Expand Energy has “Long Pedigree” and “Deep Technical Bench”
On Oct. 1, 2024, Chesapeake Energy announced its buyout of and merger with Southwestern Energy in a $7.4 billion deal was completed (see Chesapeake & Southwestern Complete Merger; Now #1 U.S. Gas Driller). The newly merged company was renamed Expand Energy Corporation and began trading on the NASDAQ stock market under the “EXE” ticker symbol. Expand is the #1 natural gas producer in the U.S., eclipsing the former #1 EQT. The big difference is that Expand’s production comes from both the Marcellus/Utica and the Haynesville, whereas EQT’s production is 100% from the M-U. Expand is quite the company. Enverus recently named Expand the #2 most prolific shale producer by production in 2024 (see Expand Energy Ranked #2 Most Prolific Shale Producer in 2024). Read More “Expand Energy has “Long Pedigree” and “Deep Technical Bench””
BlackRock is the largest investment firm in the world, currently with $11.6 trillion of investments under management. Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock, pushed the so-called ESG (environment, social, governance) agenda for years. What the left and people like Fink mean by ESG is don’t invest in or use fossil fuel energy (E), everything is racist (S), and the government is always right when Democrats are in charge (G). Fink stopped using the ESG term in 2023, although he continued to push the ESG agenda of divesting from fossil fuel companies (see 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Freeport LNG restart hopes, cooler forecasts boost natural gas futures; NATIONAL: EnviTec’s 23 years of expertise optimize chicken manure for RNG in the US market; President Trump gives directive to rename Gulf of Mexico; LNG companies hail Trump decision to lift freeze on export permits; Trump’s climate withdrawal creates rare discord with Big Oil; The energy storage fiasco — how soon will it be abandoned?; INTERNATIONAL: Premier Tim Houston unveils push for more natural resource development in Nova Scotia; Europe may need over 100 extra gas cargoes to refill shrinking stocks. 
MDN reported in October that Marcellus/Utica driller Infinity Natural Resources (INR) intended to file an initial public offering (IPO) with the Securities and Exchange Commission hoping to raise $100 million (see 
Last August, MDN told you about several potential new pipeline projects under consideration to help feed new data centers and artificial intelligence (AI) operations, most of them located in the southeastern U.S. (see 
A key issue has come about with the rapid increase in carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects around the country, including here in the Marcellus/Utica region. Where does one store (sequester) all that carbon dioxide (CO2)? The answer is underground in a Class VI injection well. Class VI wells are a relatively new classification for injection wells, created by the federal EPA in 2010. Who regulates Class VI wells is a flashpoint of controversy. Until yesterday, the EPA was the primary regulator (has “primacy”) in regulating Class VI wells in all but three states: North Dakota, Wyoming, and Louisiana. Yesterday, West Virginia was added to the Class VI primacy list. 
Our heads are officially blown! Did you catch any of yesterday’s inauguration? WOW!!! We have NEVER been more proud to be an American than we were yesterday. President Trump hit the ground running so fast the left’s heads were spinning around like Regan’s head in 
One year ago, the sleazy Joe Biden slapped a “pause” on allowing the Department of Energy (DOE) to review and issue export approvals for any new LNG export facilities (see 
According to an article in the Dominion Post, horizontal gas well permits in West Virginia dipped to “an all-time low” in 2023 and 2024. The Dominion Post talked with the Gas & Oil Association of West Virginia (GO-WV) about the numbers, the trends, and what might be ahead for the industry. Has shale drilling already seen its best days in the Mountain State? 
After losing five rigs two weeks ago, the Baker Hughes national rig count lost another four last week. The number of rigs nationally now stands at 580, the lowest since Dec. 2021 (over three years ago). The Marcellus/Utica rig count was a combined 34 last week—the same number for five weeks in a row. PA has operated 15 rigs for the past ten weeks, with the exception of one week, when the number briefly increased to 16 rigs (the week ending on Dec. 6). OH has operated nine rigs for the past seven weeks, and WV has operated 10 rigs for an astonishing 19 weeks in a row, going back to Sep. 13. 
The experts at RBN Energy recently analyzed the Q3 2024 financial results for the gas-focused producers the company tracks (mainly Marcellus/Utica producers). The gas-weighted E&Ps RBN follows had the best total shareholder return performance of the three peer groups they tracked through the first nine months of 2024, with a median gain of 14%. On the high side, CNX Resources’ share price was amazing, up more than 60% for the first nine months of last year. On the other end, Coterra Energy’s share price lost value.