Marcellus Drilling News

Energy Services | Leatherstocking Gas | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

Dimock is Back in the News – New LDC on the Way
May 27, 2014May 27, 2014

Dimock. That single word for many people evokes pictures of brown water in clear jars with claims that shale gas drilling “polluted the water in Dimock, PA.” Of course, it isn’t true. But that doesn’t stop good propagandists like Josh Fox from making money from peddling a lie (see Study Proves Fracking Didn’t Cause Methane in Dimock Water Wells). Now that Dimock is resolved and behind us, this little township in rural Susquehanna County is back in the news. Because of natural gas. But this time, Josh Fox certainly won’t make a movie out of it. Last week the PA Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved an application from Leatherstocking Gas (a local distribution company–or LDC) to run local natural gas pipelines to schools, homes and businesses in Dimock…
Read More “Dimock is Back in the News – New LDC on the Way”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale | Wastewater

OH Wastewater Disposed Via Injection Wells Jumps 15% in 2013
May 27, 2014May 27, 2014

The volume of wastewater and brine disposed of by pumping it back down an injection well in Ohio jumped 15% from 2012 to 2013. According to new data released by the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR), 16.3 million barrels of wastewater and brine was disposed of during 2013 in Ohio injection wells. But contrary to the hew and cry of anti-drillers–the increase did not come from Pennsylvania drillers. The increase came from Ohio Utica Shale drilling…
Read More “OH Wastewater Disposed Via Injection Wells Jumps 15% in 2013”
Energy Services | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | UIL Holdings

Former Enron Exec Makes “Unethical” Play to Derail PGW Deal
May 27, 2014May 27, 2014

In March MDN told you about the deal negotiated by Philadelphia’s Democrat mayor, Michael Nutter, to sell off (i.e. privatize) the country’s oldest and largest municipal-owned gas company–the Philadelphia Gas Works (see Phila. Gas Works Deal for $1.86B – Marcellus/Utica One of Keys). To his credit, Nutter negotiated a good deal for the city, its residents, and the ratepayers of PGW. One of the main draws for the deal is its proximity to the Marcellus Shale (see Fascinating Look Behind the Curtain of the Phila. Gas Works Deal). However, resistance to the sale was swift and strong–by city council and their entrenched political interests in keeping labor unions happy. Now comes word that a Russian-born former Enron executive is working behind the scenes trying to derail the deal…
Read More “Former Enron Exec Makes “Unethical” Play to Derail PGW Deal”
Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Snyder Brothers | Statewide PA | Taxation

High-Priced Strippers in PA: Semantic Gymnastics with Impact Fee
May 27, 2014May 27, 2014

Synder Brothers, a mostly conventional (vertical-only) oil and gas driller in Pennsylvania, is having a lover’s quarrel with the PA Public Utilities Commission over what a stripper is and isn’t. Er, a stripper well, that is. The outcome of that argument may mean Synder Brothers will have to pony up $500,000 for impact fees on wells they’ve drilled that are, according to them, “stripper wells.” And what, pray tell, is a stripper well?…
Read More “High-Priced Strippers in PA: Semantic Gymnastics with Impact Fee”
Access Midstream Partners | Energy Services | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | M3 Midstream | Momentum | Ohio | Processing Plants

Harrison, OH a Hub for Midstream Processing – Continues to Grow
May 27, 2014May 27, 2014

A few weeks ago MDN told you that Access Midstream and partners M3 Midstream and EV Energy Partners are planning to boost capacity and add a second “processing train” to their Leesville, OH gas processing complex (see Access Midstream: Major Expansion of Utica Processing Facility). With added capacity, the complex will be able to process 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day! In addition, the jv partners’ Scio, OH facility is currently building a third processing train to their fractionation (liquids-separating) operation…
Read More “Harrison, OH a Hub for Midstream Processing – Continues to Grow”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, May 27, 2014
May 27, 2014May 27, 2014

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: Tue, May 27, 2014”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

CA Anti-Driller Tom Steyer Purchasing Tom Wolf PA Governorship
May 23, 2014May 23, 2014

Looks like newly-minted Pennsylvania Democrat candidate for governor, Tom Wolf (who is a multi-millionaire), has signed up to be the political b*tch for Tom Steyer from California (a multi-billionaire). How else would you describe it when Steyer has pledged $100 million to fund three gubernatorial and four Senate races (all Democrats)–one of which is the governor’s race in PA? That’s $14.3 million for Wolf if the $100 million pot of Steyer’s gold is split evenly. If Wolf wins, he’ll be owned lock, stock and by the short hairs by Steyer–in office to do Steyer’s bidding. The reason Steyer is willing to buy Wolf an election in PA? Steyer hates fossil fuels. Surprised?…
Read More “CA Anti-Driller Tom Steyer Purchasing Tom Wolf PA Governorship”
Clearfield County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater

EPA Issues “Final” Permit for PA Injection Well, Then Rescinds It
May 23, 2014May 23, 2014

Looks like the word “final” doesn’t really mean “final”–at least for the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA issued a “final permit” to Windfall Oil and Gas to drill a wastewater injection well near Dubois (Clearfield County), PA in February (see New Wastewater Injection Well Approved in Clearfield County, PA). The EPA’s exact language when issuing the permit after 18 months of evaluation: “Based on all of the public comments received, EPA is issuing a final permit to Windfall Oil and Gas.” The “final” permit allows Windfall to operate the well until 2019 (see a copy of the permit below). But then anti-drillers got involved and pressured the EPA. So the EPA has just taken the “unusual step” of withdrawing it’s “final” approval for the injection well. What’s it called when someone changes his or her mind on a whim? Oh yeah, flaky…
Read More “EPA Issues “Final” Permit for PA Injection Well, Then Rescinds It”
Industrywide Issues | Landfills | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA

PIOGA Issues “Plea” to Drillers for Drill Cutting Samples for Study
May 23, 2014May 23, 2014

The Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA) is putting out “a plea” for drillers in PA to lend a hand. PIOGA wants to prove to the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) that drill cuttings are not radioactive and not “laced” with dangerous chemicals. Why do they want to prove it? So that drill cuttings (leftover rock and dirt when the borehole is drilled) can be recycled and used as fill on drilling sites, and as fill for construction sites in general. Problem is, the drillers are not cooperating…
Read More “PIOGA Issues “Plea” to Drillers for Drill Cutting Samples for Study”
Belmont County | Industrywide Issues | Landfills | Ohio | Statewide OH

ODNR Allows Drill Cuttings to be Used for Construction, Roads
May 23, 2014May 23, 2014

An interesting juxtaposition for MDN. We reported in a story today that PIOGA has put out a plea for drill cutting samples so they can perform a study that will prove to the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) that drill cuttings are not radioactive or laced with chemicals and that it’s safe to recycle them for use in things like fill for construction sites–and even road work. Recycling is good! The juxtaposition is Ohio, where the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) already allows the use of drill cuttings for such purposes–with a permit of course…
Read More “ODNR Allows Drill Cuttings to be Used for Construction, Roads”
American Energy Partners | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Utica Shale

Aubrey McClendon Raises Huge $8.7B for Shale Drilling…So Far
May 23, 2014May 23, 2014

Aubrey McClendon certainly has not let getting fired from the company he co-founded, Chesapeake Energy, slow him down. Aubrey has now raised an eye-popping $8.7 billion in capital to fund oil and gas drilling–much of it in the Utica Shale. Nearly half of that, around $4 billion, is coming in deals aimed at the Permian Basin (in Texas) and the Marcellus Shale. Those deals, according to an interview granted by McClendon last week at a conference in Houston, are still not “announced” nor “detailed”. He plans to announce the deals by the end of summer…
Read More “Aubrey McClendon Raises Huge $8.7B for Shale Drilling…So Far”
Industrywide Issues | Research | Soil

Earth to Mars: We’re Coming to Frack You!
May 23, 2014May 23, 2014

No, this is not a spoof nor a joke. A petroleum engineer and professor at the Colorado School of Mines, Alfred William Eustes III, will address a meeting of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Aberdeen, United Kingdom on May 28th. The topic of his discussion? How oil and gas drilling techniques developed here on earth may help us discover whether or not there currently is or previously has been life under the surface on Mars…
Read More “Earth to Mars: We’re Coming to Frack You!”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, May 23, 2014
May 23, 2014May 23, 2014

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: Fri, May 23, 2014”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA Democrat Primary Results & Possible Impact on the Marcellus
May 22, 2014May 22, 2014

Results from yesterday’s Pennsylvania primary to report that have potential consequences for the Marcellus Shale. In particular, the race for governor and the race for anyone but Jesse White for the PA House in Washington County…
Read More “PA Democrat Primary Results & Possible Impact on the Marcellus”
Energy Companies | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Protege Energy | Utica Shale | Washington County (OH)

Delay in Leasing City-Owned Land Costs Marietta, OH Big $
May 22, 2014May 22, 2014

The mayor of Marietta, OH says the city probably missed the boat to lease 95 acres of city-owned land for Utica Shale drilling–and he blames city council for dithering about getting an ad placed to announce the land is available (death by committee). But perhaps all is not lost…
Read More “Delay in Leasing City-Owned Land Costs Marietta, OH Big $”
Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Marcellus Pipeline May Come to South Jersey After All
May 22, 2014May 22, 2014

In January MDN brought you the story that due to incessant nagging from the NJ Sierra Club and the NJ League of [Liberal Democrat] Women Voters the Pinelands Commission, which oversees a stand of scrub pines in South Jersey, nixed a plan for a new natural gas pipeline to bring cheap, clean, abundant Marcellus Shale natural gas to South Jersey (see Sierra Club, LWV Chooses Coal over NatGas in South Jersey). NJ Gov. Chris Christie has just appointed two new members to the Pinelands Commission, replacing two who voted against the plan. Re-vote time?…
Read More “Marcellus Pipeline May Come to South Jersey After All”