Utica Shale

Eclipse Resources | Energy Companies | Utica Shale

Utica Driller Eclipse Resources Talking IPO in 2014
November 6, 2013November 6, 2013

MDN has written several stories in the past about a small but rapidly growing driller in the Utica Shale–Eclipse Resources. In June we told you that Eclipse, headquartered in State College, PA, bought out Oxford Oil, adding to their Utica acreage portfolio (see Eclipse Resources buys Oxford Oil, Adds Another 49K Utica Acres). Eclipse currently has over 90,000 acres leased in the Utica and another 20,000 acres leased in the Marcellus Shale–all of the acreage located in Ohio.

Seeing the very successful Antero Resources initial public stock offering (Antero’s market capitalization as of today is $14.35 billion!), Eclipse wants some of that IPO action too. CEO Benjamin Hulburt, no stranger to running oil & gas companies (he co-founded Rex Energy), says Eclipse is looking at an IPO in the middle of 2014…
Read More “Utica Driller Eclipse Resources Talking IPO in 2014”
Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Utica Shale

An Update on Utica Shale’s #2 Driller – Gulfport Energy
November 5, 2013

As Gulfport Energy gets ready to release its third quarter update today, GuruFocus provides a helpful overview of Gulfport’s recent drilling and production, particularly in the Utica Shale which is now Gulfport’s number one producing play. Gulfport is the #2 driller in the Utica behind Chesapeake Energy.

We found this interesting and thought you might too…
Read More “An Update on Utica Shale’s #2 Driller – Gulfport Energy”
Carrizo Oil & Gas | Energy Companies | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Utica Shale

Carrizo Down on Marcellus, Up on Utica and Other Wet/Oil Plays
November 5, 2013November 5, 2013

Carrizo Oil & Gas is a driller in both the Marcellus and Utica Shale, as well as several other non-northeast shale plays. Carrizo released their third quarter operations and financial update yesterday. Although Carrizo’s current drilling program is focused primarily in the Eagle Ford and the Niobrara, they continue to drill in the Marcellus (some). In 3Q13 Carrizo picked up an additional 5,900 net acres in the Utica Shale, increasing their acreage in the Utica to 21,700.

Carrizo isn’t so happy with the Marcellus right now because of low commodity prices for dry gas (methane). They’re more happy with the Utica because of wet gas production. Below are select (brief) sections from yesterday’s update relevant to the Marcellus/Utica:
Read More “Carrizo Down on Marcellus, Up on Utica and Other Wet/Oil Plays”
Energy Companies | Ohio | PDC Energy | Utica Shale | Washington County (OH)

PDC Energy 3Q13: “Excited” about Utica in Washington County, OH
November 1, 2013

PDC Energy, headquartered in Denver, CO, has drilling operations in both the Marcellus and Utica Shale region. In June of this year, PDC sold off “non-core” assets they owned in Colorado and said they would invest that money in drilling the Utica Shale (see PDC Energy Sells CO Assets, Will Use Money for Utica Drilling). In their third quarter update, issued yesterday, PDC is positively effusive about their first Utica Shale well in Washington County, OH. It is the first well they’ve drilled in their “southern Utica” acreage and judging by the results, they plan to drill many more in that area.

In addition to good tidings from the Utica, PDC announced they raised $276 million from floating a new stock offering. They were also listed in the Russell 2000 index. It’s been a busy three months for PDC. Relevant (Utica) portions of their 3Q13 update:
Read More “PDC Energy 3Q13: “Excited” about Utica in Washington County, OH”
Energy Companies | Hess | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Hess Officials Talks About the Utica on 3Q13 Earnings Call
October 31, 2013October 31, 2013

Yesterday the parade of third quarter earnings calls continued. One of them was held by Hess, continues to be a major player in the Utica Shale.

MDN has slogged through the transcript from yesterday’s call and selected out those portions where Hess officials talk about the Utica, their recent accomplishments and their plans going forward…
Read More “Hess Officials Talks About the Utica on 3Q13 Earnings Call”
Beck Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Litigation | Monroe County | Ohio | Utica Shale

Beck Energy Sues OH Attorneys for Lease “Interference”
October 30, 2013October 30, 2013

An interesting court case that landowners in Monroe County, OH with old (30 year-old) non-Utica gas leases will be interested in following. Beck Energy holds many of those old leases (originally signed for an average $50/acre) which allows them to drill vertically into the Clinton sandstone for natural gas. However, the old leases prevent landowners from signing new leases (at much higher signing bonuses) to allow Utica Shale drilling. Apparently some enterprising attorneys have taken up the cause by shopping (i.e. advertising) for plaintiffs and Beck is none to happy about it. Beck has filed a lawsuit against the attorneys and their law firms to stop them from making mischief with “their” leases.

After reading the details of whose done what to whom (below), it seems to MDN no one will come out of this one smelling clean…
Read More “Beck Energy Sues OH Attorneys for Lease “Interference””
Access Midstream Partners | Energy Companies | Energy Services | EnerVest | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | M3 Midstream | Ohio | Processing Plants | Utica East Ohio Midstream | Utica Shale

Gov. Kasich “Turns the Valves” at Scio Fractionation Plant
October 30, 2013October 30, 2013

MDN told you that Ohio Gov. John Kasich went foreigner-hunting on Monday and was glad to find no “foreigners” (i.e. out-of-state workers) lurking around the Hickory Bend processing plant in Mahoning County that he was visiting for a dedication ceremony (see OH Gov. Kasich Dedicates Hickory Bend Plant, No Foreigners Found). While he was in the general neighborhood, Gov. Kasich also slipped over to Harrison County on Monday to check out the Scio fractionation plant (now being called the Harrison Hub), to see if there were any foreigners hiding there. Nope! A banner day for Gov. Kasich!

The Scio plant, built by the Utica East Ohio Buckeye joint venture (M3 Midstream, Access Midstream and EnerVest) held a “turn the valves” dedication on Monday to take advantage of Kasich being in the area. Phase 2 of the plant went online in July adding an additional 45,000 barrels per day of NGL processing capacity. Phase 3 is now being build and due to go online in early 2014. Highlights from the Kasich visit and more details about the plant from UEO officials…
Read More “Gov. Kasich “Turns the Valves” at Scio Fractionation Plant”
Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Mahoning County | NGLs | NiSource | Ohio | Pennant Midstream | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Utica Shale

OH Gov. Kasich Dedicates Hickory Bend Plant, No Foreigners Found
October 29, 2013October 29, 2013

Ohio Gov. John Kasich was on hand yesterday for a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the Hickory Bend cryogenic processing plant in Mahoning County, OH. Pennant Midstream, a joint venture of NiSource and Hilcorp’s Harvest Pipeline subsidiary, dedicated the plant by inviting Kasich and a number of state and local officials. The Hickory Bend processing plant separates natural gas liquids (NGLs or “wet gas”) from methane (or “dry gas”). It has been up and running since summer, however, it won’t begin shipping separated NGLs to the M3 Momentum fractionation plant in Kensington until December. Hickory Bend is also a network of 55 miles of wet gas gathering pipelines in the region.

Gov. Kasich had plenty to say as he dedicated the plant. In typical fashion he was there sniffing out “foreigners” and was happy to pronounce he didn’t find any. (For an example of Kasich’s obsession with “foreigners”–i.e. out of state workers–see OH Gov. Kasich Goes Foreigner-Hunting in Strasburg.) Kasich also dissed Pennsylvania in his comments. A handful of protesters were on hand for the ceremony, bleating about methane migration, but they were far enough away that nobody heard them…
Read More “OH Gov. Kasich Dedicates Hickory Bend Plant, No Foreigners Found”
Energy Companies | Harrison County | Hess | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Utica Shale

Harrison County: Busy Courthouse, Road Use & Lease Offer by Hess
October 28, 2013October 28, 2013

What’s going on in Harrison County, OH? When it comes to oil and gas drilling in the Utica Shale, quite a lot, including: a congested courthouse (where land records are kept); proposed road use agreements from Chesapeake Energy; and a plum offer by Hess for 21.7 acres west of the Harrison County Airport.

The details…
Read More “Harrison County: Busy Courthouse, Road Use & Lease Offer by Hess”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Stark County | Utica Shale

FWW Anti-Drillers Protest an Empty Building in Canton, OH
October 25, 2013October 25, 2013

MDN has written many times about the odious and misnamed Food & Water Watch (FWW)–an anti-fossil fuel, anti-drilling group behind a lot of so-called “spontaneous” protests against fracking. We always knew the FWW faithful were misguided in their opposition. Unfortunately we have to be honest and add another adjective in the descriptor of FWW protesters: dumb.

Wednesday a group of some 300 people turned out at the Canton Civic Center in downtown Canton, OH for Utica Shale Summit 2014. A dozen FWW protesters thought they would make some mischief and grab a few headlines by turning up to protest. Except they turned up after the event was over and the building was empty. When told of their faux pas and that nobody was home, the FWW protesters stood around protested anyway–they protested an empty building. Talk about dumb and dumber…
Read More “FWW Anti-Drillers Protest an Empty Building in Canton, OH”
Columbiana County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Sand/Proppant | Utica Shale

Columbiana, OH Frack Sand Operation Continues to Expand
October 25, 2013October 25, 2013

In March MDN told you about an Ohio property management firm in Columbiana County, OH that ended up in the frack sand business (see OH Property Management Firm Plugs into the Shale Supply Chain). A quick check-in finds that business for Buckeye Transfer Realty is booming, because of the Utica Shale.

If the received wisdom for buying real estate is “location, location, location,” we would add a fourth important ingredient, a key ingredient to Buckeye Transfer’s success: timing…
Read More “Columbiana, OH Frack Sand Operation Continues to Expand”
Buckeye Brine | Coshocton County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Utica Shale | Wastewater

Buckeye Brine Adds Second Injection Well, Business Expands Rapidly
October 24, 2013October 24, 2013

Buckeye Brine is a relatively new Ohio company that has so far built one brine injection well in Coshocton County, OH and is drilling a second injection now and considering adding a frack wastewater recycling facility. Quick tutorial: After an oil or gas well is drilled and fracked, wastewater from fracking flows back out for a week or two. After that, over time (years in some cases) naturally occurring water from deep underground–not fresh water from near the surface, but water from thousands of feet down–continues to flow from some wells. That naturally occurring water contains a lot of dissolved minerals in it, making it much “saltier” than even ocean water–hence the term brine.

Buckeye injects brine back into the ground. A bit more about Buckeye’s operation to date, and what they have planned…
Read More “Buckeye Brine Adds Second Injection Well, Business Expands Rapidly”
American Energy Utica | Energy Companies | EnerVest | Harrison County | Ohio | Utica Shale

Clue? Aubrey McClendon Picks up Clendening Reservoir Leases
October 23, 2013October 23, 2013

It ain’t much land, but it is notable nonetheless for the clue it provides. The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) has approved the re-assignment of mineral rights for 133 acres at the Clendening Reservoir in Harrison County, OH to American Energy Utica, Aubrey McClendon’s new company.

It gives us a continuing look at just where in the Utica Aubrey is concentrating his $1.7 billion worth of efforts…
Read More “Clue? Aubrey McClendon Picks up Clendening Reservoir Leases”
Antero Resources | Energy Companies | Guernsey County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Noble County | Ohio | Utica Shale

Muskingum Watershed District Approves 3rd Water Sale for Fracking
October 23, 2013October 23, 2013

As they have done in the past, the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District in Ohio has approved more water sales for using fracking. This batch comes from Seneca Lake in southeast OH. The Utica Shale driller buying the water is Antero Resources…
Read More “Muskingum Watershed District Approves 3rd Water Sale for Fracking”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

577 OH Utica Shale Wells Drilled – 0 Water Wells Contaminated
October 21, 2013

My water will be polluted! Don’t frack here! It’s the end of water as we know it!! Such are the refrains from anti-drillers–all of them not true. Want proof? Ohio has now drilled 577 Utica Shale wells over the past four years. The Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources’ Oil and Gas Resources Management division has investigated 183 water well contamination complaints related to drilling. Of those 183, six water wells were found to be adversely affected by drilling. But get this–none of them was from horizontal shale drilling–all six water well issues were caused by old vertical wells drilled in years gone by.

So let’s run those numbers: Of the 577 horizontal shale wells drilled so far in Ohio, there have been precisely zero nearby water wells adversely affected from that kind of drilling. Hmmm, sure paints a different picture than the doom-and-gloomer anti-drillers paint, doesn’t it?…
Read More “577 OH Utica Shale Wells Drilled – 0 Water Wells Contaminated”
EMG | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Kinder Morgan | MarkWest Energy | Ohio | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Statewide OH | Tuscarawas County | Utica Shale

Kinder Morgan/MarkWest OH Midstream Projects Advance
October 21, 2013October 21, 2013

In August, Kinder Morgan, MarkWest and The Energy and Minerals Group (EMG) announced a new joint venture on two projects aimed at the Marcellus/Utica Shale region. The first is a a 400 Mmcf/d cryogenic processing plant in Tuscarawas County, OH, and the second a new NGL pipeline from Ohio all the way to the Gulf Coast (see 2 New OH Projects: Cryo Processing Plant & NGL Pipeline to Gulf).

Speaking on an earnings conference call last week, Kinder Morgan CEO Richard Kinder gave a brief update on the two projects. Bottom line, the projects continue to advance, but still no mention of capital expenditure they expect to lay out. (Note: For details on these two KM/MarkWest midstream projects, along with a comprehensive list of 111 midstream infrastructure projects planned for the Marcellus/Utica, see the newly released Volume 2 of the 2013 Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook)…
Read More “Kinder Morgan/MarkWest OH Midstream Projects Advance”