Marcellus Drilling News

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Medina County | NGLs | Ohio | Pipelines | Sunoco Logistics

Handful of Medina, OH Anti-Drillers Oppose Ethane Pipeline
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

A handful of residents in Medina, OH are opposing an update to a pumping station that sits on the Mariner West pipeline. Sunoco Logistics owns and operates the pipeline which they are converting to handle ethane, a natural gas liquid. The plan is to pipe ethane from the Marcellus and Utica Shale region all the way to Sarnia (Ontario), Canada to an ethane cracker plant located there.

Local anti-drillers in Medina don’t like fracking (even though it’s perfectly safe) so they’ve decided to focus on stopping the pipeline as a deterrent to more fracking…
Read More “Handful of Medina, OH Anti-Drillers Oppose Ethane Pipeline”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA DEP’s O&G Division Gets High Marks from Independent Review
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

An independent, third-party peer review organization–State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations, Inc.–has given the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Oil and Gas Management a very close examination. What did they find? They found it to be “proficient” and “ready to address the increase in oil and gas operations in Pennsylvania.” The review gave the DEP high marks for the actions they’ve taken (and new regulations instituted) over the past two years under Gov. Tom Corbett.

DEP Acting Sec. Chris Abruzzo said this independent review proves that PA’s world class shale drilling is matched by world class oil and gas management and regulations…
Read More “PA DEP’s O&G Division Gets High Marks from Independent Review”
Arrowhead Utica Pipelines | Columbiana County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hilcorp Energy | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Trucking | Utica Shale

Utica Shale Transfer Facility Gets Road Upgrade
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

In February, MDN brought you the news that the Columbiana County Port Authority would spend nearly $1 million to improve a stretch of road leading to the Wellsville industrial park where Arrowhead Utica Pipelines, a Hilcorp subsidiary, is building a shale gas transfer facility (see Hilcorp Subsidiary Leases Property for Utica Transfer Facility). Looks like it won’t take anywhere near that much money to get the project done.

Last Friday the Port Authority voted to accept a bid and move forward to have the work done–at a cost of $526,000…
Read More “Utica Shale Transfer Facility Gets Road Upgrade”
Crude Oil | Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | NGLs | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

U.S. Chamber’s Chris Guith Talks About Ohio Utica Shale
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

Chris Guith is vice president for policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy. He’s also very familiar with the development of Ohio’s Utica Shale play. In a recent interview, Guith had some interesting comments on Ohio’s prospects for oil, NGL pipelines, industry jobs, regulations and more…
Read More “U.S. Chamber’s Chris Guith Talks About Ohio Utica Shale”
About MDN | Calendar

Calendar of Events for Sep 30 – Oct 13, 2013 [Free]
September 30, 2013September 30, 2013

Below are upcoming events for this week and next.
Read More “Calendar of Events for Sep 30 – Oct 13, 2013 [Free]”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Sep 30, 2013
September 30, 2013September 30, 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, Sep 30, 2013”
Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA | XTO

Exclusive: MDN Interviews PA DEP Sec. Chris Abruzzo
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

MDN became aware that newly nominated (and currently Acting) Secretary of the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, Chris Abruzzo, would be attending Shale Insight 2013. So we requested an interview with the Secretary, and he obliged! To our knowledge, we were the only media interview he granted during a brief walking around the show visit on Wednesday.

MDN editor Jim Willis asked Sec. Abruzzo some tough questions, including his take on the PA Attorney General’s criminal lawsuit against XTO (see PA AG Abuses Her Authority, Files Criminal Charges Against XTO); his biggest challenge since holding the office in April; how he responds to the charge that the DEP is sometimes too cozy with the drilling industry; an update on the DEP’s study of air quality near drilling sites and compressor stations (see DEP Marcellus Air Study in SW PA Extended Extra Half Year); and his response to John Hanger (former Secretary of the DEP) about his remarks that Abruzzo’s appointment was “bizarre and irresponsible”…
Read More “Exclusive: MDN Interviews PA DEP Sec. Chris Abruzzo”
Meetings

Shale Insight 2013: Final Wrap-Up, The Big Surprise
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

Shale Insight 2013 closed with a bang. The inimitable Newt Gingrinch gave the closing keynote address on Thursday to a considerably smaller crowd than was assembled on Wednesday, which was the main day of the event. MDN editor Jim Willis heard Mr. Newt and other keynote addresses and will share his insights on Shale Insight below. However, there was one outstanding surprise at this year’s event compared to last year: No protesters. Or at least very few (literally less than a dozen). Although prior to the event the media hyped (hoped for?) the possibility of mass protests at this year’s event–but it just didn’t happen.

The event organizers were certainly prepared for protesters. Jim noticed security at this year’s event was much more prevalent than last year. You could not walk 10 feet without seeing a security person inside the Philadelphia Convention Center–and that’s not an exaggeration. Last year Jim had to “walk the line” and cut through protesters blocking the front doors (one of the few brave souls to do so before the police came to scatter them). This year? Nothing. Nada. A single sign about water being a “human right” draped on the front steps of a church across the street from the convention center. Jim was disappointed! He came prepared to interview protesters–but there were none to be found when he wandered outside.

What about inside the Convention Center? Inside it was all (shale) business…
Read More “Shale Insight 2013: Final Wrap-Up, The Big Surprise”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | UGI Energy Services | Wyoming County (PA)

Victory! UGI Nears Completion of New Pipeline Gate Station
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

It’s a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. The point where two different natural gas transmission pipelines connect–to transfer gas from one to the other–is called a gate station. Utility company UGI wanted to build a gate station near Scranton, PA so it could tap into locally-produced (and very cheap) Marcellus Shale gas from northeast PA. And of course anti-drillers objected, even though there’s been another gate station operating safely in the area for 50 years (see Anti-Drillers Try to Stop Pipeline Connector in NE PA and Back to Kindergarten: UGI Explains NatGas Gate Stations).

In August a judge finally cleared the way for UGI to build their new gate station–and it’s nearly done. Finally! A victory against the anti-drilling Luddites…
Read More “Victory! UGI Nears Completion of New Pipeline Gate Station”
Butler County | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Rex Energy

Rex Energy Water Contamination Case Shifts Focus to Water Pipeline
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

An update on the lingering/ongoing story of a community in western Pennyslvania (in Butler County) who say that nearby drilling by Rex Energy led to contamination of their well water supplies. The last MDN update on this story was in August of last year (see PA Residents Weary of Fight with Rex over Water Contamination). Some families have retained legal help and either have, or intend, to sue Rex. The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection, after an extensive investigation, said that Rex’s drilling is not at fault in the situation.

However, for most of the families, the issue has now progressed beyond blame–apparently water quality in the area was never the greatest to begin with. Rex had built a water line in the area to supply water for fracking and expects to turn over control/ownership of that line later this year. That water line can potentially be used to supply fresh water to the affected homes. The debate now: Who will pay to hook up the homes and to maintain the pipes and infrastructure required?
Read More “Rex Energy Water Contamination Case Shifts Focus to Water Pipeline”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Soil | Statewide PA | Wastewater

Pittsburgh Water-Testing Lab’s Certification Pulled, $60K Fine
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

We don’t know if any Marcellus drillers in Pennsylvania were previously using Pittsburgh-based Microbac Laboratories to test water or soil for drilling purposes–but we do know they aren’t using them now. The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) investigated Microbac and found 50 violations at their Baltimore, Maryland lab. Microbac has voluntarily relinquished its accreditation and will pay a $60,000 fine. Ouch. They will also pay to have an independent third-party audit (i.e. someone will come in and tell them what they’re doing wrong)…
Read More “Pittsburgh Water-Testing Lab’s Certification Pulled, $60K Fine”
Energy Services | GE Oil & Gas | Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

GE’s New Frack Wastewater Technology Uses Old Technology
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

GE, which has long had an oil and gas division, is stepping into a new arena for the company: Cleaning up frack wastewater. The company has a new “membrane distillation” process/technology that cuts down on the amount of fresh water needed to clean up frack wastewater. It also cuts out transportation (happens on-site) and eliminates the heating and cooling usually required. Oh, and did we mention: It cuts the price in half over traditional treatment methods.

A bit more about GE’s new frack wastewater technology, which “borrows” this new process/technology from an old technology–industrial refrigerators…
Read More “GE’s New Frack Wastewater Technology Uses Old Technology”
Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Licking County | Ohio

Pipe Welders Needed – Ohio’s C-TEC Will Train Them
September 27, 2013September 27, 2013

Want a good paying, hands-on job in the Marcellus or Utica Shale? Try welding. The Career and Technology Education Centers (C-TEC) in Licking County, OH recently launched a new 10-month-long structural and pipe welding fabrication course. Students who are willing to work hard will get an average $45/hour after they graduate…
Read More “Pipe Welders Needed – Ohio’s C-TEC Will Train Them”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, Sep 27, 2013
September 27, 2013September 27, 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: Fri, Sep 27, 2013”
Meetings

Shale Insight Philadelphia: Day Two (Wednesday)
September 26, 2013

A quick note to tell you that this is one of those rare days when MDN will not feature the normal daily news update. Editor Jim Willis spent a very long (but productive!) day attending the Shale Insight event in Philadelphia. More news from the event tomorrow. We’ll leave you with a teaser: Jim was fortunate to get an exclusive interview with the newly nominated (and currently Acting) Secretary of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection, Chris Abruzzo. To our knowledge, we were the only news/blog organization to be granted an interview with the Secretary yesterday at the event (he was only there for an hour or so).

Jim asked Secretary Abruzzo about PA Attorney General Kane’s prosecution of XTO Energy on criminal charges for an accidental spill three years ago. He also asked the Secretary about his biggest challenge so far in his new role, about the ongoing 18-month air quality study the department is currently conducting, and about John Hanger’s comments in the spring that Abruzzo’s appointment was “bizarre and irresponsible.” We asked it all! We’ll have the interview for you in Friday’s batch of stories. Stay tuned.

Until then, Jim will eat a yummy Philly cheesesteak for you. 🙂
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Meetings | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Shale Insight Philadelphia: Day One (Tuesday)
September 25, 2013September 25, 2013

MDN editor Jim Willis is in Philadelphia for the next few days attending the Marcellus Shale Coalition’s Shale Insight event. Jim is taking copious notes, as he does when visiting such events–so you’ll get to read about it in the coming days. Yesterday (Tuesday) was the “pre-conference” day. Of special interest was the Technology Showcase where established and up-and-coming companies shared their technologies for treating water, dealing with silica dust and a variety of other applications. If you’re “into shale,” it was fascinating.

Rather than recount it all for you right now, we’ll share a good story (very fair and balanced, surprisingly) written by the Philadelphia Inquirer who had a reporter on hand. The write-up does a good job of recounting the Technology Showcase, and in forecasting the coming protest from anti-drillers. One thing we can tell you–security is really, really tight at the Philadelphia Convention Center. They clearly believe there’s going to be a sizable crowd of antis parading out front…
Read More “Shale Insight Philadelphia: Day One (Tuesday)”