Washington County

Allegheny County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Noble Energy | Pennsylvania | Washington County

Noble Energy’s Huge Vote of Confidence in the Marcellus
March 12, 2014March 12, 2014

Noble Energy has big plans for the Marcellus. Yesterday the company confirmed they will be new tenants in a huge new office building going up in the Southpointe business park near Pittsburgh. The new building being built by Horizon Properties will be 208,000 square feet, of which Noble is leasing 138,000 square feet. Noble’s president & CEO David Stover says the Marcellus is “the premiere gas play in the United States,” and the Marcellus figures prominently in Noble’s future plans.

Noble plans to employ 200 people in the new facility by the end of this year, and eventually–400-450 people at the facility. PA welcomes Noble to the Marcellus!…
Read More “Noble Energy’s Huge Vote of Confidence in the Marcellus”
Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Rice Energy | Washington County

Rice Energy’s Washington, PA Town Meeting – 700 Turn Out
March 10, 2014March 10, 2014

Rice Energy and its CEO Toby Rice held a town meeting at the Bentworth High School gymnasium last Thursday evening. About 700 Washington County, PA residents showed up for the meeting which was, by all accounts, “well-mannered” and cordial–with no anti-drilling hecklers present (a minor miracle). Rice said the company will hold such meetings every six months to stay in touch with area residents and the landowners with whom they do business. Rice Energy recently went public, garnering even more money than they had hoped (see Rice Energy IPO Soars, Brings in $84M More Than Expected). The company is headquartered near Pittsburgh and is mostly focused on the Marcellus Shale. According to Toby Rice, drillers (like Rice) may turn to drilling Utica wells in the area, but only after exhausting their Marcellus options first.

Here’ more of what Toby said last week at the Bentworth High School…
Read More “Rice Energy’s Washington, PA Town Meeting – 700 Turn Out”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Washington County

Mt. Pleasant, PA Continues to Ride Range Over Water Ponds
March 5, 2014March 5, 2014

As we told you last week, when PA towns make up their own zoning laws for oil and gas drilling, chaos and confusion reigns, as is the case in Mt. Pleasant (Washington County), PA (see Mt Pleasant Twp Shenanigans re Range Request for Water Ponds). Mt. Pleasant, one of seven townships that successfully sued the state to overturn Act 13 effectively screwing every municipality in the state out of millions of dollars of impact fee money, continues their snit fit over Range using a few water ponds to drill new shale wells in non-Mt. Pleasant locations.

The board voted to uphold their zoning violations of four such ponds so Range has filed yet another lawsuit hoping they can find an impartial judge to set the matter straight. Here’s the latest…
Read More “Mt. Pleasant, PA Continues to Ride Range Over Water Ponds”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Washington County

Mt Pleasant Twp Shenanigans re Range Request for Water Ponds
February 28, 2014February 28, 2014

This is what happens when local townships create their own oil and gas zoning laws: chaos and confusion. Like that in Mt. Pleasant (Washington County), PA over water impoundments (ponds) that Range Resources wants to use for drilling in nearby townships. Mt. Pleasant was one of seven infamous anti-drilling townships that sued the state (and eventually won) to overturn the Act 13 law, a law that provided for expert, even-handed and uniform zoning practices throughout the state with regard to oil and gas drilling (see Happy Story Ends Badly Because of 7 PA Towns). What’s left in the wake of overturning Act 13 is petty squabbling by town boards ill-equipped to handle complex oil and gas oversight–i.e., Mt. Pleasant.

We’ve chronicled the long history of Range’s ongoing disagreement with Mt. Pleasant over water impoundments (see previous MDN stories on Range & Mt. Pleasant). The latest Mt. Pleasant town board shenanigan is to impose yet another delay:
Read More “Mt Pleasant Twp Shenanigans re Range Request for Water Ponds”
Bradford County | Chesapeake Energy | Citrus | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Susquehanna County | Washington County

PA Gas Production #s Released: Top 10 Wells, Top 5 Counties & More!
February 19, 2014February 19, 2014

Pennsylvania released their second half 2013 production numbers yesterday and man oh man is it another sizzling hot report. Another 700 horizontal (mostly Marcellus) shale wells were brought online in the second half of 2013 in PA which brings the number of horizontal wells with reported production to 5,074. And, in what we believe is a first, Susquehanna County has displaced Bradford County as having the most production during a 6-month reporting period.

Not surprisingly Cabot Oil & Gas and their prolific wells in Susquehanna County top the list as most productive. Get this, when you look at average daily production by wells, Cabot has the top 13 most productive wells in the state for 2H13–all top 13 spots. When you expand it out, they have 17 of the top 20 spots, and 34 of the top 50 spots. Truly astonishing.

Below we have a few lists for you: Top 10 All Time Producing Wells in PA, Top 10 Wells by Production per Day, and the amount of gas produced by the top 5 counties in PA…
Read More “PA Gas Production #s Released: Top 10 Wells, Top 5 Counties & More!”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | Greene County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | M3 Midstream | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Rice Energy | Washington County

Rice Energy Picks Up Pipelines in SWPA in Deal with M3 for $110M
February 13, 2014February 13, 2014

Rice Energy, one of our favorite newer drilling companies, announced yesterday they’ve put some of that IPO money to good use (see Rice Energy IPO Soars, Brings in $84M More Than Expected). Rice has purchased a 28-mile pipeline gathering system already up and running in Washington County, PA from M3 Midstream for $110 million cash on the barrel head. The deal also includes rights of way to build more gathering pipelines in both Washington and Greene counties. Rice Energy owns leases and is conducting active drilling in both counties.

The Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook, Vol. 3 (just out) shows Rice with 28 unique well location permits in Washington County, PA for the last four months of 2013, and 9 unique well location permits in Greene County (via Alpha Shale Resources, which Rice recently picked up in a deal with Alpha Natural Resources). Makes perfect sense Rice would want to buy the pipelines that connect to their wells and get a piece of the midstream action in the white hot Marcellus region of SWPA. Here’s yesterday’s announcement:
Read More “Rice Energy Picks Up Pipelines in SWPA in Deal with M3 for $110M”
Housing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Washington County

Marcellus Prejudice on Display at Washington, PA Church
February 7, 2014February 7, 2014

This is interesting, and sad, and maddening: A developer purchased a run-down, abandoned convent in downtown Washington, PA (for $11K) with plans to invest $300,000 to fix it up and put business offices in it. Or perhaps (this is the rumor) turn it into temporary housing for Marcellus Shale workers. That “M” word–that’s all it took. The pastor at the church across the street, Immaculate Conception, is against it. So too is the local town councilman. Their fear? Those disgusting, low-life “transient” workers will (don’t laugh) bring down the neighborhood. It won’t be safe to (don’t laugh) walk around at night. Because, you know, (whispering)…transients. Better to keep the old convent, a bombed-out looking eyesore, in downtown rather than have transients lurking about.

Now if the developer was wise he would have said something about housing “undocumented workers” (i.e. illegal aliens) at the convent. That would magically make the project A-OK. Here’s the interesting/sad/maddening story:
Read More “Marcellus Prejudice on Display at Washington, PA Church”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Regulation | Sunoco Logistics | Washington County

PA Judge Hears Mariner East NGL Pipeline Eminent Domain Case
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

Sunoco Logistics–and for that matter, MarkWest–have a lot riding on a single court case in Washington County, PA. It might be a bit melodramatic to say the future of the Mariner East NGL (natural gas liquids) pipeline hangs in the balance, but it certainly is not inaccurate to say the case could cause an extended delay–if it goes the “wrong” way (for Sunoco). What’s the case about?

Sunoco’s Mariner East “refined products” pipeline spans the entire state of Pennsylvania. In order to connect to that pipeline to ship propane and ethane to the Marcus Hook refinery near Philadelphia, Sunoco first has to build a 50-mile feeder pipeline from the MarkWest processing plant in Houston (Chartiers Township) to Delmont (see the Sunoco map below). The problem is, a group of landowners in Washington County won’t play ball and lease their land to Sunoco to bury the pipeline. Sunoco got tired of negotiating with the recalcitrant landowners, and changed tactics to declare it (Sunoco) has eminent domain power under PA state authority. They sue the 25 landowners for force them to allow the pipeline. The landowners sued back arguing the 50-mile pipeline should come under federal, not state, authority. One of the 25 cases is being used as a proxy for the others and that case was just argued yesterday before a PA judge. A decision, according to the judge, will be “prompt”…
Read More “PA Judge Hears Mariner East NGL Pipeline Eminent Domain Case”
Crime | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Washington County

Warning: Marcellus Welders in PA Targets of Copper/Tool Theft
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

Welders in the Marcellus Shale should be on the lookout–especially in western PA. There’s been a recent rash of thefts of welder’s tools and supplies–particularly copper welding cable. The thieves are bold–really bold. Sometimes a welding truck is targeted for theft while the guys are inside a restaurant having lunch!

Here’s the sad, and maddening, story:
Read More “Warning: Marcellus Welders in PA Targets of Copper/Tool Theft”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Washington County

Mt. Pleasant Zoning Bd Says Range Water Impoundments in Violation
January 15, 2014January 15, 2014

Starting last August, Range Resources has been in a battle with the board of supervisors for Mt. Pleasant Township in Washington County, PA. The issue, the bone of contention, has been four water impoundments–three of which are for fresh water, essentially ponds (see Range Resources Argues with Mt Pleasant over Water Impoundment). The impoundments were originally used to drill nearby Marcellus Shale wells, several years ago. Since then, Range has continued using them, but now uses them to drill wells that are not nearby, in Mt. Pleasant Township. And the supervisors object.

In December it appeared there was a sliver of good news when the township said Range could proceed with converting one of the impoundments to an above ground enclosed tank impoundment for recycled waste water, subject to certain terms and conditions (see Range Strikes Deal with Mt Pleasant for 1 of 4 Water Impoundments). It now seems that was a bit too optimistic. On Monday the Mt. Pleasant Zoning Hearing Board (different group of people from the board of supervisors) voted unanimously to uphold notices of violation issued by the township’s zoning officer against the four Range impoundments, so here we go again…
Read More “Mt. Pleasant Zoning Bd Says Range Water Impoundments in Violation”
Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Lease & Royalty Payments | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Deal Done to Lease Washington County, PA Airport for Drilling
January 10, 2014January 10, 2014

MDN told you yesterday about an impending vote by Washington County, PA commissioners to lease portions of the county airport for drilling under (but not on) airport property (see Washington County, PA Airport Considers Offer to Lease). The vote was taken, and the deal was approved. In the end, it looks as though the county, which does not own the mineral rights for all 400 acres of airport property, does own the rights to at least 135 acres, which they leased for a signing bonus of $6,400 per acre and 18.25% royalties on any gas produced.

The taxpayers of Washington County should be happy that a check for $864,000 of “newfound money” is heading their way…
Read More “Deal Done to Lease Washington County, PA Airport for Drilling”
Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Lease & Royalty Payments | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Washington County, PA Airport Considers Offer to Lease
January 9, 2014January 9, 2014

Washington County, PA commissioners will vote today on a proposed lease of the county’s airport property–to allow shale drilling under (but not on top of) the property. According to the deal offered, the county would receive $6,400 per acre as a signing bonus and 18.25% royalties on any gas produced. It’s unclear how much of the 360 airport-owned acres will generate revenue for the county because when the county purchased the property some landowners retained mineral rights. However, the deal, if signed, is sure to generate a boatload (or planeload) of money for Washington County.

Here’s more details about the proposed offer, and which drillers (plural) are cooperating to do the drilling…
Read More “Washington County, PA Airport Considers Offer to Lease”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County | Wastewater

Range Strikes Deal with Mt Pleasant for 1 of 4 Water Impoundments
December 23, 2013December 23, 2013

Finally a happy ending in the ongoing kerfuffle over the fate of our water impoundments (“ponds”) in Mt. Pleasant (Washington County), PA. For a long time now MDN has reported on the back and forth between Range Resources, who operates the impoundments, and the local town board over whether those impoundments can continue to operate now that the wells they were intended to support have been drilled. As recently as September the town was telling Range to stuff it (see Mt Pleasant Tells Range Resources “No Deal” on Water Impoundments).

However, after continuing negotiations, the two sides struck a deal last week for one of the four impoundments. At least it’s a start…
Read More “Range Strikes Deal with Mt Pleasant for 1 of 4 Water Impoundments”
Accidents | Energy Companies | Health Impacts | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Did Range Resources Cover-Up Spill at Well Site in PA?
December 13, 2013December 13, 2013

Here we go again. A lawsuit has been filed against Range Resources in Amwell Township (Washington County), PA by a group of neighbors close to the Yeager well drilled by Range with claims that they were “sickened” (no word on how) by drilling at the well site. The big news is that there was an alleged spill at the drill site in 2010 (three years ago!) and that the spill was “covered up” and not properly reported by Range. A juicy rumor like that is all PA Rep. Jesse “fake online ID” White needed to demand that state Attorney General Kathleen Kane (an anti-driller) and a host of other government officials should investigate this forthwith. Jesse, you may recall, was caught red-handed using fake online IDs to impersonate and slander his own pro-drilling constituents. He still hasn’t had the decency to resign and the Democrat Party in PA hasn’t had the decency to remove him from office. A new low in PA politics.

Here’s the rumor about a three year-old spill that may or may not have happened and the dreaded cover-up by the evil villain, ~~Snidely Whiplash~~ Range Resources (sarcasm intended):
Read More “Did Range Resources Cover-Up Spill at Well Site in PA?”
Air Quality | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Washington County

MarkWest Chartiers Twp Plant Sued for “Trespassing” on Air Space
December 12, 2013December 11, 2013

Two couples with the same last name and who both live near the MarkWest gas processing plant in Chartiers Township (Washington County), PA are suing MarkWest claiming the plant is causing air pollution and is “trespassing” on their air space. MDN has chronicled problems at the plant in the past (see MarkWest Served Violation Notice for Chartiers Processing Plant).

Both couples, with the last name Sethman, report a variety of physical ailments they claim are caused by air pollution from the plant…
Read More “MarkWest Chartiers Twp Plant Sued for “Trespassing” on Air Space”
Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Rice Energy | Washington County

Impending Rice Energy IPO Creating a Buzz
December 11, 2013December 11, 2013

MDN has known–well, suspected–since October that Rice Energy would soon be going public and that an initial public offering of stock (IPO) would value the company as much as $2.5 billion (see Rice Energy Rumored IPO – Dan Rice Gets Last Laugh). So when we reported yesterday that Alpha Natural Resources was selling its 50% joint venture stake to Rice for $300 million ($200 million of it in Rice stock when it goes public), we didn’t think much of it (see Alpha Natural Resources Sells 50% Marcellus Stake to Rice Energy).

Apparently not everyone knew about Rice going public and the news has hit like a thunderclap. Here’s an example, along with an estimate of when shares in the IPO will be offered:
Read More “Impending Rice Energy IPO Creating a Buzz”