Marcellus Drilling News

Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Regulation | Sunoco Logistics | Washington County

PA Judge Hears Mariner East NGL Pipeline Eminent Domain Case
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

Sunoco Logistics–and for that matter, MarkWest–have a lot riding on a single court case in Washington County, PA. It might be a bit melodramatic to say the future of the Mariner East NGL (natural gas liquids) pipeline hangs in the balance, but it certainly is not inaccurate to say the case could cause an extended delay–if it goes the “wrong” way (for Sunoco). What’s the case about?

Sunoco’s Mariner East “refined products” pipeline spans the entire state of Pennsylvania. In order to connect to that pipeline to ship propane and ethane to the Marcus Hook refinery near Philadelphia, Sunoco first has to build a 50-mile feeder pipeline from the MarkWest processing plant in Houston (Chartiers Township) to Delmont (see the Sunoco map below). The problem is, a group of landowners in Washington County won’t play ball and lease their land to Sunoco to bury the pipeline. Sunoco got tired of negotiating with the recalcitrant landowners, and changed tactics to declare it (Sunoco) has eminent domain power under PA state authority. They sue the 25 landowners for force them to allow the pipeline. The landowners sued back arguing the 50-mile pipeline should come under federal, not state, authority. One of the 25 cases is being used as a proxy for the others and that case was just argued yesterday before a PA judge. A decision, according to the judge, will be “prompt”…
Read More “PA Judge Hears Mariner East NGL Pipeline Eminent Domain Case”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

CSSD Makes Case for Quasi-Regulation of Marcellus Drilling
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

Yesterday MDN told you that the Center for Sustainable Shale Development (the CSSD) is back, in a big way (see Center for Sustainable Shale Comes Roaring Back (to Life)). About the time we posted that story, we received a number of announcements from the CSSD. One of those announcements was about a session for the press–to listen to and ask questions of CSSD interim director Andrew Place (from EQT) and former governor and EPA administrator Christine Todd Whitman. MDN dialed in to listen, this is what we heard…
Read More “CSSD Makes Case for Quasi-Regulation of Marcellus Drilling”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

Are CSSD’s Standards Really Needed? Comparison with PA/OH/WV/Feds
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

The Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD) has a big hurdle to leap–convincing drillers to spend a lot of money and time (up to $50,000 and hundreds of hours) to become CSSD certified–and then ongoing monitoring to keep that certification. They’re using a carrot and stick. The carrot is that if you become certified, you’re elite, you’re “in”, you’re special–and landowners will be able to trust you. You’ll have the “Goodhouskeeping seal of approval” on your drilling because you’ve got the cert. The stick is that if you don’t get certified, you’re suspect, you’re in the “out” crowd, you’re not “one of us” and therefore landowners should be wary of signing a lease to have you drill on their property.

Beyond the perceptions, the real question is whether or not the standards themselves will achieve what they say they will achieve–safer and “sustainable” drilling that does a minimum amount of damage to the environment while retrieving low-cost, more efficient and better for the environment natural gas. But wait (you may ask), don’t the states and even the feds already have a bookshelf full of standards and regulations drillers must follow? Indeed they do. The CSSD says, in essence, those standards are fine, but our (CSSD) standards are far better. The crux of the CSSD argument is that you should voluntarily (with peer pressure and cajoling) follow our standards because we have PA, OH, WV and even the feds beat on how strict and yummy good for the environment our standards are over theirs. In fact, the CSSD has produced a chart (embedded below) to “prove” it…
Read More “Are CSSD’s Standards Really Needed? Comparison with PA/OH/WV/Feds”
CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies

CONSOL Update: Spending $1.5B in 2014, Production Target 235 Bcfe
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

CONSOL Energy continues its rapid transformation from coal producer to natural gas producer. Yesterday the company issued an update reiterating their intention to hike natural gas production by 30% this year. To do it, they plan to spend up to $1.5 billion on drilling and capital investments. That’s a whole lotta dough. Most of that will be spent in the Marcellus and Utica Shale (CONSOL is headquartered in Pittsburgh).

Below is CONSOL’s announcement in which they tell us where, and how, they plan to dramatically increase natural gas production in 2014:
Read More “CONSOL Update: Spending $1.5B in 2014, Production Target 235 Bcfe”
CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies

New CNX Gas COO Tim Dugan – Marcellus & Utica Experience
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

Back in November, MDN told you that the top dog guy who runs the exploration and production (E&P) division of CONSOL Energy, Randy Albert, is retiring (see CNX Gas Chief Randy Albert Retiring, Search On for Successor). We were truly sorry to see him go. We’ve met Randy and liked him.

Today, we’re happy to report a new COO for the E&P division–someone who’s been around the Marcellus/Utica block a few times and knows the ropes well: Tim Dugan. Here’s the CONSOL announcement about Tim taking the reigns at CNX Gas…
Read More “New CNX Gas COO Tim Dugan – Marcellus & Utica Experience”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Taxation | Utica Shale

OH House Dem Makes Another Run at Nosebleed 7.5% Severance Tax
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

The reliably anti-drilling Ohio State Representative from Youngstown, Robert F. Hagan, would prefer to ban shale drilling outright. Since that’s not going to happen in OH (at least not any time soon), he wants to kill it another way. Last June Hagan introduced a bill in the OH House that would enact a 7.5% drilling tax on Utica Shale drilling, which would of course effectively kill all Utica drilling henceforth (see Youngstown Democrat State Rep Wants to Hike Severance Tax to 7.5%). You have to hand it to those OH Dems–they’re real johnny one-notes: tax more, spend more.

Hagan is trotting out his obscenely high tax bill once again, trying to whip up support. Good luck with that one Bobby…
Read More “OH House Dem Makes Another Run at Nosebleed 7.5% Severance Tax”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Minnesota Film Festival Bows to Pressure, Censors FrackNation
January 22, 2014January 22, 2014

It looks like the peace-loving, open-minded, love and daisies anti-drilling liberals have bullied another venue into dropping a screening of the pro-drilling (and highly recommend) FrackNation. The Frozen River Film Festival in Winona, MN said they had been pressured by libs from Mountain Film in Telluride and the Sundance Film Festival. And so they caved and went running with their tail between their legs instead of standing up for free speech and an alternative view.

Ever notice how free speech only applies when mouthy anti-drillers want to shut down a public meeting or show their propaganda somewhere–but when the other side wants to talk or show a film, it’s “off with their heads!” Hypocrites–the lot of them. Here’s an update from MDN friend and FrackNation director and star Phelim McAleer about Frozen River Film Festival’s censorship of his film…
Read More “Minnesota Film Festival Bows to Pressure, Censors FrackNation”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Jan 22, 2014
January 22, 2014January 22, 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: Wed, Jan 22, 2014”
Chevron | CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Shell | Statewide PA

Center for Sustainable Shale Comes Roaring Back (to Life)
January 21, 2014

Finally, signs of life from the Center for Sustainable Shale Development (CSSD), a new independent certification organization for Marcellus Shale drillers launched with much fanfare in March of last year. Both drillers and environmentalist organizations, along with non-profits like the mostly anti-drilling Heinz Endowments, cooperated to develop a set of 15 standards drillers should meet to receive the CSSD’s official stamp of approval (see Important: Drillers & Enviros Form New Group, Launch Cert Program for MDN’s mixed feelings about the organization and its standards). Heinz Endowments president Bobby Vagt lost his job for promoting the CSSD (see Bobby Vagt Out as Pres of Heinz Endowments – Fracking Connection?).

Since launching, aside from the Vagt/Heinz flap, all has been quiet with the CSSD. However, the CSSD was busy working behind the scenes. From the beginning, Andrew Place, corporate director of energy and environmental policy for EQT has served as interim director of the CSSD. News reports are now coming fast and furious. First, environmentalist lawyer Susan LeGros from Philadelphia has been named the director of the CSSD. She’ll be making a move to Pittsburgh where CSSD HQ is located. Second, Bureau Veritas (BV) has been selected as the company to audit/evaluate companies that want to spend the $30-$100K required to become certified. After they evaluate, a 3-member panel will decide on whether they get the stamp of approval. Two of those three people are Christy Todd Whitman, former governor of NJ and former EPA chief, and former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill. Third, it appears to MDN that no one else has joined the CSSD beyond the initial handful of signups (Shell, EQT, Chevron, CONSOL Energy), and that no one has sought certification–although that may change now that the cert process is up and running…
Read More “Center for Sustainable Shale Comes Roaring Back (to Life)”
Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | M&A | NiSource

Midstream Melee: Dominion in the Hunt to Buy NiSource?
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

The rumor mill is buzzing with speculation that NiSource, a $10.6 billion utility and midstream company with major operations in the Marcellus and Utica Shale, is the object of desire for Dominion, a powerhouse utility and midstream company worth $38 billion. Everyone’s denying everything, but “inside sources” assure the Associated Press that Dominion is in “advanced stages” of raising the $10B+ they need to make a purchase, and that’s causing NiSource’s stock to skyrocket.

Here’s the rumor, speculation and (very few) facts as we know them:
Read More “Midstream Melee: Dominion in the Hunt to Buy NiSource?”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

PA Resident Snaps 8,000 Pictures of Cabot Well Construction
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

MDN editor Jim Willis received an excited phone call from Susquehanna County, PA resident Janice Gavern after being pointed in our direction by Cabot Oil & Gas. Janice, who runs a goat farm with her daughter near Montrose, PA (and a cancer survivor) started a project a few years back to document the drilling of a shale well on her friend’s property. As Janice says, after she visited the site, just to “keep an eye on things” and snapped her first picture, she was hooked. And the rest, including some 8,000 pictures taken with Janice’s little digital camera, is history. At least that’s what Janice hopes.

Janice’s aim in doing a photo documentary of the drilling process is to preserve an important bit of Susquehanna County history, for future generations. Janice has selected 650 of the 8,000 pictures and compiled them into an e-book on Amazon–the first e-book of a series she’s planning. The first batch cover site preparation and building the well pad–up to the point when the drill arrives. She’s done a fabulous job, and we’re happy to help her make it known to the world. In fact, although the e-book normally retails for $9.99, you can order it FREE today and then again on Feb. 1. We recommend you head on over and download it right now. Here’s a bit more of Janice’s story as told by the Scranton Times-Tribune…
Read More “PA Resident Snaps 8,000 Pictures of Cabot Well Construction”
Belmont County | Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Utica Shale

School in Belmont County, OH Gets $7,250/Acre from Gulfport
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

Some 10 miles “as the crow flies” from Gulfport Energy’s super well, the Irons 1-4H (pumping out 30 million cubic feet of natural gas per day) sits the small community of Shadyside and the Shadyside Local School District. The school has just leased 20 acres to Gulfport for drilling under (not on), which may seem like not much. However, when you’re getting $7,250 per acre as a signing bonus, and 20% royalties on anything produced, the school’s 20 acres is way more than “not much.”

Shadyside School’s lease with Gulfport will net them an initial check for $145,000–just for the signing bonus. Gulfport is signing up the neighbors around Shadyside too. Will the school’s property be drilled under this year? Maybe! Gulfport is spending $630 million to drill 95 new Utica wells–many of them in Belmont County, OH where Shadyside is located and where Gulfport has had huge success already…
Read More “School in Belmont County, OH Gets $7,250/Acre from Gulfport”
Chevron | Energy Companies | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Chevron’s Marcellus Drilling Picks Up Steam in WV, PA
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

With 700,000 net acres in the Marcellus Shale and 600,000 net acres in the Utica Shale, Chevron is one of the largest acreage holders in the northeast. Although Chevron has been actively drilling in Pennsylvania, their drilling in Ohio and West Virginia, up to now, has been all but non-existent. Is that about to change, at least in WV? According to an article published today out of Wheeling, WV, Chevron’s drilling activity in WV is due to pick up in 2014…
Read More “Chevron’s Marcellus Drilling Picks Up Steam in WV, PA”
Air Quality | Allegheny County | CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research

Allegheny County Health Dept to Monitor Air Near PIT Airport
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

Here’s a good idea that everyone can embrace: Measure air quality both before and after drilling near a local drill site. In this case, it’s not just any drill site–it’s the 9,000 acres surrounding the Pittsburgh Airport where CONSOL Energy is now ramping up to drill 47 Marcellus Shale wells on 6 well pads and install 17 miles of gathering pipelines (see CONSOL Energy Reveals Drilling Plan for Pittsburgh Airport). The Allegheny County Health Department announced they will conduct an air quality study at the airport before and after drilling.

What will they find? (It’s always fun to speculate!) We suspect…not much. Oh, there may be a temporary increase in some undesirable pollutants in the air from truck traffic (if they use diesel, increasingly natgas trucks are being used). However, since CONSOL will use electric motors to do all of the drilling and fracking at the airport property, most of the air pollution problems that come from drilling will be nonexistent (see CONSOL to Use Electric Motors for Drilling at Pittsburgh Airport). MDN will keep an eye on this interesting story. Here’s the article that talks about the Health Department’s plan to monitor air quality near the airport:
Read More “Allegheny County Health Dept to Monitor Air Near PIT Airport”
Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Research

Deloitte’s View: 2014 Spending Shifts from Upstream to Midstream
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

From time to time it’s helpful to zoom out to the “40,000-foot view” of the oil and gas industry, because understanding the bigger picture helps us understand the smaller picture that MDN concentrates on–the Marcellus and Utica Shale. One of the better analysts of the bigger picture (in our humble opinion) is consulting powerhouse Deloitte. John England, Deloitte’s U.S. Oil & Gas leader, recently posted a 40,000-foot view of what’s happening in the oil and gas sector in the U.S.–and where he believes it’s headed in 2014.

England, quoting the Oil & Gas Journal, says E&P (exploration and production) spending in the U.S. was $354.8 billion in 2013. However, spending on the midstream–the pipelines and processing plants that get all of that production to market–was only $46.4 billion in 2013 (although that’s up 360% from the $12.8 billion spent on midstream in 2012). England says as we head into 2014, look for investments to continue shifting from the upstream sector (E&P) to the midstream sector–to infrastructure like pipelines and processing plants, refinery operations, and petrochemical facilities. MDN concurs. Just reference our massive list of 111 midstream/infrastructure projects underway or planned in the Marcellus/Utica (see MDN’s 2013 Databook Vol 2 Finds Staggering $40B in NE Midstream Projects). Here’s England’s take on where we’ve been, and where we’re headed in 2014…
Read More “Deloitte’s View: 2014 Spending Shifts from Upstream to Midstream”
Crime | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Washington County

Warning: Marcellus Welders in PA Targets of Copper/Tool Theft
January 21, 2014January 21, 2014

Welders in the Marcellus Shale should be on the lookout–especially in western PA. There’s been a recent rash of thefts of welder’s tools and supplies–particularly copper welding cable. The thieves are bold–really bold. Sometimes a welding truck is targeted for theft while the guys are inside a restaurant having lunch!

Here’s the sad, and maddening, story:
Read More “Warning: Marcellus Welders in PA Targets of Copper/Tool Theft”