Marcellus Drilling News

Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Seneca Resources | Steuben County

17-Mile Gas Pipeline in Steuben County, NY Makes Progress
March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

Empire Pipeline, a subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Company (which also owns driller Seneca Resources) is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for approval on a new 17-mile pipeline in Steuben County, NY. The project is called the Tuscorara Lateral Project and will cost a projected $43 million. The pipeline will connect a gas storage field and compressor station in Tuscarora, NY (also owned by National Fuel Gas) with the existing Empire Pipeline network–a network that stretches from Buffalo to Syracuse and down to Corning. This “little” piece of pipeline will open up much needed extra volumes of natural gas for Upstate New Yorkers.

Empire/National Fuel is now negotiating with landowners to run the pipe under their property. They hope to begin building later this year and have the pipeline in service in November 2015. Below is a story about the project, the reason for it, the jobs it will create, and finally a copy of a presentation given last year at a special open house with full details…
Read More “17-Mile Gas Pipeline in Steuben County, NY Makes Progress”
Education | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Noble Energy | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Noble Energy Donates $250K to WV Community College Program
March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

Noble Energy certainly live up to it’s name of “noble.” Earlier this week Noble announced a $250,000 one-time gift to the West Virginia Community College’s new Appalachian Petroleum Technology Training Center. The Center offers one-year certifications and two-year degrees in petroleum technology–just one of 14 programs in the country like it. MDN previously wrote about the new program in May 2013 (see New Appalachian Petroleum Technology Training Center in WV). Graduates coming from the program have the ability to earn between $60,000-$100,000 per year–starting! It’s a fabulous program and Noble has really stepped up to the plate to ensure the program not only survives, but thrives–so kudos to Noble.

Here’s the announcement from the Community and Technical College System of West Virginia (WVCTCS):
Read More “Noble Energy Donates $250K to WV Community College Program”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, Mar 28, 2014
March 28, 2014March 28, 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, Mar 28, 2014”
Antero Resources | Braskem | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Odebrecht | Processing Plants | Statewide WV | West Virginia | Wood County

Antero to Provide 50% Ethane Needed at Parkersburg Cracker Plant
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

The ethane cracker plant planned for Parkersburg (Wood County), WV, to be built by Odebrecht and operated by Odebrecht subsidiary Braskem America, took another giant step closer to reality yesterday. Powerhouse Marcellus/Utica driller Antero Resources announced they will provide 30,000 barrels per day of ethane for the proposed new plant when/if it gets built. That’s half of what the plant needs to operate. Antero Resources CEO Paul Rady was joined by Odebrecht VP of business development David Peebles on stage at the Marcellus to Manufacturing Ethane Development Conference at the Charleston Civic Center for the big announcement yesterday. WV Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin took to the stage to crow about the deal too (he’s earned the right).

It was just Monday of last week that MDN observed that the Odebrect cracker plant just “feels” like it’s going to happen (see Odebrecht’s WV Ethane Cracker has The Big Mo–Momentum). Yesterday’s Antero announcement is more evidence of that. Below is the official Antero announcement about their ethane contribution to the proposed new cracker, along with a report of who said what about the deal at yesterday’s Charleston conference…
Read More “Antero to Provide 50% Ethane Needed at Parkersburg Cracker Plant”
Beaver County | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell | Statewide PA

County Officials Meet with Shell on PA Cracker, Come Away Hopeful
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

Seems like it’s “cracker day” at MDN. Long before Odebrecht announced their potential ethane cracker plant for Parkersburg, WV, Shell announced plans to build a cracker in Pennsylvania. In fact it was exactly two years ago this month that Shell announced the location would be Monaca (Beaver County), PA (see Shell Announces Location of Ethane Cracker Plant). PA state legislators eventually voted on a package of significant tax breaks for the proposed new plant (see PA Legislature Reaches Deal on Tax Credit for Cracker Plant). However, since that time, it seems like the PA cracker deal has cycled through highs and lows as to whether it would actually get built (see PA Ethane Cracker – On Again, Off Again…Now On Again?).

More recently MDN told you the pendulum had swung back to the pessimistic side (see Shell’s Shale Pessimism Signals Worry for Some re PA Cracker). But what’s this? Last week some 30 Beaver County officials met with Shell about the proposed ethane cracker plant and left that meeting feeling “hopeful”–which is a good sign. Shell told the officials about moving forward with plans to move a portion of a local roadway, relocate power lines and other big-ticket projects that Shell would not be spending money on unless there is serious interest in moving forward. Here’s more from last week’s hopeful meeting between Shell and Beaver County officials…
Read More “County Officials Meet with Shell on PA Cracker, Come Away Hopeful”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA Dem Floats 5% Marcellus Severance Tax “For the Children”
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

Pennsylvania Democrats continue their push for economic suicide. Borrowing from their 50 year-old playbook, the latest push is to impose a 5% severance tax on Marcellus Shale drilling in the state–which would effectively kill all drilling–and use the money (please don’t laugh)…”for the children.” Yes folks, PA’s schools suck big-time, and the only thing that can save them now is to extract some money out of the pockets of those nasty, filthy (and rich) drillers so teachers can educate young crumb crunchers to the superiority of socialism and taking money from one group (those who work) to redistribute to another (those who don’t work). What better way than to sink a pipeline right into the piles of money that come from drilling? What dunces.

State Sen. Vincent Hughes, dunderhead Democrat from the Philadelphia area, said he will introduce legislation to impose a 5% Marcellus Shale severance tax that will be DOA, so he and other Dems can use it as a politically divisive campaign issue come November. Such caring (and intelligent) folks those PA Democrats. Just a teeny, tiny problem Vinny–your party has voted to stop all Marcellus drilling (see PA Democrat Party Votes to End Marcellus Shale Drilling Statewide). How will you tax something that doesn’t happen anymore? Oops…
Read More “PA Dem Floats 5% Marcellus Severance Tax “For the Children””
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Susquehanna County | Williams

EPA/DOI Ask for More Time to Review PA-NY Constitution Pipeline
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

NGI’s Shale Daily is reporting both the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Dept. of Interior (DOI) have filed requests with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to extend the comment period on the proposed 124-mile Constitution Pipeline. The Constitution will run from the prolific gas fields of Susquehanna County, PA across the border and up into Schoharie County, NY where it will interconnect with two major interstate pipelines–carrying Marcellus Shale natural gas produced by Cabot Oil & Gas and other drillers (see New Marcellus Constitution Pipeline Announces “Final” Route). Along the way a local utility company will tap into the Constitution to deliver natural gas to rural locations (see Leatherstocking to Tap Constitution Pipeline for Local Deliveries).

However, the Constitution will need to make a few changes, according to FERC (see FERC: Constitution Pipeline Should Make Changes to Lessen Impacts). But nothing too major. That is, unless the EPA and DOI jump in with new demands. Their delay is unwelcome and potentially troubling–although we’re not ready to hit the panic button just yet. Here’s what Shale Daily says about the request from EPA & DOI:
Read More “EPA/DOI Ask for More Time to Review PA-NY Constitution Pipeline”
Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Meetings | Statewide WV | West Virginia | Wood County

WV Marcellus to Manufacturing (M2M) Talks Crackers, Jobs & More
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

The 2014 Marcellus to Manufacturing Ethane Development Conference (M2M) is part of a larger event taking place this week in Charleston, WV–the West Virginia Construction and Design Expo, being held at the Charleston Civic Center. Yesterday most of the talk at M2M revolved around the Antero Resources announcement that they will provide 30,000 barrels of ethane per day for the proposed Odebrecht cracker plant (see today’s lead story). However, there were other presentations and topics, including jobs, the petrochemical industry in WV, and more.

Here’s a first-hand account of yesterday’s M2M from a Parkersburg reporter:
Read More “WV Marcellus to Manufacturing (M2M) Talks Crackers, Jobs & More”
Energy Services | Falcon Drilling

More Drilling Rigs Come to the Utica/Marcellus – from Falcon
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

Falcon Drilling, which operates 13 drilling rigs in PA, WV and the OH Marcellus and Utica, has just purchased three new drilling rigs for their northeast drilling operations–good news for Marcellus and Utica operators.

Here’s the low down on the types of rigs Falcon has just purchased, and where they plan to use them…
Read More “More Drilling Rigs Come to the Utica/Marcellus – from Falcon”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pipelines | Statewide OH | Sunoco Logistics

Sunoco Logistics Oil Pipeline Leaks 20K Gal in OH Nature Preserve
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

Last Tuesday Sunoco Logistics discovered a 5-inch crack leaking crude oil from their Mid-Valley Pipeline–and the oil was leaking into the Oak Glen Nature Preserve just west of Cincinnati, OH. Ouch. Initial reports were that 10,000 gallons of oil had leaked before the pipeline between Hebron, KY and Lima, OH was shut off. That estimate has been doubled–it’s now thought more than 20,000 gallons of oil leaked. Double ouch.

What does this have to do with Marcellus/Utica shale drilling? Not much. It’s possible some of the oil comes from Ohio–more likely from other locations (we don’t know). Sunoco Logistics is the company that has built (and is building) the Mariner West and Mariner East ethane/NGL pipelines–but it’s a stretch to compare those gas pipelines with the Mid-Valley oil pipeline. The connection between the oil spill and northeast shale drilling is this: MDN editor Jim Willis first learned about the leak at the Oil & Gas Awards’ “Conference for Excellence” last week in Pittsburgh. Jim was sitting next to an official from McCutcheon Enterprises–one of the companies called in to clean up the mess–who told Jim about the spill and his company’s rapid response to work on getting it cleaned up…
Read More “Sunoco Logistics Oil Pipeline Leaks 20K Gal in OH Nature Preserve”
Anchor Drilling Fluids | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | M&A

Downstream Petrochemical Co Buys Upstream Frack Fluid Co
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

Calumet Specialty Products Partners, a company that processes crude oil and other feedstocks into customized lubricating oils, solvents, waxes and asphalt used in consumer, industrial and automotive products, has just purchased Anchor Drilling Fluids outright for $235 million in cash. Anchor manufactures drilling mud and frack fluids used in shale drilling in the Marcellus, Utica and just about every other major shale play across the U.S. It certainly makes sense for Calument, a huge chemical company already in the “downstream” petrochemical space to move into chemical manufacturing for the “upstream” exploration and production space.

You may recall Calument is also building a gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant at their Karns, PA location to convert Marcellus Shale gas to diesel fuel (see Chemical Manufacturer to Build Gas-to-Liquids Plant in PA). Here’s yesterday’s announcement that Calumet has plunked down $235 million for Anchor Drilling Fluids…
Read More “Downstream Petrochemical Co Buys Upstream Frack Fluid Co”
CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

Russia, Obama, Europe and Marcellus Shale Gas – They are Related
March 27, 2014March 27, 2014

In a move sure to tick off those on the anti-fossil fuel loony left, yesterday President Obama and members of the European Union issued a joint statement from an economic summit in Brussels, Belgium in which they say (our words): Bring on the LNG exports from the USA! It’s an important signal from Obama that his administration may speed up approvals for facilities that want to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe and beyond–partially in an effort to weaken Russia’s influence in the region. Europe currently gets 40% of their natural gas from Russia–so if Putin decides to turn off the spigot (as he’s done in the past with Poland and the Ukraine), it can have catastrophic consequences. Europe, and now apparently Obama, are ready to use American shale gas to reduce and even replace gas from Russia.

Even a dolt like Obama is bound to get something right at some point–so let’s give some credit where it’s due. His administration recently approved the Cove Point, Maryland LNG export facility that is being built by Dominion. When it’s operational (2015?) Marcellus Shale gas will be going to India and Japan. More export facilities are waiting to be approved that will move Marcellus and other shale play gas to other countries. Hopefully this new-found interest from the EU will encourage Obama to get on the stick and approve those facilities. Below is the joint statement between the U.S. and the EU, along with an article from The Hill highlighting LNG exports from the good ole US of A…
Read More “Russia, Obama, Europe and Marcellus Shale Gas – They are Related”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Mar 27, 2014
March 27, 2014March 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: Thu, Mar 27, 2014”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Taxation | Utica Shale

Ohio Republicans About to Go Goose Hunting with Severance Tax?
March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

It seems MDN is not alone in encouraging the weak-kneed Republican politicians in Ohio to not screw up the economic miracle happening in their state by imposing an overzealous severance tax on Utica Shale drilling.

The editorial writers at the Wheeling News-Register think Gov. John Kasich and the House Republicans should tread lightly and make double-dog sure whatever new taxes they vote for, they don’t kill the goose laying the golden eggs in Ohio…
Read More “Ohio Republicans About to Go Goose Hunting with Severance Tax?”
Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Norse Energy | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Update: Norse/JLCNY Lawsuit Hearing Date Set for April 25
March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

Sadly, politics in New York State have become so corrupt that even the State Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, actively works against the interests of the people he’s sworn to protect–the citizens of New York State. Late last year Norse Energy sued Gov. Andrew Cuomo, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens and State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah over their collusion to stop shale drilling in the state (see Norse Energy Sues Gov. Cuomo to Force Release of Fracking Regs). Later, the 70,000-member Joint Landowners Coalition of New York joined that lawsuit (see D-Day: JLCNY Files Lawsuit Today Against Cuomo, Martens, Shah).

How has AG Schneiderman reacted? By filing to dismiss the lawsuits and delay (see NY Attorney General Files to Dismiss Norse Lawsuit, More Delays). It’s utterly shameful. The lawsuit was scheduled for a hearing first in January, then moved to February, then March, and now April. It appears Norse and the JLCNY, whose cases are now tied together, will finally get a hearing at the end of April–on the 25th…
Read More “NY Update: Norse/JLCNY Lawsuit Hearing Date Set for April 25”
Antero Resources | Belmont County | Energy Companies | Guernsey County | Harrison County | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Utica Shale

MWCD Close to Signing Utica Lease for Piedmont Lake, OH Property
March 26, 2014March 26, 2014

In early January MDN brought you the delicious news that the Muskigum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) is planning to lease a large tract of District-owned land in and around Piedmont Lake (in Belmont, Guernsey and Harrison counties) for Utica Shale drilling (see MWCD Open House on Leasing Piedmont Lake Property for Drilling). The original 6,600 acres has now turned into 6,700 acres and the lessor will be Antero Resources, according to an announcement issued by the MWCD last Friday.

According to the MWCD board, they will likely vote on the lease at their next meeting scheduled for April 18. An update on the Piedmont Lake lease from the MWCD is below, along with the draft copy of the lease from Antero. Noticeably missing from the draft lease are the terms…
Read More “MWCD Close to Signing Utica Lease for Piedmont Lake, OH Property”