Marcellus Drilling News

Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

Corbett Starting to Cave on Taxing Natgas? Sort of…
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

In a fight for his political life, PA Gov. Tom Corbett is dipping his toe in waters he has, until now, not been willing to enter. In an interview with the anti-drilling PBS reporters at StateImpact Pennsylvania, Corbett talked about the possibility of a “transmission tax” on natural gas. He still doesn’t support a severance tax (thank God), but he is talking about a new tax on gas flowing through pipelines in the state. Dangerous talk, if you ask us. Corbett’s best shot at re-election is to NOT cave on the issue of unfairly taxing the drilling industry so grubby politicians in Harrisburg can redistribute the wealth, spending it on their own pet projects (pork barreling)…
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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Butler County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Rex Energy

Martian Chronicles: Delaware River Basin Shifts to Western PA?
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

The Martians are getting an assist from THE Delaware Riverkeeper herself (Maya van Rossum). Get this: The Delaware Riverkeeper, along with another anti-drilling group called The Clean Air Council (both based near Philadelphia), have filed an appeal with Adams Township (Butler County), PA over the town’s decision to grant Rex Energy permits to drill gas wells 3/4 of a mile away from the Mars public school. In June, Adams Township supervisors voted 4-1 to allow drilling to commence, subject to getting permits from the Dept. of Environmental Protection (see Adams Twp, PA Votes to NOT Block Drilling “Near” Mars School). Just a month ago, Rex got the permits from the DEP to begin drilling (see Rex Gets Permits to Drill Near Martian School, Antis Apoplectic). Some Martian parents objected, and found a sympathetic wallet all the way across the state in Philadelphia with van Rossum. What does Butler County, on the western edge of PA have to do with van Rossum’s Delaware River Basin group, which is focused exclusively on the eastern edge of PA? NOTHING. Except for her personal hatred of fossil fuels and willingness to spend her own (and other people’s) money to fight shale drilling wherever it happens…
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Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Supply Chain | Washington County | West Virginia

Painting a Different Picture of Pipeline Companies
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

You might think, when reading the claims of some groups, that pipeline companies are callous and will run their pipeline any ole place they want, landowners be damned. “See that hayfield? Who cares! Run that steel right on through it!” That’s the (false) impression you get from some people. The reality is, of course, far different. Let’s hear it straight from the horse’s mouth–from the people who do the surveying to figure out the route a pipeline will take…
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Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania

Balancing Act for New Natgas-Fired Electric Plant in NEPA
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

Something’s gotta give. The Obama EPA has declared war on coal energy. In case you didn’t know, something like half (or more) of the electricity you use in your house comes from electric generation plants powered by coal. Because of much stricter new regulations, many coal generating power plants will close in the coming few years. We either face rolling blackouts from lack of electricity–or something else steps up to the plate to produce that electricity. That something else is most likely natural gas. Either existing coal plants have to change out their technology to be fired by natgas, or new plants built. That’s going to inconvenience some folks. There aren’t enough “isolated” spots to build electric plants that are close to the population centers they serve. We (collectively, as a society) face a balancing act, as Moxie Energy is facing with a planned natgas-fired electric plant near Wilkes-Barre, PA…
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Dominion Energy | Energy Services

Dominion Midstream IPO Seeks $350M for Cove Point Work
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

Last week MDN brought you the news that Dominion would launch an initial public offering (IPO) and spin out the subsidiary Dominion Midstream into its own company (see Dominion Launches Public Offering for Midstream Subsidiary). At the time we didn’t know how much then intend to raise nor why. We now have some insight into those answers…
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Braskem | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Odebrecht | Processing Plants | West Virginia | Wood County

Odebrecht WV Cracker Plant Decision “By End of 2015”
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

An update on the progress being made by Odebrecht and their planned ethane cracker plant and petrochemical manufacturing facility planned for Parkersburg (Wood County), WV. At the recent Global Plastics Summit in Chicago, Braskem (sister company to Odebrecht) vice president of business development, Renato Monteiro, said a final decision on building the proposed cracker plant will be made “by the end of 2015.” Here’s a few other tidbits about the cracker plant that came from Monteiro at the conference, including when the first PE (polyethylene) might be manufactured at the plant…
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Endeavour International | Energy Companies

Endeavour Intl Files for Bankruptcy, Blames North Sea Projects
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

Since 2011 MDN has covered the story of driller Endeavour International’s aborted attempt to buy 50,000 Marcellus Shale acres from SM Energy. Five months after signing the deal, Endeavour pulled out of the deal (see Endeavour Leaves SM Energy at the Altar, SM Ready to Sue). Two and a half years of litigation later, the two sides finally settled (see Endeavour & SM Energy Settle Lawsuit over PA Marcellus Properties). Although Endeavour has no active drilling program in the Marcellus/Utica, they do still have acreage under lease in the Marcellus. Last Friday, with plenty of excuses (seems to be their standard operating procedure), Endeavour filed for bankruptcy protection and their stock has been suspended on the NYSE…
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Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Oct 14, 2014
October 14, 2014October 14, 2014

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
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Atlas Energy | Energy Companies

Atlas Energy/Pipeline Sells Itself (Again) – for $7.7 BILLION!
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

Breaking news as we go to press: Pittsburgh-based Atlas Energy and Atlas Pipeline, both with operations in the Marcellus/Utica (part of which was previously sold to Chevron for $4.3 billion, see The Unconventional Rise & Sale of Atlas Energy), has just sold what was left of itself–again. This time the buyer is Targa Resources for a truly atounding $7.7 billion…
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About MDN | Meetings

Come Meet MDN at O&G Awards in Dallas & OKC in October
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

MDN editor Jim Willis is pleased to participate in a series of Oil & Gas Awards events later this month. Jim has been asked to moderate two panel discussions at both the Southwest Oil & Gas Awards event being held in Dallas, TX on Oct. 23, and two panel discussions at the Midcontinent Oil & Gas Awards event in Oklahoma City, OK on Oct. 29. Although MDN readers are located mostly in the northeast, we have quite a few in both the Dallas and OKC areas. We’ve worked out a very special deal for MDN subscribers. Attend the one-day conference at either event (or at the third event in Bakersfield, CA on Oct. 21) for FREE. This is a golden opportunity for me to get to meet you, and for you to hear industry leaders from both the upstream and midstream discuss the most important regional issues affecting the oil and gas industry. Just head on over to this special page to register (seating is limited, register now): //www.oilandgasawards.com/mdn/. Here’s what you’ll hear at each event…
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Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Updated List of Shale-Related Infrastructure/Econ Projects in OH
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

The sharp researchers at law firm Bricker & Eckler continue a winning streak with a special report they issue twice a year. “Shale Economic Development Overview (Fall 2014)” is a list of projects details, by county in Ohio, of those projects started or planned because of shale drilling (full copy below). The first edition of this list was published in October 2013 and showed projects worth $12.2 billion. This October? A staggering $21.5 billion. Just one more piece of irrefutable proof of the enormous economic benefits from shale development…
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Accidents | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Regulation | Statewide PA | Tioga County (PA) | Washington County | Wastewater

Second Generation Wastewater Impoundments – Truly Safe?
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

Little did we know it at the time, but former PA Dept. of Environmental Protection Chris Abruzzo’s last public interview was granted to MDN editor, Jim Willis, just three weeks ago before Abruzzo resigned (see PA DEP Sec. Abruzzo’s Last Public Interview…with MDN). Topic A that Jim asked Sec. Abruzzo was about the recent record fine of Range Resources ($4.15 million) for a series of leaky wastewater impoundments. Abruzzo stated during that interview, several times, that newer “next generation” impoudments have come along that are much safer. What are these “next generation” impoundments and are they really safer?…
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Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Susquehanna County

Important Landowner/Driller Case Heads to PA Supreme Court
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

A Pennsylvania landowner signed a lease with Cabot Oil & Gas in 2007. Part of the way through the lease, before Cabot initiated drilling, the landowner sued Cabot to dissolve the lease, citing certain reasons that they believe justified that action. The case went to court and the court eventually threw out the landowner’s case, meaning the lease is still in effect. Cabot then filed a counterclaim to have the lease term extended, something called an “equitable extension of lease terms.” In other words, once sued, the lease term should go on pause, and because they won, Cabot should then be able to un-pause the lease term and continue (which would otherwise have expired due to the long time it takes for court cases to play out). The court did not grant Cabot’s request and the case has now been appealed all the way to the PA Supreme Court. The decision will set an important precedent for both landowners and drillers…
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CNG/LNG | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Maryland | Statewide MD

Will Cove Point LNG Plant Goose Royalties for Landowners?
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

With the final recent approval for Dominion’s Cove Point, Maryland LNG export facility, the plant should go online sometime in 2017 (see Dominion Gets Final Fed Approval to Build Cove Point LNG Plant). Question: Will that one, single plant sop up enough Marcellus (and Utica) methane to raise the price of shale gas in the northeast and correspondingly raise the amount of royalties received by landowners? According to the executive director of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, that answer would be “yes”…
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Dominion Energy | Economic Impact | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pipelines | Statewide VA | Virginia

Enormous Benefits for All Virginians from Atlantic Coast Pipeline
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

The typical low information person (someone who reads headlines only, never bothers to think deeply about economics or politics) assumes when a new pipeline project is announced that the only entity to benefit is the pipeline company and maybe gas drillers who will sell their commodity by moving it through that pipeline. Such people could not be more wrong. Take the recently announced 550-mile, $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline project from Dominion (see Dominion Commits to Major New Marcellus/Utica Pipeline Project). Most of that pipeline will travel through Virginia. What, precisely, will be the economic impact of that project on ALL Virginians? Glad you asked…
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Air Quality | Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Research

WRI Plan to Save the World from Carbon & Methane in 5 Easy Steps
October 13, 2014October 13, 2014

Another save the world fantasy report has just been released by the World Resource Institute (WRI). According to a new “study” titled “Seeing is Believing: Creating a New Climate Economy in the United States” (full copy embedded below), if you just wave the magic wand of government and create regulations to restrict carbon and methane, the world will be a better (cleaner) place, and it will cost us all a lot less. That’s the theme of the report. Complete fiction and fantasy–but then, we all like a good story, right? One helpful recommendation: capping so-called emissions of carbon (the stuff you breathe out with every breath) in 9 northeast/mid-Atlantic states will create 16,000 jobs and pump $1.6 billion into the economy. Only in liberal la la land do these kinds of statements get taken seriously. Another one: “Cost-saving” measures can reduce “waste” in existing natural gas systems, saving 25% of the methane that gets “leaked” into the atmosphere. Just adopt the EPA’s draconian rules that call for dry-seal centrifugal compressors, low-bleed pneumatic devices, and install infrared cameras everywhere to detect and repair leaks. Price tag? According to WRI, just a few measly pennies per thousand cubic feet of natural gas. No sweat. Again, only in liberal la la land do these conditions exist…
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