Washington County

Carroll County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Greene County (PA) | Lycoming County | Marshall County | Monroe County | Ohio | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Southwestern Energy | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County

24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jun 16 – 22
June 27, 2025June 27, 2025

For the week of June 16 – 22, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica rose from the previous week. There were 24 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up six from 18 issued two weeks ago. The Keystone State (PA) issued 16 new permits. Olympus Energy received the most new permits, six, all of them in Westmoreland County (across two pads). Seneca Resources received five permits for one pad in Tioga County. Range Resources scored three permits for a single pad in Washington County. Read More “24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Jun 16 – 22”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Washington County

Cecil Twp Board Votes to Dismiss Challenge of 2,500-Ft Setback
June 23, 2025June 23, 2025

Cecil Township, Washington County, PA

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 to dismiss the challenge. You can be sure this isn’t the last we’ll hear of this issue. Read More “Cecil Twp Board Votes to Dismiss Challenge of 2,500-Ft Setback”
Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | BKV/Banpu | Butler County | Chesapeake Energy | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Greene County (PA) | Harrison County | Harrison County | Laurel Mountain Energy | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Repsol | Sullivan County | Susquehanna County | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Wyoming County (PA)

35 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 26 – Jun 1
June 6, 2025June 6, 2025

For the week of May 26 – Jun 1, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica increased significantly from the previous week. There were 35 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, up 11 from 24 two weeks ago. A whopping 27 new permits were issued in the Keystone State (PA) after issuing only four permits two weeks ago. EQT and its drilling subsidiary Rice Drilling received 10 permits, all of them in Greene County, spread across two pads. Spain-based Repsol received the second most permits, five, for a single pad in Tioga County. Read More “35 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 26 – Jun 1”
Antero Resources | Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Butler County | Carroll County | CNX Resources | Elk County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | Guernsey County | Marshall County | Ohio | PennEnergy Resources | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Tiburon Oil & Gas | Tioga County (PA) | Tyler County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia

31 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 12 – 18
May 23, 2025May 23, 2025

For the week of May 12 – 18, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica was up five from the previous week. Last week, 31 new permits were issued in the M-U. In the Keystone State (PA), seven new permits were issued. The top permittee was Range Resources, which was issued four permits in Washington County. Seneca Resources scored two permits in two different counties: Elk and Tioga. PennEnergy Resources received a single permit in Butler County. Read More “31 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 12 – 18”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Washington County

PA DEP Approves MarkWest Processing Plant Expansion in SWPA
May 19, 2025May 19, 2025

Last November, MDN brought you the great news that MPLX (aka MarkWest Energy) would file to build an expansion at its existing Harmon Creek facility in Smith Township, Washington County, PA (see MPLX to Build New Harmon Creek III Gas Processing in PA Marcellus). MPLX wants to add a 300 MMcf/d (million cubic feet per day) processing plant and 40,000 bbls/d (barrels per day) de-ethanizer to the facility. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced via last Saturday’s PA Bulletin that it has issued the necessary air permit for the project. Read More “PA DEP Approves MarkWest Processing Plant Expansion in SWPA”
Ascent Resources | Belmont County | Butler County | Carroll County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Expand Energy | Harrison County | Jefferson County (OH) | Lycoming County | Ohio | PennEnergy Resources | Pennsylvania | Seneca Resources | Southwestern Energy | Susquehanna County | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits

22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 27 – May 4
May 12, 2025May 12, 2025

For the week of April 28 – May 4, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica was down two from the previous week. Last week, 22 new permits were issued in the M-U. In the Keystone State (PA), 10 new permits were issued. The top permittee was NFG’s Seneca Resources, which had four permits in Tioga County. PennEnergy Resource received two permits in Butler County. Expand Energy (SWN) received two permits in Lycoming County. Finally, both Coterra Energy and EQT (Rice Drilling) received a single permit, in Susquehanna and Washington counties, respectively. Read More “22 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 27 – May 4”
CNX Resources | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Washington County

CNX Expands Partnership with Gov. Shapiro to Monitor More Wells
May 12, 2025May 12, 2025

In November 2023, CNX Resources CEO Nick DeIuliis signed a voluntary deal with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to expand drilling setbacks and several other regulatory steps not mandated for shale drillers under PA law (see CNX Signs Deal with PA Gov. to Increase Setbacks, Other Changes). Over the past year-and-a-half, CNX has delivered on its promises to Shapiro and has, as it claims, been “radically transparent.” That transparency is about to grow. Last week, CNX and Shapiro announced they will expand the partnership by monitoring the air quality in and around a future drilling site in Washington County. Read More “CNX Expands Partnership with Gov. Shapiro to Monitor More Wells”
Arsenal Resources | Beaver County | Carroll County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Harrison County | Ohio | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Susquehanna County | Tuscarawas County | Washington County | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County

24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 21 – 27
May 2, 2025

For the week of April 21 – 27, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica was down nine from the previous week. Last week, 24 new permits were issued in the M-U. In the Keystone State (PA), 17 new permits were issued. Both Coterra Energy in the northeastern part of the state and EQT Corporation in the southwestern corner received six permits each. Coterra’s permits were all issued for the same pad. EQT received five permits for a single pad in Greene County, and one permit for a pad in Washington County. Range Resources received four permits for a single pad in Beaver County, and Olympus Energy scored one permit in Westmoreland County. Read More “24 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 21 – 27”
Allegheny County | Ascent Resources | Carroll County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Fayette County | Greene County (PA) | Jefferson County (OH) | Lycoming County | Noble County | Ohio | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania General Energy | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits

33 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 14 – 20
April 25, 2025April 25, 2025

Last week was another strong week for new permits issued to drill new shale wells in the Marcellus/Utica. For the week of April 14 – 20, the number of permits was down three from the previous week, but still very strong. Last week, 33 new permits were issued in the M-U. In the Keystone State (PA), 25 new permits were issued, a dramatic increase from five two weeks ago. The top permittee was Range Resources, with 10 permits, half of which were in Allegheny County and the other half in Washington County. Seneca Resources received six permits, all of which were in Tioga County. EQT and its subsidiary Rice Drilling also scored six permits, with four in Fayette County and two in Greene County. PA General Energy got two permits in Lycoming County, and Olympus Energy received one permit in Allegheny County. Read More “33 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Apr 14 – 20”
Belmont County | Bradford County | Carroll County | Chesapeake Energy | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | Greylock Energy | Guernsey County | INR/Infinity Natural Resources | Lycoming County | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Potter County | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Southwestern Energy | Susquehanna County | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Weekly Permits

21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 31 – Apr 6
April 11, 2025April 11, 2025

For the week of Mar 31 – Apr 6, the number of permits issued in the Marcellus/Utica to drill new shale wells increased by two from the previous week. Last week, 21 new permits were issued, with 12 going to the Keystone State (PA). Expand Energy, via its merged companies Chesapeake Energy and Southwestern Energy, scored five permits, with three permits for Southwestern in Susquehanna County and two for Chesapeake in Bradford County. Greylock Energy received three permits for drilling in Potter County. Range Resources also received three permits to drill wells in Lycoming and Washington counties. Read More “21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 31 – Apr 6”
Electrical Generation | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

How the Proposed Liberty/Range Gas-Power Plant in Pa. is Different
April 10, 2025April 10, 2025

Yesterday, MDN told you about a newly announced data center (and gas-fired power plant) coming to Washington County, PA (see Another Data Center Announced for SWPA; Range to Provide NatGas). Liberty Energy Inc., Imperial Land Corporation, and Range Resources announced a strategic alliance to support the development of a state-of-the-art gas-fired power plant and data center within the Fort Cherry Development District in Robinson Township. The size of the power plant will depend on the demand for data center space. There’s something far different about this facility than other recently announced data center/power plant combos. Read More “How the Proposed Liberty/Range Gas-Power Plant in Pa. is Different”
Electrical Generation | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Another Data Center Announced for SWPA; Range to Provide NatGas
April 9, 2025April 9, 2025

History is being made. Last week, MDN brought you the exciting news that THE largest gas-fired power plant in the country, along with a MASSIVE data center complex, will be built at a former coal-fired power plant site in Indiana County, PA (see Largest Gas-Fired Power Plant in the U.S. Coming in Western Pa.). The site will be transformed into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, complete with a 4.5 gigawatt Marcellus-fired power plant. It was the first announced new gas-fired power plant in PA since the 1,000-megawatt Hickory Run Energy Center built at a former manufacturing site in New Castle (Lawrence County), PA, went online in 2020. And now, a second announced new data center with gas-fired power is coming to western PA. Read More “Another Data Center Announced for SWPA; Range to Provide NatGas”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Washington County | Westmoreland County

Massive 3 GW SWPA Gas-Fired AI/Data Center Builder to Speak at Conf
April 9, 2025April 9, 2025

MDN has written numerous posts about AI (artificial intelligence) and the data centers that provide the computing power AI requires. Why? AI data centers use enormous amounts of electricity, most of which is generated by natural gas-fired power plants. Some 25% of all the data centers currently operating in the country are located in northern Virginia, where they use Marcellus/Utica molecules. The entire data center sector is experiencing massive growth—much of it in the M-U. We previously told you about a must-attend event, the Appalachian AI Energy Conference, scheduled for May 21, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh in Southpointe. Now comes word that the builder of a previously announced data center project in Westmoreland County, TECfusions Keystone Connect, will speak at the AI Energy Conference in May. Read More “Massive 3 GW SWPA Gas-Fired AI/Data Center Builder to Speak at Conf”
Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

DOI Sec. Doug Burgum Impressed with Marcellus Drilling Prowess
April 7, 2025April 7, 2025

On Friday, MDN reported that on the previous day (Thursday), Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum joined the CEOs of Range Resources and EQT Corporation and the President of Halliburton’s Western Hemisphere operations at a rally in Washington, PA, to cheerlead and promote the announcement about the country’s largest natural gas-fired power plant to be built in western Pennsylvania (see Pa. Rally with Trump Official, Range & EQT CEOs re $10B Data Center). Little did we know, but there was a “rest of the story.” Following the rally, Burgum toured Range Resources Corp.’s Schwotzer Arthur pad in Buffalo Township, about 10 miles from the rally. Burgum was blown away by the technology being used. Read More “DOI Sec. Doug Burgum Impressed with Marcellus Drilling Prowess”
Electrical Generation | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EQT Corp | Halliburton | Indiana County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County

Pa. Rally with Trump Official, Range & EQT CEOs re $10B Data Center
April 4, 2025April 7, 2025

Doug Burgum, Secretary of Interior

Yesterday, MDN brought you the exciting news that THE largest gas-fired power plant in the country, along with a MASSIVE data center complex, will be built at a former coal-fired power plant site in Indiana County, PA (see Largest Gas-Fired Power Plant in the U.S. Coming in Western Pa.). The site will be transformed into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, complete with a 4.5 gigawatt Marcellus-fired power plant. A day after the announcement (yesterday), the Secretary of Interior and Chairman of Trump’s newly-created National Energy Dominance Council, along with the CEOs of Range Resources and EQT Corporation, held a rally in Washington County, PA, to celebrate the Homer City power plant/data center project.

UPDATE: We have a video of the rally embedded below.

Read More “Pa. Rally with Trump Official, Range & EQT CEOs re $10B Data Center”
Chevron | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Washington County

EHB Denies EQT Motion to Exclude Medical Evidence in PFAS Case
April 3, 2025April 3, 2025

A Washington County, PA, man and his anti-fossil fuel lawyer won a victory with the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board (EHB), a special court in PA set up to hear appeals of Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) decisions. The man, Bryan Latkanich, alleges Chevron used PFAS “forever chemicals” in fracking fluids in 2011-2012 when Chevron drilled two wells some 500 feet from his home. Latkanich claims his water well was damaged, as well as his health and the health of family members who drank the “contaminated” water. EQT now owns the wells. Read More “EHB Denies EQT Motion to Exclude Medical Evidence in PFAS Case”