Baker Hughes | Energy Services | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia
Nat’l Rig Count Drops 4 @ 555; Marc. Even @ 24, Utica Even @ 12
Last week, for the seventh week in a row, the Baker Hughes U.S. rig count dropped, down another four rigs to its lowest level since November 2021. The national rig count is in free fall at this point, with no end in sight. However, the Marcellus/Utica count remained the same, at a combined 36 active rigs. The Pennsylvania Marcellus operated 18 rigs. The Ohio Utica operated 11 rigs. And West Virginia operated seven rigs. Read More “Nat’l Rig Count Drops 4 @ 555; Marc. Even @ 24, Utica Even @ 12”
For the week of Jun 2 – 8, the number of permits issued to drill new wells in the Marcellus/Utica fell from the previous week. There were 21 new permits issued across the three M-U states last week, down 14 from 35 issued two weeks ago. The Keystone State (PA) issued 11—half—of the new permits. Seneca Resources scored six permits for a single pad in Tioga County. EQT (under the name Rice Drilling) received four permits for two pads in Greene County. Sabre Energy received a single permit in Sullivan County. 
In April, MDN told you that the West Virginia Supreme Court was scheduled to hear oral arguments in two important oil and gas royalty cases (see 
In October of last year, MDN told you that both EQT Corporation and Tenaska are “dipping their toes” in the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) space (see 
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and its Regional Entities recently issued a report reviewing how the country’s Bulk-Power System performed well during successive cold weather events in January 2025. The report found that the system was a stellar performer, with no significant issues in either the natural gas or electric systems. The 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) was called out for its “crucial role” in helping to keep the lights on throughout the Atlantic Coast region during the coldest parts of winter. 
Last week, for the sixth week in a row, the Baker Hughes U.S. rig count dropped, down another four rigs to its lowest level since November 2021. It was the first time since September 2023 that the count has fallen for six (or more) weeks in a row. Free fallin’. However, the Marcellus/Utica count remained the same, at a combined 36 active rigs. The Pennsylvania Marcellus operated 18 rigs. The Ohio Utica operated 11 rigs. And West Virginia operated seven rigs. 
The Southwest Appalachia drilling team for Expand Energy, the newly combined company created when Chesapeake Energy merged with Southwestern Energy, claims it has drilled the U.S.’s longest on-shore well and longest on-shore lateral to date at more than five miles. The BW Edge MSH 210H was recently drilled in Marshall County, West Virginia. We say the team “claims” to have drilled the longest lateral because in March, Hart Energy reported a similar claim by Expand to have drilled an even longer lateral in Ohio County, WV (see 
The Baker Hughes U.S. rig count dropped like a rock last week, down 10 rigs to its lowest level since November 2021. It is the first time the count has slumped for four consecutive weeks since 2024. On a happier note, the combined Marcellus/Utica count rose by two rigs to 37 active rigs. However, there was a change between the plays (and states) in the M-U. The Pennsylvania Marcellus lost one rig, now at 17 rigs, while the Ohio Utica picked up two rigs, now at 12 rigs. West Virginia remained the same with eight active rigs. 
Yesterday, the first of what will no doubt be many such events, the Appalachian AI Energy Conference (sponsored by Shale Directories) was held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pittsburgh/Southpointe. Event speakers explored why Appalachia is uniquely suited to meet AI’s massive energy needs. CNX’s VP of sustainable development, Brent Bobsein, spoke about the region’s “massive opportunity.”