Marcellus Drilling News

CNX Resources | CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies

CNX Gas Chief Randy Albert Retiring, Search On for Successor
November 19, 2013November 19, 2013

Oh no! Randy Albert, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of CNX Gas–that is, the guy who runs the natural gas drilling division of CONSOL Energy–is retiring. CNX/CONSOL is a major Marcellus/Utica driller (347,000 acres in the Marcellus, 80,000 acres in the Utica). Randy is not only the guy who helped set CONSOL on the path to change from coal mining to natural gas production (having worked for CONSOL for 34 years), he’s also a founding board member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) and most recently its chairman. MDN editor Jim Willis had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Randy at the recent Shale Insight event in Philadelphia.

Randy is “good people” and he will be sorely missed–but we wish him well! He has some big shoes to fill. CONSOL is currently conducting a nationwide search for his successor. The announcement from CONSOL:
Read More “CNX Gas Chief Randy Albert Retiring, Search On for Successor”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues

Gender Equality and Global Warming Linked – Who Knew?
November 19, 2013November 19, 2013

We don’t know whether to laugh or cry. We don’t often talk about so-called climate change (i.e. global warming) because it’s not popular to say you don’t believe the science supports it. (You do know the earth hasn’t been warming for 15 years now, right?) When you dare to say such things in polite company you’re viewed as the modern-day equivalent of a hillbilly snake handler–unschooled, uncouth and unintelligent. Whatever. Our current let’s-poke-fun-at-the-warmers comes from a press announcement we received for something called the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – COP (Conference of the Parties) 19–also known as “UNFCCC COP 19”–currently underway in Warsaw, Poland. Stick with us, there is a (funny) point.

The press announcement MDN received has this headline: WOMEN TAKE ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND GENDER EQUALITY. Well there’s a first–for us. Who knew that climate change and gender equality were scientifically linked? What does “gender equality” have to do with so-called climate change, anyway? Being climate change-challenged and unschooled and unintelligent, we were eager to learn, so we read on…
Read More “Gender Equality and Global Warming Linked – Who Knew?”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Nov 19, 2013
November 19, 2013November 19, 2013

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, Nov 19, 2013”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Cabot’s NE PA Wells “Some of the most productive on Earth”
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

The mainstream media catches up to MDN and other industry-focused publications–eventually. On October 14, 2013, MDN gave you the details for the top 10 most productive wells in the Marcellus Shale with respect to natural gas production. We told you eight of those top 10 are found in one northeastern Pennsylvania county–Susquehanna–and are drilled by the same driller: Cabot Oil & Gas (see PA’s Top 10 Marcellus Shale Wells – Full Details). A Wilkes-Barre newspaper has finally come along to also blow the trumpet about how productive Cabot has been in Susquehanna County. They too make the observation that Cabot’s natural gas wells may be “some of the most productive on Earth.” Indeed.

But this mainstream story also brings to light information MDN is sometimes asked and until now didn’t have a ready answer for: When it comes to Cabot in the Marcellus with “dry gas,” or companies like Gulfport in the Utica, very successful with “wet gas,” are they just lucky in hitting the “sweet spot”? Or are they smart about the geographies where they decide to lease and drill? Although luck plays a role, this article, in talking about Cabot’s work in the Marcellus, says they fully knew what they were doing when they leased up thousands of Susquehanna County acres. Forthwith, a really good story from a mainstream media source!…
Read More “Cabot’s NE PA Wells “Some of the most productive on Earth””
Carroll County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Research

UC Study: OH Utica’s Most Drilled County – No Water Contamination
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

Results from a new scientific study of drinking water in the most drilled Utica Shale county in Ohio, Carroll County, were released last week at a meeting of Carroll Concerned Citizens (anti-drilling group). And what, pray tell, did the study, conducted by researchers at the University of Cincinnati find? “You have very good quality water. There’s no evidence of problems from drilling.”

Whoops, that story line won’t play well in the mainstream media! We thought that (like Mary and her little lamb) everywhere that drilling went, water problems were sure to follow. What happened to that nursery rhyme thinking? That’s right–it’s a fiction that’s debunked by study after study after study. The UC study is just one more in a long line that proves shale drilling doesn’t contaminate drinking water supplies…
Read More “UC Study: OH Utica’s Most Drilled County – No Water Contamination”
Belmont County | Carroll County | Chesapeake Energy | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Gulfport Energy | Harrison County | Jefferson County (OH) | Monroe County | Ohio | Utica Shale

OH Utica Drilling Shifting from North to South, Gradually
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

Although the Ohio Utica Shale is still in its relative infancy (very early days yet) when it comes to figuring out where the best places to drill are located, the “sweet spot” is ever-so-gradually taking shape. Early on Chesapeake Energy guessed it was in the northern counties of eastern Ohio–particularly in Carroll and Columbiana counties. But in December 2012 they admitted they got it wrong (see Chesapeake Admits Misjudging Ohio Utica Sweet Spot). Gulfport seems to have dialed in on one of the more productive locations in the Utica–in Belmont and Harrison counties (see Gulfport’s New Record-Breaking Well in Belmont Cnty – 30.3 Mmcf/d).

In fact, Belmont County now has 50 permits to drill. That may seem small compared to 339 permits in Carroll County, but as we said, ever-so-gradually the focus on drilling seems to be shifting south in Ohio. An update…
Read More “OH Utica Drilling Shifting from North to South, Gradually”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Roads | Statewide PA

PA’s Roads Vastly Improved – Thanks to Marcellus Drilling
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

The new president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Dave Spigelmyer, has hit the ground running. He’s making the rounds (recently in Scranton, see Cabot’s Big CNG Celebration at Johnson College in Scranton, PA). Now, he’s hitting the editorial pages of major state newspapers, like the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

In an editorial published yesterday, Spigelmyer makes a strong case for the enormous positive impact shale drilling has had on the state’s infrastructure–roads in particular. He points out over the past several years Marcellus drillers have spent 3/4 of a billion dollars to improve PA’s roadways. That’s money that didn’t come out of taxpayers’ pockets. And in addition to now $400+ million raised from an impact fee/tax, another $1.8 billion has flowed in to local and state coffers from taxes on Marcellus-related activities. It’s hard to overstate the huge economic impact the drilling industry has had in PA…
Read More “PA’s Roads Vastly Improved – Thanks to Marcellus Drilling”
Industrywide Issues | M&A | Ohio | Statewide OH

Latest Shale M&A Mania to Hit Ohio…Banks?!
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

It doesn’t surprise when we hear about mergers and acquisitions (M&As) between “producers” (i.e. drillers) in the Marcellus and Utica Shale–for example the recent purchase of Oxford Oil by Eclipse Resources (see Eclipse Resources buys Oxford Oil, Adds Another 49K Utica Acres). Nor does it surprise when we hear about M&As between midstream–pipeline and processing plants–companies (see Crestwood/Inergy Complete Their Merger Today, Worth $8B).

However, what may surprise you is to hear that the Marcellus/Utica is also driving an increase of M&As among banks–particularly in eastern Ohio…
Read More “Latest Shale M&A Mania to Hit Ohio…Banks?!”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Mifflin County | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

TU: If You Can’t Beat Shale Drillers, Try a New Lie
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

An interesting twist. Apparently the devout anti-drilling group Trout Unlimited has at least one leader and one chapter that isn’t quite so anti-drilling. Either that or they’re trying a new tactic: bald-faced lying (wouldn’t be the first time).

At a local Penns Creek chapter meeting of TU in Lewistown, PA, Paula Piatt, a “sportsmen organizer” for the group said she doesn’t want to tell landowners not to lease and not to drill–well, she really does want to tell them that, but she isn’t, not right now anyway. No, what she does want to tell them is this is how you should drill. To which we say, the utter arrogance of these people….
Read More “TU: If You Can’t Beat Shale Drillers, Try a New Lie”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Cuomo Continues to Stall on Fracking in NY, Decision by Nov 2014
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

In case you missed it, Gov. Andrew “the ditherer” Cuomo was asked the day after the November election by Binghamton reporter Bob Joseph (WNBF Radio) if he expects to make a decision on fracking before next November’s election. And Cuomo said, “Yes, I do.” Meaning, “Yes, I expect to make a decision, but I’ll hedge my bets and delay that decision as long as I can” (our words, but his real meaning).

Real presidential leadership by our fearless governor, wouldn’t you say? What a waste of a politician. No different than his prevaricating father Mario…
Read More “Cuomo Continues to Stall on Fracking in NY, Decision by Nov 2014”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA Dems Continue to Beat the “Tax & Regulate Marcellus” Drum
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

Here’s not a surprise: The eight (or ten or twelve) Democrats who have announced they’re running against incumbent Republican PA Gov. Tom Corbett next year want to more than double the taxes on Marcellus Shale drilling and slap super-strict and unnecessary new regulations on drilling. Ever hear of an elected Democrat who wasn’t in love with taking YOUR money and giving it to other people? Or an elected Democrat who doesn’t love micromanaging your life for you–telling you what you can and can’t eat, drink, smoke, do? (Everything except sex–you can have all the risky sex you want.) No, we haven’t either, which is why we NEVER vote for them. EVER.

We won’t make this an anti-Democrat diatribe–MDN has lots of Dem subscribers (and friends) and we appreciate them all–and we hear from them when we make these kinds of comments. 🙂 Have no fear–we will not cover the upcoming PA governor’s race ad nauseam. However, every now and again we’ll bring you an illustrative story of the PA governor’s race just to remind you of the philosophical Grand Canyon that exists between those who truly support drilling and those who would, by intent or ignorance, crush it with ill-advised over-tax and over-regulate policies…
Read More “PA Dems Continue to Beat the “Tax & Regulate Marcellus” Drum”
About MDN | Calendar

Calendar of Events for Nov 18-Dec 1, 2013 [Free]
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

Below are upcoming events for this week and next.
Read More “Calendar of Events for Nov 18-Dec 1, 2013 [Free]”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Nov 18, 2013
November 18, 2013November 18, 2013

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: Mon, Nov 18, 2013”
Braskem | Economic Impact | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Odebrecht | Processing Plants | Statewide WV | West Virginia | Wood County

WV Announces Brazilian Company to Build Ethane Cracker Complex
November 15, 2013November 15, 2013

Yesterday West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin was flanked by representatives from Brazilian chemical company Odebrecht to announce the company has chosen a site near Parkersburg, WV (third largest city in the state) to be the potential site of an ethane cracker plant complex. The complex will have an ethane cracker, three polyethylene plants and infrastructure for water treatment and energy co-generation. Gov. Tomblin was justifiably proud to make the announcement, calling it a “game changer” for West Virginia. He’s right.

Odebrecht will build the plant, and once built, it will be operated by Braskem, another Brazilian company with operations in Pennsylvania (51% owned by Odebrecht). MDN told you about Braskem’s interest in a WV ethane cracker all the way back in March 2012 (see Second Company Interested in Building Cracker Plant IDed). So it appears Odebrecht/Braskem have been sniffing around the concept of building a cracker in WV for at least a year and a half. We have a lot of coverage of the announcement below. The key word here is: caution. Like the Shell cracker, this is very early in the process and not yet a 100% done deal…
Read More “WV Announces Brazilian Company to Build Ethane Cracker Complex”
Beaver County | Braskem | Economic Impact | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Odebrecht | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia | Wood County

Clash of the Ethane Cracker Titans: PA vs WV Smackdown
November 15, 2013November 15, 2013

As MDN mentions in today’s companion story about the newly announced potential ethane cracker plant complex to be built near Parkersburg, WV, there is angst in Pittsburgh about whether or not a WV cracker plant will help or harm the potential cracker plant to be built by Shell northwest of Pittsburgh in Beaver County, PA.

The Pittsburgh Business Times, a bit critical and skeptical of the WV cracker (no surprise there), tackles the question of, “Is you a friend or is you foe?”…
Read More “Clash of the Ethane Cracker Titans: PA vs WV Smackdown”
Economic Impact | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Processing Plants | Statewide WV | West Virginia | Wood County

Officials Say Cracker Will be Truly Huge for WV Jobs & Economy
November 15, 2013November 15, 2013

One final story in MDN today about WV ethane cracker mania (see our other two stories posted today for full coverage of the announcement from yesterday). Although WV Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and officials with the companies that would build and operate a proposed ethane cracker in WV–Odebrecht and Braskem–were careful to say this is a preliminary announcement and not a 100% done deal, it’s still just too juicy a carrot to leave alone for the Tomblin administration.

Although Tomblin says Oderbrecht is “exploring” the possibility of building an ethane cracker, he’s also shouting that this is the best thing for West Virginia since sliced bread was invented (our words, but certainly his sentiment). And sure enough, right on the heels of his announcement, Tomblin officials were talking about the thousands of new jobs this project will generate and the incredible economic impact it will have on WV. IF built, they are 100% correct, this will be an economic and jobs-generating engine like none we’ve seen in the northeast for generations–no doubt about it. The key word, though, is IF…
Read More “Officials Say Cracker Will be Truly Huge for WV Jobs & Economy”