Marcellus Drilling News

Energy Companies | Gastar Exploration

Earnings Call Reveals More Details on Gastar’s Marcellus/Utica Plans
August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

Last week we reported the very brief comments in Gastar Exploration’s 2Q15 update with respect to the Marcellus/Utica (see Gastar 2Q15: No New Marcellus/Utica Wells, Production Increased Anyway). Last Friday Gastar’s executives held a conference call with analysts and from that call we get a bit more color commentary on what’s happening with Gastar’s northeast drilling program, including an interesting question/answer about Gastar’s Marcellus East acreage actually being a good prospect for Utica development and a discussion about EQT’s monster Utica well in Pennsylvania…
Read More “Earnings Call Reveals More Details on Gastar’s Marcellus/Utica Plans”
Energy Services | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | Jefferson County (OH) | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Pipelines | Sunoco Logistics

Sunoco Settles Case with OH Landowners to Allow Mariner East 2
August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

Sunoco Logistics Partners still has an uphill battle to get certain communities to approve pump and valve stations for the Mariner East 1 and 2 pipelines, but is making progress (see Sunoco Reconciles Differences with Municipalities re Mariner East). Sunoco can cross off one problem area in Harrison and Jefferson counties (in Ohio) with respect to the Mariner East 2 set of pipelines. A group of landowners in those two counties have just settled with Sunoco out of court for 50-foot-wide permanent easements the company will place on their property to build the second set of Mariner pipelines. What happened is that the landowners (wisely) held out and got more money out of Sunoco. Everyone is now happy–the landowners get a better (more reasonable) price for permanent easements, and Sunoco is that much closer to beginning construction on the next Mariner project…
Read More “Sunoco Settles Case with OH Landowners to Allow Mariner East 2”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Washington County

New $3M Electric Line for MarkWest Compressor in Robinson Twp, PA
August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., is building a new $3 million electric transmission line in Washington County, PA to aide the Marcellus industry. The new electric line, running 1.3 miles in Robinson Township, will connect to a MarkWest compressor station due to be built (see Robinson Twp Delays MarkWest Compressor, Approval Coming Soon). According to FirstEnergy, they will spend close to $50 million on new electric transimission line projects in support of the Marcellus gas industry in western PA over the next three years…
Read More “New $3M Electric Line for MarkWest Compressor in Robinson Twp, PA”
Energy Companies | Rice Energy

Vote of Confidence: 2nd Rice Energy Exec Purchased Company Stock
August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

We’re always a little bit troubled when we see senior management at a company selling their shares of stock in the company they continue to manage. Not long ago four top Carrizo Oil & Gas executive officers, including the CEO, dumped 50,000 shares of stock (see 4 Top Carrizo O&G Officers, Incl CEO, Sell 50K Shares of Company Stock). Not long after that, Carrizo’s CEO Chip Johnson dumped another 6,000 shares (see Carrizo CEO Chip Johnson Sells Another 6K Shares of Stock). Then there are some companies where senior management continues to buy shares of stock. One such company is Marcellus/Utica driller Rice Energy. In May, Rice Energy senior VP and CFO Grayson T. Lisenby bought 6,000 shares of Rice Energy Midstream (see Rice Energy CFO Buys Another 6K Shares of Rice Midstream Stock). We’ve just learned (albeit late) that another Rice Energy executive–James Rogers, senior VP and chief accounting & administrative officer–also purchased stock in Rice Energy Midstream in May…
Read More “Vote of Confidence: 2nd Rice Energy Exec Purchased Company Stock”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Statewide NY

NY Antis Set to Protest Constitution Pipeline in Albany, NY Tomorrow
August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

New York’s anti-drillers are preparing yet another protest in Albany, NY–this time to oppose the already-permitted Constitution Pipeline. The Constitution, you may recall, is a 125-mile pipeline that will stretch from the gas fields of Susquehanna County, PA into New York, to Schoharie County. It is a critically needed pipeline to get Cabot’s natural gas in Susquehanna County to markets throughout the northeast and New England. Recently Cabot CEO Dan Dinges said he expects construction will begin this fall (see Cabot Says Constitution Pipeline Construction to Begin this Fall). That comment sent the nutters into orbit–because they are on the cusp of losing their first major battle. The only one thing that remains before Constitution’s bulldozers and backhoes start their work is for the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to issue 401 Water Quality Certificates to allow the Constitution to lay pipe through and under swamps, creeks and other bodies of water. Everything else is permitted and ready. So anti-drillers will hold a rally as a show of force against the Constitution–tomorrow, in Albany. We sincerely hope pro-drillers will turn out in a counter-rally…
Read More “NY Antis Set to Protest Constitution Pipeline in Albany, NY Tomorrow”
Allegheny County | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania

Anti-Drilling Pittsburgh Newspaper Backs Obama Plan to Dump NatGas
August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

Once again the editorial writers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette slavishly support anything Barack Hussein Obama does–including his plan to dump natural gas use for electric generating plants in his recently released Clean Power Plan (see Obama Stabs Natural Gas Electric Plants in Clean Power Plan). Their default assumption is that mankind, by burning fossil fuels, is causing a catastrophic warming of the the earth–a silly notion proven wrong by science. But actual facts don’t matter anymore (really, when did fact EVER matter to liberals?). They continue to hum the mantra–humans are evil, they cause global warming. And so B.H.O.’s plan is better than nothin’ according to the wizards of smart at the Post-Gazette…
Read More “Anti-Drilling Pittsburgh Newspaper Backs Obama Plan to Dump NatGas”
About MDN | Calendar

Calendar of Events for Aug 10 – Nov 9 (90 Days)
August 10, 2015August 10, 2015

Below are upcoming events for the next three months (90 days). To see the full list of future events, visit this page: //marcellusdrilling.com/calendar/.

NOTE: To have an item included, please email it to: calendar@marcellusdrilling.com.
Read More “Calendar of Events for Aug 10 – Nov 9 (90 Days)”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Aug 10, 2015
August 10, 2015August 12, 2015

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Aug 10, 2015”
Antero Resources | Blue Ridge Mtn Res/Magnum Hunter | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Gastar Exploration | Gulfport Energy | Range Resources Corp | Rice Energy | Utica Shale

Top 10 Dry Gas Utica Shale Wells of All Time (as of Aug 2015)
August 7, 2015August 9, 2015

A slide we spotted in a Gastar presentation got us to thinking: What are the top 10 Utica Shale wells? Who drilled them? And how much was their initial production (IP) rates? So we went searching and came up with the handy list below. This list is current as of August 2015. A few caveats: First, some of the wells in the list produced not only methane (“dry gas”) but also oil, condensate and natural gas liquids–i.e. other hydrocarbons. However, the numbers in the list below are for the methane/dry gas only portion of what the well flowed during an initial period of time (typically the first 24 hours). So keep that in mind. These are not necessary dry gas only wells, but the numbers are for the dry gas portion coming from the well. Second, we scoured the MDN archives and other sources to compile the list. If you believe we’ve overlooked a well–let us know! We would be happy to correct the list. As it is, we believe it to be accurate. It tells a pretty incredible story. Below the Top 10 list is another list–of MDN stories covering the details for the wells in the Top 10 list…
Read More “Top 10 Dry Gas Utica Shale Wells of All Time (as of Aug 2015)”
Energy Companies | Energy Services | Rice Energy | Rice Midstream

Rice Energy 2Q15: Another PA Utica Monster Well on the Way?!
August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Rice Energy, a relatively young but rapidly growing and important driller in both the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays, turned in their second quarter 2015 update yesterday. Like virtually every other North American driller the bad news is Rice experienced a net loss after expenses of $63.5 million in 2Q15 vs. a net loss of $7.9 million in 2Q14. But there was plenty of good news in the Rice update. For one thing, 2Q15 production was up an amazing 120% over 2Q14–to an average 529 million cubic feet equivalent per day (MMcfe/d). For another thing, Rice turned in to sales 11 operated Ohio Utica and 14 operated Pennsylvania Marcellus wells–the most active quarter in the company’s young history. Perhaps most exciting of all, Rice reports they have drilled their first Pennsylvania Utica well in Greene County and will hook that well up to sales sometime in the next month or two. Greene County is the location for the current ruling champ of Utica wells, drilled by EQT (see EQT’s 1st Utica Well Shatters Record – 72.9 MMcf/d IP Rate!). Will this Rice well beat it? Come close? We’re on pins and needles waiting to see!…

UPDATE: Rice Energy said on their earnings call yesterday that although they will hook up their new Greene County, PA Utica well to production in 3Q15, they will not run an initial production (IP) test on the well. Why? “Recently reported IP tests in close proximity to our position have proven our geologic model’s expectation that this area is highly prospective for Utica development. From other data we’ve gathered during the drilling and completion of this well, we would fully expect similar IP results, but our main focus is determining long-term production potential.” Bummer!
Read More “Rice Energy 2Q15: Another PA Utica Monster Well on the Way?!”
Air Quality | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Beaver County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Shell

Big Green Groups File to Block Shell Cracker Air Quality Permit
August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Simply amazing. Two Big Green environmental groups–the Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council and the Washington, DC-based Environmental Integrity Project–are trying to scuttle the Shell ethane cracker in the Pittsburgh area that would bring thousands of new jobs and eventually pump something like $20 billion into the regional economy, with a ripple effect of jobs and prosperity for the entire tri-state region. The two groups have just filed an appeal with state regulators saying the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) erred when granting an air quality permit that will allow the plant to operate (see Shell Receives Air Quality Permit from PA DEP for Cracker Plant). These two litigious Big Green groups hope to tie the whole matter up in court and “encourage” (scare) Shell away from its investment. It’s hard to put into words the depth of depravity of people who do disgusting things like this…
Read More “Big Green Groups File to Block Shell Cracker Air Quality Permit”
Blue Ridge Mtn Res/Magnum Hunter | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Eureka Midstream

Magnum Hunter 2Q15: Rev Down 60%; Eureka Hunter Still Not Sold
August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Magnum Hunter Resources (MHR) released their second quarter 2015 update today, with plenty of information. MHR reports oil and gas production year over year in the second quarter was up 20%. But because of the price collapse over the past 12 months, MHR’s revenue for that production decreased 60% year over year. One of the juicy tidbits we pick up from the update deals with an impending sale of MHR pipeline subsidiary Eureka Hunter. You may recall that MHR CEO Gary Evans, speaking at the Hart Energy DUG East conference in Pittsburgh in June implied the company had cut a deal to sell their ownership stake in Eureka Hunter (see Magnum Hunter Cuts Deal to Sell Eureka Hunter & 2 New JVs). It seems that was the wrong (misleading?) impression. In today’s 2Q15 update we learn that MHR “is in discussions with a number of third parties regarding this potential sale transaction.” So no, the sale of Eureka Hunter is not a done deal–not yet. What else do we learn?…
Read More “Magnum Hunter 2Q15: Rev Down 60%; Eureka Hunter Still Not Sold”
Blue Ridge Mtn Res/Magnum Hunter | Energy Companies

New COO for Magnum Hunter Raises a Few Interesting Questions
August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Magnum Hunter Resources (MHR) announced a change in upper management yesterday that caught our attention. Keith Yankowsky, 50, has been hired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer reporting to CEO Gary Evans. It caught our attention for a couple of reasons. Number one, Yankowsky was hired away from Chesapeake Energy. It was just two days ago we heard about another high level defection from Chesapeake–Aubrey McClendon hired away one of his old mates to become CFO of his new company (see McClendon’s American Energy Partners Gets a New CFO). Now we have a second very high level defection from Chesapeake with Yankowsky, who was serving as Vice President of the Appalachia South Business Unit, to join a much smaller (and financially troubled) company. Two defections does not a trend make, but we have to ask: What do they know that we don’t? Hmmmm. The second thing we notice is that this appears to be a completely new position at MHR, shifting some of the responsibility for day to day operations off from Gary Evans’ plate and onto Yankowsky’s plate. Was this Gary saying, “Hey board, I need some help,” or the board saying, “Hey Gary, you NEED some help”? Hmmmm…
Read More “New COO for Magnum Hunter Raises a Few Interesting Questions”
Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Utica Shale

Gulfport Energy Releases Other Half of 2Q15 Update – the Bad News
August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Last week Gulfport Energy, with some 243,000 acres of Utica Shale leases, released half of their second quarter update (see Gulfport Releases Half of 2Q15 Update – The Good News Part). This week they released the full update, the other half dealing with the financial aspects of the company. Like other drillers across the country, Gulfport’s net income (after expenses, accounting this and that, taxes) took a big hit. They lost $31.3 million in 2Q15 vs making $47.9 million in 2Q14. The good news is that Gulfport remains active in the Utica–they plan to have drilled between 49-55 new Utica wells by the end of 2015…
Read More “Gulfport Energy Releases Other Half of 2Q15 Update – the Bad News”
Carrizo Oil & Gas | Energy Companies

Carrizo O&G 2Q15: No New Utica Drilling, but Production Goes Up
August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Carrizo Oil & Gas released their second quarter update yesterday. Carrizo has operations in both the Marcellus and Utica–although the Utica seems to be where they are concentrating their efforts in the northeast. At the beginning of the year Carrizo said they would not do any new drilling in the northeast, instead concentrating on the Eagle Ford Shale in Texas (see Carrizo Cuts Budget 35%, No Drilling Planned in Utica/Marcellus in 2015). The latest update shows the company to be following that strategy. Although there has been no new drilling, Carrizo did bring several previously drilled Utica wells online for sales, boosting their production in the Utica. Carrizo’s Marcellus production was roughly flat with 1Q15 production with nothing new planned for the Marcellus. Below are the relevant portions of the update dealing with the Utica/Marcellus…
Read More “Carrizo O&G 2Q15: No New Utica Drilling, but Production Goes Up”
Energy Companies | Gastar Exploration

Gastar 2Q15: No New Marcellus/Utica Wells, Production Increased Anyway
August 7, 2015August 7, 2015

Gastar Exploration, with a small but meaningful drilling program in both the Marcellus and Utica Shale (~46,700 net acres leased) filed their second quarter update yesterday. As we reported after their 1Q15 update, Gastar isn’t drilling any new Marcellus wells for the balance of 2015, instead concentrating new drilling on the Midcontinent drilling program (see Gastar 1Q15: NE Production Up 5%, No New Marcellus Wells in 2015). Even though Gastar didn’t drill anything new in the northeast over the past three months, production from the Marcellus for Gastar continued to climb because of previously drilled and completed wells. Gastar, like almost all other North American drillers, took a huge net loss on income during 2Q15 largely due to assets being devalued due to the price collapse. In other words, it wasn’t actual money they lost, but money on paper. Below is the brief update from the 2Q15 update on Gastar’s Marcellus program, along with their most recent investor presentation. MDN has hacked apart the long PowerPoint to show you only those bits related to the Marcellus/Utica (and there are some good slides in there)…
Read More “Gastar 2Q15: No New Marcellus/Utica Wells, Production Increased Anyway”