Marcellus Drilling News

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Landfills | Litigation | Regulation | Wastewater

Obama EPA Signs One Final “Sue and Settle” Case Against O&G
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

January 20th, when Donald Trump is inaugurated and decomposing swamps like the EPA get drained, can’t happen soon enough. However, before that date, the Obamadroids are doing everything they can to get their last digs in. One of them is the rogue, out-of-control Environmental Protection Agency, which will soon be swept clean by Scott Pruitt (delicious justice if ever there were some). We’ve written about the sleazy practice of “sue and settle” in the past–a practice whereby government agencies like the EPA get their friends in the radical environmental movement to sue them, then they quickly settle the case and say “See, we HAVE to do this because the court is making us do it.” Scott Pruitt knows all about that practice and it will stop on Jan. 20. But until then, the EPA continues to engage in it. The latest case they’ve just settled was brought by the odious National Resources Defense Council, Earthworks and a mishmash of other radical groups in May 2016 regarding an attempt to ban injection wells and stop landfills from accepting drill cuttings (see Enviro Nazis File Lawsuit to “Force” EPA to End Injection Wells). The EPA wants to once again eat away at the sovereignty of the states by regulating oil and gas drilling “wastes” using federal law (illegal under the U.S. Constitution). When was the last time you heard of a big lawsuit like this being settled in a matter of a few months? Yeah, never…
Read More “Obama EPA Signs One Final “Sue and Settle” Case Against O&G”
Air Quality | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Regulation

Obama EPA Files to List NatGas Plants as “Toxic” Polluters
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

In January 2015 a gang of nine far-left anti-drilling “environmental” organizations sued the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claiming the agency doesn’t require the oil and gas industry to spend big bucks to fill out reams of paperwork to prove it’s not polluting Precious Mother Earth with nasty chemicals (see 9 Anti-Drilling Groups Sue EPA Hoping to Damage the O&G Industry). The lawsuit was filed by the Environmental Integrity Project (better called the Environmental Dishonesty Project), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Center for Effective Government, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future (PennFuture), the Clean Air Council, THE Delaware Riverkeeper Network (i.e. Maya van Rossum), the Responsible Drilling Alliance, and Texas Campaign for the Environment. The lawsuit by the litigious gang of nine, as we said at the time, will provide cover and an excuse for the EPA. This is all scripted out and done in collusion with the Obama EPA. In October last year, the EPA announced that natural gas plants do qualify to be included in their so-called Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), a system that will require processing plants to fill out several trees’ worth of paperwork on an annual basis. The EPA decision made the antis orgasmic with delight (see PA Big Green Groups Elated: Latest EPA Sue-and-Settle Scam Worked). The Obama EPA, in a parting shot at the natural gas industry, just filed the official proposed rule (last Friday, copy below) that will make it happen. Fortunately the rule won’t go into effect until March 7, giving incoming EPA chief Scott Pruitt the opportunity to stop this nonsense…
Read More “Obama EPA Files to List NatGas Plants as “Toxic” Polluters”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide VA | Virginia

VA County Approves Compressor Stn for Atlantic Coast Pipeline
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

As MDN reported last week, area residents packed a small meeting hall in Buckingham County, VA for a five-hour marathon session to express their concerns about building a new compressor station in the county for the upcoming Atlantic Coast Pipeline (see Residents Pack County Bd Mtg re Atlantic Coast Compressor Stn). A number of those residents, working from misinformation, are opposed to the pipeline. Fortunately the Buckingham County Board of Supervisors, who have been researching the compressor station project for the past two years, saw through the misinformation and vitriol and voted to approve the project after the marathon session. That vote “incensed” some of the antis…
Read More “VA County Approves Compressor Stn for Atlantic Coast Pipeline”
Antero Resources | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Industrywide Issues | M&A | Range Resources Corp

More Background on Investors Encouraging EQT to Sell Itself
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

W Barnes Hauptfuhrer

Last week MDN told you about a kerfuffle that erupted yesterday when Chapter IV Investors, a Charlotte, NC-based investment firm with investments in EQT, Range Resources and Antero Resources, announced it had sent a letter to EQT urging the company to consider merging with either Range Resources or Antero Resources (see EQT Urged by Major Investor to Merge with Either Range or Antero). As we told you, Chapter IV is essentially two investors, W. Barnes Hauptfuhrer, Managing Partner and Portfolio Manager, and Ryan J. Jack, Partner. We said at the time, “we don’t detect any kind of bullying on the part of Chapter IV, like that of a raider Carl Icahn (successful takeover of Chesapeake Energy & Cheniere Energy) or Keith “Mini-Me” Meister (unsuccessful attempt to takeover Williams). Rather, it appears to be a couple of investors who believe there is an honest and good case for a combination of EQT with another company.” We now have more evidence that our gut instinct was right–from an article Bloomberg published…
Read More “More Background on Investors Encouraging EQT to Sell Itself”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA | Sunoco Logistics

Towns Near Philly Collude with CAC to Block Mariner East 2 Pipe?
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

Several townships in the Philadelphia orbit appear to be colluding with each other and with the Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council in passing nearly identical resolutions opposing the Mariner East 2 natural gas liquids pipeline. Eight townships or boroughs along or “close to” (meaning not along) the route in Delaware and Chester counties have published resolutions or proclamations badmouthing the project. The municipalities include: Edgmont, West Goshen, Thornbury, Middletown, Westtown, Rose Valley, Swarthmore and Media. Some of the self-incriminating evidence for collusion comes from an admission by one of them: “The community statements are similar to each other because of consultation between their leaders.” And this, from the odious Clean Air Council: “Alex Bomstein, a lawyer with the environmental group Clean Air Council, said that while there are other local campaign such as those in Lebanon and Huntingdon Counties, the efforts in Delaware and Chester Counties are more ‘developed’ in the Philadelphia suburbs. ‘There are more people organizing than elsewhere,’ he said, probably because of a greater population density closer to Philadelphia.” Why would the StateImpact Pennsylvania propagandist quote the CAC in the same article as the colluding towns, unless they were somehow tied together?…
Read More “Towns Near Philly Collude with CAC to Block Mariner East 2 Pipe?”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Nature Nuts Object to Appalachian Pipes Because of Visual Pollution
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

La La Land

Here’s a new one you probably haven’t heard before. Self-righteous and self-appointed people who claim to protect the Appalachian National Scenic Trail object to much-needed pipeline projects like EQT’s Mountain Valley Pipeline–a $3.5 billion, 301-mile pipeline that will run from Wetzel County, WV to the Transco Pipeline in Pittsylvania County, VA–because of “viewshed impairment,” or what the hoi polloi would call visual pollution. Yes, there’s a spot along the trail where if you look in a certain direction you will (if the pipeline gets built) see a path where the trees are cleared for the pipeline, and that just won’t do. It will rob the viewer of the pristine beauty they are used to seeing along that particular section of the trail. Of course, the fact that fires regularly destroy sections of the forest and destroy far more of the beauty along the trail is of no consequence. And the fact that entire cities are visible from the trail means nothing. It is that razor thin, narrow section where the pipeline will go that’s offensive to nature nuts…
Read More “Nature Nuts Object to Appalachian Pipes Because of Visual Pollution”
Industrywide Issues | Processing Plants | Supply Chain

Exterran Completes “Financial Restatement” – Releases Financials for 1Q-3Q
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Exterran Corporation (with 5,400 employees) specializes in natural gas compression production equipment and processing facilities. They design, build and operate compressor stations and natural gas processing plants. In 2012 MDN reported on a contract Exterran won to build three natural gas processing plants in West Virginia (see Exterran Wins Contract to Build 3 WV NatGas Processing Plants). The company is also active in other Marcellus/Utica states, including Ohio. In 2013 the company opened a plant to build compressor stations in an industrial park near Youngstown, OH. The state gave the company a $300,000 grant in return for promises to create 103 jobs over a seven year period. Exterran came close for the first couple of years, but then the crash in prices hit and along with it, work dried up. The plant closed in March, and as we recently reported, Ohio now wants “all or part of” the $300,000 grant back (see Ohio Wants to “Clawback” $300K Grant to TX-based Exterran Energy). The company, which is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange, has just issued what is called a “financial restatement”–which means they get to revise their previous quarterly financial statements. The do-over shows less bleeding in 3Q16 than earlier in the year. Exterran lost $93 million in 1Q16, they lost $96 million in 2Q16, and just $13 million in 3Q16. Here is the financial restatement issued by Exterran last week…
Read More “Exterran Completes “Financial Restatement” – Releases Financials for 1Q-3Q”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Radical Democrat PA House Member Tossed to Curb by his Own Party
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

Rep Greg Vitali

Sometimes crazy, wacko environmentalist Democrats in the Pennsylvania legislature are so far left, so crazy, so wacko, it’s even too much for the PA Democrat party. Such is the case with “outspoken” (we’d say loud-mouthed) Rep. Greg Vitali, from the Philadelphia area. We’ve written a number of articles prominently mentioning Rep. Vitali, who wants PA residents to use less natural gas (see PA Rep. Vitali Wants to Force Residents to Use LESS Natgas). However, the wacko Vitali has burned bridges in Harrisburg. He has aggressively crossed swords with PA’s Dem Governor, Tom Wolf, after Wolf understandably fired John Quigley as Secretary of the Dept. of Environmental Protection when Quigley was caught using a private email account to collude with his buddies in the Big Green movement (see Smoking Gun: Copy of the Email that Got John Quigley Fired). Vitali savaged Wolf for not supporting Quigley (see PA Dems Eating Their Own – Turn on Gov. Wolf over Quigley Firing). Since last June, Vitali has continued his infighting and it’s now caught up with him. He arrived in his office in Harrisburg one day to find a computer, and the person who operates it, being reassigned to the the new chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy committee–a committee Vitali used to chair. It was the first he’d heard of being tossed to the curb…
Read More “Radical Democrat PA House Member Tossed to Curb by his Own Party”
Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

Court Denies PA Senators Right to Join Lawsuit Against DRBC
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

Last May MDN told you about a group of brave landowners in Wayne County, PA who have had their property rights stolen by the Delaware River Basin Commission (see Wayne County, PA Landowner Sues DRBC Over Fracking Ban). They filed a lawsuit against the DRBC asking a judge to declare the DRBC does not have jurisdiction to prevent construction of a natural gas well. Several northeastern PA counties (unfortunately) are located in the Delaware River Basin and the DRBC has steadfastly refused to allow them to drill any shale wells, citing concerns that the Delaware River supplies fresh water to millions downstream–even though they can’t explain how that water might get contaminated. A few months later, the DRBC’s best friend and patron, THE Delaware Riverkeeper, sued to join the lawsuit to help defend the inept DRBC (see Delaware Riverkeeper “Intervenes” to Protect its Patsy – the DRBC). In November, three PA senators filed to join the lawsuit on behalf of the landowners that they represent (see PA Senators File to Join Case Against DRBC Fracking Moratorium). Predictably, THE Delaware Riverkeeper sought to prevent the senators from joining the lawsuit. You see, it’s OK for Riverkeeper to participate as an outsider, but not OK for the Senators to participate to ensure the people they represent get represented in the lawsuit. That’s how it works in the world of enviro radicalism. Unfortunately, the court where the case is being heard sided with the radicals and has ruled the Senators have no right to represent the people they were elected to represent when it comes to a court case…
Read More “Court Denies PA Senators Right to Join Lawsuit Against DRBC”
Calendar

Calendar of Events for Jan 9 – Apr 8 (90 Days)
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

Events related to drilling in the Marcellus and Utica Shale, primarily pro-drilling.

To have your event included (or if you are aware of a worthy event you believe should be on this page), please send the details and/or a link to have it included to the calendar@marcellusdrilling.com email address. Thank you!
Read More “Calendar of Events for Jan 9 – Apr 8 (90 Days)”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Jan 9, 2017
January 9, 2017January 9, 2017

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading. In today’s lineup: Rice Energy one of top gas picks for 2017; OH anti group quietly disbands after funding studies that prove fracking is safe; rig count shows PA drilling back on the upswing; DOE cuts off funds for NJ off-shore wind farm; natgas storage would not benefit Maine consumers, says study; US natgas production will increase in 2017; and more!
Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Jan 9, 2017”
Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Monroe County | Ohio | Petrogas | Washington County (OH)

Close-up on Petrogas Co: A New Player in the Ohio Utica?
January 6, 2017January 6, 2017

A couple of weeks ago four companies won bids on 17 parcels totaling 719 acres of federal land (for Utica Shale drilling) in the Ohio Wayne National Forest (see OH Wayne National Forest – List of Auction Winners). We recognized three of the winners: Eclipse Resources, Flat Rock Development, and Gulfport Energy. But we didn’t recognize the fourth as a Utica driller: Petrogas Company. Then we spotted a couple of press releases from Petrogas touting their first “successfully purchased two oil and gas leases in the Eastern States” with the added statement they are “looking forward to exploring the potential in this area.” Petrogas says in its press release that it is an exploration and production company (E&P, or what we call a driller) “focused on the acquisition of properties in areas with significant oil reserves and drilling potential.” So we began to dig. First, the land Petrogas leased in WNF amounts to a grand total of 3.7 acres, for which they paid the princely sum of $2,705.50. No, they won’t be drilling on 3.7 acres any time soon. Then we further dug and discovered that Petrogas is a Chinese-backed company with an office in Houston, TX, that started life as an entertainment company and is operated by what appears to be one guy. A guy who apparently knows how to publish press releases that sound big and and important…
Read More “Close-up on Petrogas Co: A New Player in the Ohio Utica?”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Rockies Express Pipeline | Tallgrass Energy

REX Pipe Completes Expansion Today, 2.6 Bcf/d Flowing East-to-West
January 6, 2017February 17, 2017

The Rockies Express Pipeline (REX), originally built from Colorado and Wyoming to Monroe County, OH to bring natural gas from west to east, last year reversed the flow for a large and important section of the pipeline. On August 1, 2015 the section of REX from Monroe County, OH to Mexico, MO reversed the flow and began to carry 1.8 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of Utica and Marcellus Shale gas to the Midwest, including to the greater Chicago area. REX has been hard at work on plans to expand capacity even more by beefing up compressor stations along portions of the pipeline. REX filed a plan with FERC to add another 800 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of capacity along the same portion of the reversed pipeline–for a grand total of 2.6 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). In mid-December, the first 200 MMcf/d of capacity came online (see Reversed REX Pipeline Goes from 1.8 Bcf to 2.0 Bcf). A week later another 250 MMcf/d was brought online (see REX Pipeline Adds Yet More Capacity, Now Flowing Extra 450 MMcf/d). Beginning today, the final 350 MMcf/d is coming online. REX is now flowing 2.6 Bcf/d of Utica/Marcellus gas to Chicagoland and beyond…
Read More “REX Pipe Completes Expansion Today, 2.6 Bcf/d Flowing East-to-West”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Statewide VA | Virginia

Residents Pack County Bd Mtg re Atlantic Coast Compressor Stn
January 6, 2017January 6, 2017

As MDN reported earlier this week, on the last business day of 2016 the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a favorable draft (not final, but draft) environmental impact statement (EIS) for the $5 billion, 594-mile Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline project (see FERC Gives Atlantic Coast Pipeline Thumbs Up, Antis Pitch a Fit). Atlantic Coast is a natural gas pipeline being built by Dominion that will stretch from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina. As part of the project, the pipeline will need several large compressor stations–one of them in Buckingham County, VA. Area residents packed a small meeting room last night to express their concerns over the compressor station. We have a few thoughts about that meeting and what was said…
Read More “Residents Pack County Bd Mtg re Atlantic Coast Compressor Stn”
CNG/LNG | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NG Advantage

NG Advantage’s “Virtual” NatGas Pipeline to Maine Begins Flowing
January 6, 2017July 1, 2017

In Oct. 2015 MDN reported a story about International Paper’s Ticonderoga mill in northern New York, near the Vermont border (see NY Paper Plant Opts for “Virtual” NatGas Pipeline Over Real One). The plant had converted to using natural gas–yet there are no natgas pipelines to be found in the region. International Paper planned to build a pipeline from Vermont to feed the plant as a permanent solution. In the meantime, it was using a “virtual pipeline” of a constant stream of trucks delivering compressed natural gas (CNG) from NG Advantage (subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels Corp.), trucking CNG to the plant 24/7. International liked the CNG trucking operation so much, and disliked the regulatory hassles of building a pipeline so much, they decided to keep the virtual pipeline over a real one as a permanent solution. Cool story. NG Advantage, the hero in this story, continues to expand. Last November they picked up a new CEO, and at the tail end of last year, the company expanded beyond Vermont, New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and began delivering CNG via their virtual pipeline trucks to customers in the state of Maine…
Read More “NG Advantage’s “Virtual” NatGas Pipeline to Maine Begins Flowing”
Beck Energy | Energy Companies | Ohio | Summit County

Beck Energy Seeks to Lease Middle School Property in Munroe Falls
January 6, 2017January 6, 2017

Over the past four years MDN has monitored and reported on conventional driller Beck Energy and their ongoing difficulties with attempting to drill in Munroe Falls (Summit County), OH. You can see our list of stories stretching back to February 2013 here. In a nutshell, Munroe Falls has attempted to use “home rule” (i.e. their own oil and gas regulations) to stop Beck cold from doing any drilling within the municipality. When doctored zoning regs didn’t work, Munroe Falls embarked on a course of filing frivolous lawsuit after frivolous lawsuit. The latest one failed (see Summit County Judge Blocks Munroe Falls’ Attempt to Stop Drilling). So imagine our delight, and the recalcitrant Munroe Falls leaders’ horror, to learn that Beck Energy now wants to drill a new conventional well–and they need a few acres from the neighboring Kimpton Middle School to do it!…
Read More “Beck Energy Seeks to Lease Middle School Property in Munroe Falls”