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… Read More “PA DEP Dings EQT for “Abandoning” Shale Well in Washington County”
It hardly seems worthy of a post to update you on new permits to drill in the Marcellus/Utica when just one permit was issued. We suppose there may be a lag at the various environmental agencies that issue permits, but maybe not. The sole permit issued last week was in Washington County, PA, to Rice Drilling (aka EQT). The details of that well are in the report below. We will re-run our permit search next week to see if any additional permits appear for last week, Dec. 29 through Jan. 4. Read More “M-U Issues Just One New Permit Last Week, Dec 29 – Jan 4”
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. Read More “Range Well Suffers Casing Failure/Loss of Control During Fracking”
The combined number of new permits issued to drill shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region was 26 for the week of Dec. 22 – 28, more than double the 12 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 15 new permits, Ohio issued 6, and West Virginia issued 5. Among the companies receiving new permits were Antero, EOG, EQT, Hilcorp, INR, and Range Resources. Read More “26 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Dec 22 – 28”
You knew the number of new permits issued in the M-U would come back down to earth sooner or later. Last week it happened. After three consecutive weeks with numbers of 37, 39, and 37, the number of new permits issued fell to 24 last week. Still respectable, but not in the coveted 30s. Pennsylvania issued 16 new permits last week, up from 13 the prior week. Ohio issued 6 new permits, down from 8 the prior week. West Virginia was shut out, issuing no new permits last week, which was the main reason why the number fell precipitously. Read More “24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Nov 3 – 9”
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. Read More “EQT Option to Buy 400-Acre Former Steel Plant Site on Mon River”
For the week of October 13 – 19, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased significantly from the previous week. There were 37 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up dramatically from the 7 issued two weeks ago. We can’t remember the last time we saw 37 (or more) permits issued. It’s been a looong time (months, at least). Pennsylvania issued 19 new permits. Ohio issued 13 permits. And West Virginia, which had been skunked with no new permits for three consecutive weeks, finally woke up last week (it’s woke!), issuing 5 new permits. Read More “37 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 13 – 19”
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. Read More “CNX Shops Land Over Former Coal Mine in SWPA for AI Data Center”
For the week of October 6 – 12, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica dropped significantly from the previous week. There were only seven new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, down from 32 issued two weeks ago. The bottom fell out of the new permits issued. In fact, only one state, Pennsylvania, issued new permits last week. Both Ohio and West Virginia issued no new permits. Last week marked the third consecutive week with no new permits issued in WV. Is someone asleep at the switch in the Mountain State? Read More “7 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Oct 6 – 12”
For the week of September 29 to October 5, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased from the previous week. There were 32 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up five from 27 issued two weeks ago. Last week, Pennsylvania issued 27 drilling permits across six counties—the highest weekly total the state has recorded in months, possibly even over a year. Ohio issued five permits in two counties. West Virginia was skunked last week, issuing no new permits for the second consecutive week. What’s up with WV? Read More “32 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 29 – Oct 5”
For the week of September 22 – 29, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased from the previous week. There were 27 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up three from 24 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 18 permits in four counties. Ohio issued nine permits, also in four counties. West Virginia got skunked last week, issuing zero new permits. Read More “27 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 22 – 28”
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. Read More “PA DEP Seeks Paperwork on “Dump Lines” at EQT Well Sites”
For the week of September 15 – 21, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica decreased from the previous week, but not by much. There were 24 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, down from 26 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania finally improved a bit, but only because of one driller. PA issued 11 new permits last week, with 10 of the 11 going to Range Resources. Range’s permits were spread across three counties, with one permit in Allegheny, five in Beaver, and four in Washington. The other PA permit went to Beech Resources for a well in Lycoming County. Read More “24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 15 – 21”
For the week of September 1 – 7, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica decreased from the previous week. There were 11 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, down from 19 issued two weeks ago (and way down from 30 issued three weeks ago). Pennsylvania issued just three new permits, with one each going to Expand Energy, EQT Corporation, and Range Resources in Bradford, Greene, and Washington counties, respectively. Read More “11 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 1 – 7”
For the week of July 28 – August 3, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica more than doubled from the previous week. There were 34 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, 20 more than the 14 issued two weeks ago. The Keystone State (PA) issued 15 new permits. Both EQT and Range Resources received six permits each for single well pads in Westmoreland and Washington counties, respectively. Expand Energy received three permits for a pad in Bradford County. Read More “34 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jul 28 – Aug 3”
Last November, three of five supervisors in Cecil Township (Washington County), PA, voted to ban all new fracking in the town via a new setback (distance from well to nearest structure) requirement of 2,500 feet (see Cecil Twp Supervisors Pull the Trigger on Frack Ban Via Setbacks). We said at the time, “Let the lawsuits begin.” And so they did. Range Resources, the only driller in Cecil Township with wells or permits to drill, filed a “Substantive Validity Challenge” to the ordinance that the Township Zoning Hearing Board heard. The Hearing Board voted 2-0 in June to dismiss the challenge, leaving the 2,500-foot setback requirement in place (see Cecil Twp Board Votes to Dismiss Challenge of 2,500-Ft Setback). Range recently appealed the dismissal to the Washington County Court of Common Pleas. Read More “Range Appeals Cecil Township Frack-Ban-by-Setback to County Court”