into drilling in the Marcellus and in the oily parts of the Eagle Ford Shale play.

Reading between the lines it sounds like a move away from dry gas and toward wet gas areas.

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Chemung County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

SRBC Restricts Fracking Water Withdrawals in 64 Locations
July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC), charged with overseeing the rivers and streams that flow into the Susquehanna River, which in turn runs all the way to the Chesapeake Bay, is responsible for issuing permits in their jurisdiction that allow Marcellus Shale drillers to withdraw water for use in hydraulic fracturing. The SRBC takes its job seriously and closely monitors streamflow levels. When the levels get too low due to drought conditions, the water withdrawals stop.

Such was the case yesterday when the SRBC suspended water withdrawals for 64 companies—the vast majority related the shale industry. That’s the most withdrawal restrictions issued by the SRBC since they started permitting for shale water withdrawals in 2008. (The full list, detailed by driller and county, is embedded below).

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Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PA Companies Expanding Because of the Marcellus
July 17, 2012July 17, 2012

Many small and medium-sized businesses are looking to become suppliers to the Marcellus and Utica Shale drilling industry—in business it’s called becoming part of the “supply chain.” One of the organizations dedicated to making that happen is the Pittsburgh-based Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), headed by Kathryn “Katie” Klaber. MSC recently released supply chain recommended practices for businesses who want to participate (see this page on the MSC website).

As part of their supply chain initiative, MSC released a list of business testimonials—short descriptions and statements from companies that participate in the Marcellus Shale supply chain—how they participate and how it’s led to an expansion of revenue and jobs. The companies on this short list have collectively invested and generated hundreds of millions of dollars for the PA economy, and produced thousands of jobs. Their stories are embedded below.

On the list are engineering firms, consultants, manufacturers, law firms and more. Perhaps this list, and the success stories from these companies, will spark ideas for your company and how you can plug in to the Mighty Marcellus supply chain.

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Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Trend Toward Wet Gas Drilling Continues: Rig Count Data
July 16, 2012July 16, 2012

Yet more evidence that Marcellus and Utica Shale gas drilling is migrating from Pennsylvania to Ohio and West Virginia—away from dry gas areas toward wet gas areas. The number of drilling rigs, as tracked by Baker Hughes, tell the story:

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Caiman Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Williams

Williams Does Second Midstream Deal with Caiman Energy
July 11, 2012December 19, 2012

Midstream giant Williams Partners continues an aggressive push into the Marcellus and Utica Shale and continues to cozy up with Caiman Energy as well. Yesterday Williams announced it will contribute $380 million toward a new $800 million joint venture with Caiman and several other partners to develop pipelines and processing facilities for natural gas, natural gas liquids and oil in the Utica Shale region of northeast Ohio and northwest Pennsylvania.

Earlier this year Williams spent $2.5 billion to purchase Caiman subsidiary Caiman Eastern Midstream, giving Williams a major midstream presence in the Marcellus/Utica region in northern West Virginia, southwestern Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio (see this MDN story). The recurring theme for Williams’ latest jv and acquisitions seems to be, “Get thee to the wet gas.”

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Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | NiSource | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Statewide PA

NiSource, Hilcorp Energy Joint Venture in Utica Shale
July 9, 2012December 19, 2012

NiSource Inc. announced today they are entering a joint venture with Hilcorp Energy and combining their Utica Shale acreage together with Hilcorp doing the drilling. They’re also establishing a midstream joint venture called Pennant Midstream to construct an initial 50 miles of wet gas gathering pipelines in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. And the new midstream company will build a natural gas processing complex in Ohio.

No word on exactly how much acreage the combined two have together in the Utica Shale, but the jv plus the new pipelines and processing plant is a major development for both eastern OH and western PA.

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Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Will There be Marcellus Drilling in PA State Parks?
July 9, 2012December 19, 2012

So far there has been no Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania’s 61 state parks that sit over top of the Marcellus (out of 120 state parks total). But that may soon change because the state doesn’t own the mineral rights for most of its parks.

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