21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 5 – 11
A return to normalcy last week for permits issued to drill new shale wells in the Marcellus/Utica. Two weeks ago, we reported that just one new permit was issued (see M-U Issues Just One New Permit Last Week, Dec 29 – Jan 4). As promised, we double-checked to be sure there wasn’t a lag in posting permits by the various environmental agencies. There were no new permits (except the one) for two weeks ago. As for last week, Jan. 5 – 11, Pennsylvania issued 12 new permits, Ohio issued 2, and West Virginia issued 7. Among the drillers receiving new permits last week: Antero, Ascent, CNX, EQT, HG Energy, Repsol, and Seneca Resources. Read More “21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jan 5 – 11”

We spotted a short article alleging EQT has “abandoned” a shale well in Washington County, PA, and thought it would be a good opportunity to (once again) discuss the misnomer of “abandoned” oil and gas wells in Pennsylvania. Let’s begin with the news as reported…
On December 17, 2025, a casing failure and loss of well control occurred at one of three wells during fracking operations at a Range Resources pad in Washington County, PA. After gas pressure spiked to 2,000 psi, the company stabilized the well and later installed two kill plugs. Despite Range sending an immediate email notification, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited Range for failing to use the required website portal for instant alerts. Additionally, the company missed deadlines for a mandatory Area of Review report regarding potential “communication” with other O&G wells and/or water wells in the area.
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.
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.
On July 3, 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an order to EQT asking the company to produce records as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation into the release of up to an estimated 940,000 gallons of wastewater at the Brova shale gas well pad in North Bethlehem Township, Washington County, and similar failures at six other EQT well pads. The issue revolves around the use of “dump lines” at well pads. EQT states that the DEP’s request for reviewing physical paperwork is onerous, and the agency lacks the authority to regulate dump lines anyway. The DEP wants to ensure that another dump line issue (spilling of wastewater) doesn’t happen.